LAHORE: As many as 23 public and private universities of Pakistan have made it to the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings 2020 by methodology.

The rankings are the only global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It uses calibrated indicators to provide comprehensive and balanced comparisons across three broad areas: research, outreach, and stewardship.

This second edition includes 766 universities from 85 countries. The list is once again led by New Zealand’s University of Auckland, while three Australian universities complete the rest of the top four: University of Sydney, Western Sydney University and La Trobe University.

Japan is the most-represented nation in the table with 63 institutions, followed by Russia with 47 and Turkey with 37.

There are 17 SDGs but 11 of them are evaluated for university performance in first edition of the ranking. It included SDG 3 – good health and well-being, SDG 4 – quality education, SDG 5 – gender equality, SDG 8 – decent work and economic growth, SDG 9 – industry, innovation, and infrastructure, SDG 10 – reduced inequalities, SDG 11 – sustainable cities and communities, SDG 12 – responsible consumption and production, SDG 13 – climate action, SDG 16 – peace, justice and strong institutions and SDG 17 – partnerships for the goals.

Universities can submit data on as many of these SDGs as they are able. Each SDG has a series of metrics that are used to evaluate the performance of the university in that SDG.

Any university that provides data on SDG 17 and at least three other SDGs is included in the overall ranking.

The institutions are: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (band in 101-200 position), COMSAT University Islamabad (201-300), National University of Sciences and Technology (201-300), University of Agriculture Faisalabad (301-400), NED University of Engineering and Technology (301-400), Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (401-600), King Edward Medical University (401-600), University of Lahore (401-600), University of Malakand (401-600), University of Management and Technology (401-600), University of Peshawar (401-600), Agriculture University Rawalpindi (401-600), CECOS University of IT and Emerging Sciences (601+), Dawood University of Engineering and Technology (601+), Dow University of Health Sciences (601+), University of Education Lahore (601+), University of Engineering and Technology Lahore (601+), Government College University Lahore (601+), Iqra University (601+), Jinnah Sindh Medical University (601+), Quaid-i-Azam University (601+), University of Sargodha (601+), The Women University Multan (601+).

In gender equality, Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) ranked first in Pakistani universities and 15th in world top universities at SDG level 5.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2020