ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to introduce the key areas of universities’ social impact out of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (THE Impact Ranking). To reach the aim, we adopted detailed research questions: (1) Is there a leading university that has maintained a high position since it first appeared in the ranking? (2) In which countries are the top 10 universities located? (3) Which goals are least often indicated by the top 10 universities? (4) In which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) did the top 10 universities achieve the highest score? We analyze the top 10 universities, starting from 2020. In the ranking, the universities’ impact is assessed by its achievements in SDGs.
The chapter is analytical. The authors carried out a critical analysis of the literature on the subject and presented the findings, which indicate a steady increase in the number of universities from different regions of the world that are pursuing selected SDGs in their activities. The top 10 list in the THE Impact Ranking is dominated by universities from Australia and Canada. Certain goals – no. 2 (zero hunger), no. 1 (no poverty), no. 14 (life below water), and no. 7 (affordable and clean energy) were least often indicated by the top 10 universities.
