IMC Krems is the first Austrian university of applied sciences ever to be listed in one of the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) rankings. The THE Impact Rankings 2022 evaluated 1,406 higher education institutions in 106 countries, making them the most comprehensive and diverse sustainability ranking for higher education institutions worldwide. THE Impact Rankings are the only performance tables that assess higher education institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For this purpose, carefully calibrated indicators are used to provide a comprehensive and balanced comparison in four major areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching. IMC Krems participated in the assessment of four SDGs and is the only Austrian university of applied sciences to be listed among the best institutions worldwide.
“At IMC Krems, we are very proud to prove with this ranking that sustainability is not merely something we pay lip service to. We take the SDGs of the United Nations seriously and see them as a benchmark for reviewing and constantly improving our performance Standing still would be a step backwards – we are looking ahead,” says Prof.(FH) DI Roman Mesicek, Sustainability Coordinator at IMC Krems.
Assessments in 4 SDGs
The ranking on “SDG 17 – partnerships for the goals” is about international cooperation, promotion of best practices and publication of data. Here, IMC Krems is among the best 1000+ universities worldwide. Education for the SDGs and relationships to support the goals scored particularly well.
In the ranking on “SDG 9 – industry, innovation and infrastructure”, which deals with industry and innovation, the number of patents and spin-off companies, and research income from industry, IMC Krems is listed among the top 600 universities. Outstanding ratings were given to research income from industry and commerce.
The ranking on “SDG 5 – gender equality” measures gender equality, policies on gender equality and commitment to recruiting and promoting women. Here, IMC Krems is listed among the top 800. It received particularly good ratings for the proportion of women receiving degrees.
In the ranking for “SDG 12 – responsible consumption and production”, which deals with responsible consumption and the approach to the sustainable use of resources, IMC Krems even finds itself in the range of the 200 to 300 best universities. Here, it was ranked highly in several sub-areas, including research, operational measures, proportion of recycled waste and sustainability report publication.
“To appear in one of the THE rankings – the most prestigious university rankings – as a small university is a milestone, but of course also a mandate for future improvements to climb even higher in the rankings,” says the academic director of IMC Krems, Prof.(FH) Dr. Martin Waiguny.
About the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings
The Impact Rankings of the British Times Higher Education magazine assess the efforts of higher education institutions with regard to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The indicators are used to determine how universities contribute to society in addition to research and teaching, how they transfer knowledge and technology, and how they fulfil their role model function for good working conditions, compliance with equality and diversity standards, as well as ecologically oriented action. The universities themselves decide which of the 17 sustainability goals they participate in for the ranking.
TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION
