An aerial image of the UL campus
Thursday, 1 June 2023

University of Limerick has been ranked in the top 100 institutions worldwide for its work against the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2023 has placed UL at number 86 out of 1,591 institutions globally in measuring the positive societal impact UL is having in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The ranking examines a university’s performance against the SDGs across teaching, research, equality, internal culture, and the impact UL has in the wider society.

This is an improvement on the 2022 results when UL was ranked in the 101-200 range out of a total of 1,400 institutions.

UL is ranked 17th for SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production which focuses on the efficient use of resources and minimising waste while limiting consumption of non-renewable resources.

The University is ranked 25th for SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities highlighting the university’s research on social inequalities, its policies on discrimination and commitment to recruiting staff and students from under-represented groups.

Under SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth UL is ranked in 31st place. This goal evaluates an institution’s economic research, employment practices and the share of students taking work placements, and good employment practices.

The University also ranks in the Top 100 for:

SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals, UL is ranked 45th

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities ranking is 58th

SDG 5: Gender Equality ranked 94th

SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing placed 98th

Commenting on the rankings, Professor Norelee Kennedy, UL’s Vice President for Research said: “The rankings highlight and promote UL’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals across the university – from its innovative research to its teaching and our interaction with the wider community on a local, regional, national and international level. They show that UL is a leader when it comes to tackling the global challenges, we all face.”