Global University Network Embraces Sustainability, Launching New Ratings System
More than 1,600 universities worldwide have joined the newly established Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Network, signaling a significant global commitment to environmental and social responsibility within higher education. The network will underpin the first edition of the relaunched Sustainability Impact Ratings, set to be published this summer.
The initiative represents a truly global effort, with participation from 116 countries. Asia is the leading region, accounting for 962 member universities. Europe follows with 332, and Africa contributes 202 institutions to the network.
The Philippines, India, Turkey, Thailand, and Indonesia are the most represented countries, boasting 162, 114, 76, 69, and 67 participating universities respectively. In Europe, the United Kingdom leads with 59 institutions, closely followed by Ukraine with 56. Algeria is the most active African nation, with 54 member universities.
Notably, over a third of the participating universities – 592 in total – are based in low- or lower-middle income countries, demonstrating a broad and inclusive approach to sustainability efforts.
The launch of the Sustainability Impact Network follows a revamp of the previous Impact Rankings announced last year. This included a new framework designed to foster closer partnerships with participating universities, offering increased support, data insights, and opportunities to showcase their contributions to addressing global challenges.
Universities were required to subscribe to the Sustainability Impact Network to submit data for the 2026 ratings, and only those institutions will receive a published score and ranking when the results are released in June. The ratings system evaluates universities’ progress toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), considering their activities across teaching, research, resource management, and outreach.
This year has seen increased participation from 19 countries compared to the previous year’s Impact Rankings. The Philippines, for example, increased its representation from 121 ranked institutions in 2025. Vietnam now has 19 participating universities, up from 16, and Yemen has doubled its participation from three to six institutions. Four countries – Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, and Tajikistan – are participating for the first time.
A total of 1,649 universities have joined the network and submitted data for the 2026 edition of the ratings.
Phil Baty, THE’s chief global affairs officer, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative’s success. “When we relaunched the old Impact Rankings last year as the Sustainability Impact Ratings, underpinned by a new international membership community, the Sustainability Impact Network, we could only dream of the inspirational level of global response that the initiative eventually achieved,” Baty said.
He added that the network’s focal point will be the sharing and reporting of performance data, celebrating universities’ societal impact and facilitating the exchange of best practices to drive improvements. Baty also highlighted the network’s potential to amplify universities’ voices in shaping the UN’s sustainable development agenda.
The methodology for the ratings remains unchanged this year, encompassing 18 tables – an overall league table and individual tables for each of the 17 SDGs.
Membership in the Sustainability Impact Network provides universities with eligibility for the ratings, access to data insights and marketing materials, participation in exclusive webinars, a monthly newsletter featuring best practices, and opportunities for networking. Members also receive support from THE’s data experts, who validate and evaluate all submitted evidence.
The Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 will be officially launched at the THE Global Sustainable Development Congress in Jakarta, Indonesia, in June 2026.
