Umeå University within the same range in sustainability ranking

The global sustainability ranking system Times Higher Education Impact Ranking, THE Impact Ranking, assesses higher education institutions based on their work with the 17 global sustainability goals. The assessment is made across a range of criteria in the areas of research, education, collaboration and support/management.

On 18 June, the results of the 2025 THE Impact ranking were presented. Umeå University is ranked in the range 201-300, which is the same position as last year. But the difference this year is that the number of ranked universities has increased by 300 – this year 2318 universities are ranked, compared to 1963 in 2024 – which can be interpreted as this year's result for Umeå University being an improvement even though the range is the same.

In terms of total score, the university has increased slightly – this year the score is 82.9, compared to 82.3 last year.

Se all results at THE Impact Rankings website.

Above all, the purpose is to facilitate the work to contribute to the implementation of the global sustainability goals, which is part of the realisation of the university's vision.

Umeå University joined the ranking in 2021 and there has been an increase each year. In 2023, the score was 73 points and the ranking within the range 301-400 and in 2022, the score was 65.8 and the ranking 401-600.  

Tora Holmberg Vice-Chancellor at Umeå University.

ImageMattias Pettersson

“There are several purposes for participating in the ranking: it provides a picture of the university's sustainability work and highlights what could be improved, and it compares the university's sustainability performance with that of other higher education institutions. But above all, the purpose is to facilitate the work to contribute to the implementation of the global sustainability goals, which is part of the realisation of the university's vision,” says Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor at Umeå University.

Improvements and deteriorations

Breaking down this year's results into the different categories reveals both improvements and deteriorations compared to previous years, with an increase in six objectives, a deterioration in ten objectives and one objective remaining in the same position as last year. 

The university has lost the most in the objectives: 

• Gender Equality (goal 5).
• Sustainable cities and communities (goal 11).
• Sustainable consumption and production (goal 12).
• Peace, justice and strong institutions (goal 16).

 The largest increase has occurred in the goals: 

• Affordable and clean energy (goal 7).
• Climate action (goal 13).
• Partnership for the goals (goal 17).

However, this year's results are not fully comparable with those of previous years, as some changes have been made to the system.

“But we are taking the results on board, analysing them and will develop a plan for how we can work in the best way to improve where we are weaker and where we have lost ground. Our goal is to reach the top 100 range,” says Tora Holmberg.

EC2U universities rank high

A total of four Swedish universities are affiliated with the ranking. Of them, Umeå University is in third place.

As the university is now part of the European Alliance of City-Universities, EC2U, it is interesting to follow the rankings among the other participating members. It can be noted that Umeå University is second best among them and that one of the other universities, the University of Coimbra, is in 80th place.

“It's great to see that one of our partner universities is so high. It may of course be interesting to talk more with them about how they work with the sustainability goals,” says Tora Holmberg.