High marks for UCC in new international rankings

University College Cork (UCC) has been ranked as one of the leading universities internationally working towards creating a sustainable world.

Findings from the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking released today (Wednesday, April 22nd) show it has been ranked 32nd out of 766 universities across 89 countries.

These rankings assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals [SDG] and seek to identify institutions seeking to make a contribution towards creating a sustainable world.

It showed UCC is ranked fifth in the world for its efforts in meeting the UN’s ‘No Poverty’ goal - a recognition of UCC’s research in the area, as well as the financial aid it provides and its anti-poverty initiatives both within the university and the community.

Other SDGs for which UCC placed in the top 20 include its efforts towards Life Below Water (8th in the world), Zero Hunger (12th), Responsible Consumption & Production (16th) and Life on Land (17th).

UCC is in the top 4.1 per cent of universities in the 2020 rankings - up from the top 4.4 per cent last year, despite the addition of almost 300 universities to this year’s table.

Commenting on the rankings, UCC Sustainability Officer Dr Maria Kirrane said: “THE’s Impact Ranking assesses the diversity of activities across an institution in relation to each of the Sustainable Development Goals; it scores each university on activity across teaching, research, operations and engagement. UCC’s success reflects our whole-institution approach to sustainability and our community’s decades of experience in tackling global issues.”

UCC President Prof Patrick O'Shea added: “The SDGs, which have been embraced by UCC and the Irish Government, form the framework for the innovations needed to reboot and retool our economy for long-term success and resilience.”