Media releases

Federation University has been ranked in the top 200 of higher education institutions in the world for its overall Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) impact.  

Federation’s positive impact has been recognised internationally in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Impact Rankings.

The THE Impact Rankings are the only global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations’ SDG providing comprehensive and balanced comparisons across three broad areas of research, outreach and stewardship.

• Research on relevant topics is the most traditional way that a university might help to deliver its SDGs including addressing critical research issues such as sustainable development in the fossil fuel resource-dependent country of Timor-Leste.
• Stewardship or how universities act as stewards is another key SDG factor as they are custodians of significant resources and not just physical resources, such as Federation’s support of ecosystems at Nanya station.
• Outreach is critical in higher education, and the work that universities do with their local, regional, national and international communities is another key way that they can have an impact on sustainability. Federation has contributed to local programs, such as its collaboration with Cardinia Shire on energy efficiency, and events to encourage women to apply for academic programs where they are underrepresented.    

Teaching also plays a critical role, both in ensuring that there are enough skilled practitioners to deliver on the SDGs, and in making sure that all alumni take forward the key lessons of sustainability into their future careers. 

Federation’s areas of strongest performance include:

• Gender Equity – ranked 35 – representing Federation’s commitment to providing women, particularly first-generation female students, with equal access to education and the wider role of driving forward gender equality in their communities.

• No Poverty – ranked 36 – reflected in the University’s support for first-in-family providing access to quality education to address intergenerational poverty
• Affordable and Clean Energy – ranked 44 – for promoting and supporting clean energy, both through our world class research, outreach, and in our behaviour and energy usage
• Partnership for the Goals – equal 100th - for Federation University’s support of the SDGs through collaboration with other countries, such as our work with the Principles for Responsible Management Education.

For further information on the Impact Rankings, follow this link to Times Higher Education and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals can be found here.

Quotes attributable to Vice-Chancellor and President, Federation University, Professor Duncan Bentley

“This is an outstanding result for our first submission to the SDG Impact rankings. This follows our entry into the broader THE World University Rankings last year.”

“THE SDG Impact Dashboard provides a vital tool for universities' sustainability work by providing rich data on performance and clear insight into best practise from around the world. It allows universities to track their year-on-year performance in THE's Impact Rankings across two years of data to help shape and drive successful strategy.”

“The SDGs adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 are an urgent call for action -they recognise that in order to eliminate poverty we must also have strategies in place to reduce inequality, improve health and education, and stimulate economic growth.”