AUT in top 25 for tackling global issues
AUT is ranked 23rd in the world in the 2020 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings which assess the positive impacts of universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The rankings analysed data from 766 universities from 85 countries.
Of the seventeen goals, AUT ranked 1st in the world for the Decent Work and Economic Growth goal (SDG8), ranking particularly highly for its strong employment practices and the number of employees who are on a secure contract. AUT ranked 11th for Gender Equality (SDG5) including a woman’s ability to progress at the university, for ensuring strong female student access and the proportion of research authored by female academics.
Other goals where AUT ranked well were 20th in the world for strong support and investment in art and heritage under the Sustainable Cities and Communities goal (SDG11) and 34th in AUT’s strong relationships to support the SDGs goals (SDG17).
AUT’s contribution towards the UN’s seventeen SDGs was reconfirmed in 2018, with the launch of AUT’s Sustainability Roadmap by the Minister for Climate Change. The Roadmap, developed with input from students and staff, outlines the University’s objectives, priority actions and targets across learning, research, governance and facilities. AUT is also a member of the UN’s Sustainable Development Solutions Network, which supports the implementation of the SDGs through mobilisation of scientific and technical expertise from academia, society and the private sector.
The SDGs were adopted by all UN members in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. The Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings are the only global performance tables that assess universities against the SDGs.