THE Impact Rankings
THE Impact Rankings 2024 ranks us in the top 100 institutions worldwide for ten of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The SDGs were adopted in 2015 by all United Nations Member States as an urgent call to action to improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
THE Impact Rankings use the SDGs to assess universities efforts to address global challenges. In a comprehensive review, universities receive a score and a rank for their activities relating to each of the SDGs, reflecting research, learning and teaching, stewardship, and civic engagement.
The University of Stirling submitted data for eleven SDGs for 2024.
Top 20 in the world for 3 SDGs
The THE Impact Rankings show Stirling is:
- 14th in the world for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)
- 20th for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)
- 20th for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
This places the University in the top 2% for all three globally.
Top 100 worldwide for 7 SDGS
The University is also in the top 100 for other SDGs, including:
- 30th for SDG 15 (Life On Land)
- 64th for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)
- 65th for SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
- 75th for SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
- 79th for SDG 1 (No Poverty)
- 79th for SDG 13 (Climate Action)
- 79th for SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
Key contributions
The work of the world-renowned Institute of Aquaculture in the Faculty of Natural Sciences was a key contributor to the high ranking for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), as well as the range of work by the Students Unions Green and Blue space.
The University’s efforts to support and advance underrepresented groups, and its policies to tackle discrimination, were drivers of the high ranking among institutions striving to contribute to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
Stirling’s commitment to agile working, sustainable transport options and affordable housing for students contributed to placing in the top 2% of institutions globally for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
The results reflected an improvement on the six SDGs the University submitted data for in 2023.
Stirling’s Rank performance 2024 table
| Sustainable Development Goal | 2024 Rank | 2024 HEIs | Relative position | Top decile flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE Impact SDG 1 (No Poverty) | 79 | 1,093 | 7% | Top10% |
| THE Impact SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) | 14 | 803 | 2% | Top10% |
| THE Impact SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) | 201-300 | 1,498 | n/a | |
| THE Impact SDG 5 (Gender Equality) | 65 | 1,361 | 5% | Top10% |
| THE Impact SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) | 20 | 1,108 | 2% | Top10% |
| THE Impact SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) | 20 | 1,026 | 2% | Top10% |
| THE Impact SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) | 75 | 825 | 9% | Top10% |
| THE Impact SDG 13 (Climate Action) | 79 | 924 | 9% | Top10% |
| THE Impact SDG 14 (Life below Water) | 79 | 628 | 13% | Top10% |
| THE Impact SDG 15 (Life on Land) | 30 | 741 | 4% | Top10% |
| THE Impact SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) | 79 | 1,086 | 6% | Top10% |
Stirling's rank performance 2021-2024
| Sustainable Development Goal | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE Impact SDG 1 (No Poverty) | 79 | |||
| THE Impact SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) | 82 | 14 | ||
| THE Impact SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) | 99 | 201-300 | 301-400 | 201-300 |
| THE Impact SDG 5 (Gender Equality) | 65 | |||
| THE Impact SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) | 20 | |||
| THE Impact SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) | 20 | |||
| THE Impact SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) | 75 | |||
| THE Impact SDG 13 (Climate Action) | 91 | 101-200 | 79 | |
| THE Impact SDG 14 (Life below Water) | 101-200 | 101-200 | 79 | |
| THE Impact SDG 15 (Life on Land) | 101-200 | 30 | ||
| THE Impact SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) | 101-200 | 64 |