Sustainability in Higher Education: Building Competitive Advantage for Universities

The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, a ranking system that evaluates how universities contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), covered 2,526 universities from 130 countries in its latest edition, published in 2025 [1]. That’s nearly four times the number of institutions they assessed when these rankings first came out in 2019. 

Over the last decade, we’ve seen a rise in frameworks that measure sustainability performance in academia [2]. Some of the most notable ones include the THE Impact Rankings, which look at universities’ progress on the UN’s 17 SDGs; the QS Sustainability Rankings, which focus on environmental, social, and governance performance; and the UI GreenMetric, which zeroes in on campus environmental practices. 

Together, these developments highlight an important shift: sustainability is no longer just a niche metric in global higher education. It’s become a crucial lens through which universities are evaluated and compared, and the case for engaging with sustainability rankings is more compelling than many institutions may realize. 

Reputation builder: When we think about sustainability and academic reputation, they often seem like separate goals. However, they’re actually more connected than you might think. According to data from QS World University Rankings, there’s a correlation between strong sustainability efforts and a university’s academic reputation [3]. A university that excels in sustainability is seen as innovative, forward-thinking, and committed to creating a global societal impact. These are qualities that naturally boost its academic standing. So, investing in sustainability isn’t just about social responsibility; it’s a strategic move that can enhance a university’s reputation and improve how it’s perceived by students, faculty, and partners around the world. 

Attracting talent: Today, prospective students aren’t just looking for academic prestige; they want to know if a university actually shares their values. And sustainability is front and center in that conversation. The QS International Student Survey 2024 found that 88% of prospective students consider sustainability a significant factor when choosing where to study, and 40% actively look into an institution’s environmental strategy [4]. For universities, this shift isn’t just a challenge to meet but is also a valuable opportunity to stand out and attract the next generation of purpose-driven talent. 

Reputational differentiator: In a crowded global higher education market, standing out is no small feat, and sustainability rankings offer universities a distinct way to do it [5]. Unlike traditional university rankings, which tend to revolve around research output and academic reputation, sustainability rankings ask a bigger question: what kind of impact is this institution actually making on the world? That’s a powerful story to tell. When a university performs well here, it sends a clear signal to students, governments, and industry partners about what it truly stands for—not just what it produces. It’s less about gaming a metric and more about owning a fundamentally different narrative about who you are and why it matters. 

Transparency and accountability: There’s a meaningful difference between having a sustainability strategy and actually being held to one. For universities, especially those that are publicly funded, there’s a real public expectation of transparency and accountability [6]. Sustainability rankings help meet that demand, moving their commitment from just an internal policy to something that’s on public record. Take THE Impact Rankings, for example [7]. They assess universities based on their contributions to the UN SDGs, asking them to back up their claims with data and offer credit for making that information available to the public. This kind of data is valuable for various stakeholders, helping them decide where to study, work, or invest. For university leaders, this can be a chance to showcase not just their mission but also their commitment towards it. 

University rankings are far from perfect, and sustainability rankings are no exception. Applying standardized metrics to diverse institutions operating in a complex, ever-changing world will always have limitations. There’s also a genuine concern that universities might end up chasing external benchmarks rather than building on their own strengths and vision [2]. But imperfect doesn’t mean irrelevant. In a global higher education space where institutions are competing for students, talent, and resources, strong sustainability performance offers something traditional rankings often can’t—a way to show how a university contributes to social good, which brings both moral legitimacy and a compelling story to share with the world [2]. 

References 

1. THE Impact Rankings,Scopusand SciVal. https://www.elsevier.com/academic-and-government/impact-rankings-data 

2. Sustainability rankings in higher education: ‘The right thing to do’ or the pursuit of global recognition?https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10734-025-01495-z 

3. The positive impact of university sustainability on academic prestige.https://www.qs.com/insights/the-positive-impact-of-university-sustainability-on-academic-prestige 

4. 48% of students prefer a sustainable university to one in the top 100.https://www.qs.com/insights/48-of-students-prefer-a-sustainable-university-to-one-in-the-top-100 

5. University rankings as a tool for social impact.https://ssir.org/articles/entry/university_rankings_as_a_tool_for_social_impact 

6. University rankings and sustainable development: thestate of the art. https://www.haw-hamburg.de/fileadmin/LS/FTZ-NK/PDF/Publications/2024-_University_rankings_and_sustainable_development_the_state_of_the_art__International_Journal_of_Sustainability_in_Higher_Education.pdf 

7. Impact Rankings 2025: Methodology.https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/impact-rankings-2025-methodology