Queen鈥檚 places 8th globally in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

Written by:

Dave Rideout

June 13, 2024

Dave Rideout

June 12, 2024

Teaser:

The university earns its fourth consecutive top 10 finish in the worldwide assessment of progress on the United Nations鈥� Sustainable Development Goals.

Deck:

The university earns its fourth consecutive top 10 finish in the worldwide assessment of progress on the United Nations鈥� Sustainable Development Goals.

For the fourth straight year, Queen鈥檚 has secured a top 10 spot in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, finishing eighth globally and second in North America out of more than 2,100 institutions from 125 countries. It is the only Canadian university to achieve this milestone since the rankings launched in 2019.

The THE Impact Rankings measure how well universities advance the聽United Nations鈥� (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These 17 goals were established by UN member nations in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030.

Main text:

"The Queen鈥檚 community should be very proud of this year鈥檚 results, as they show that our institution鈥檚 commitment to tackling the world鈥檚成人大片 challenges remains strong and is supported by real action. This recognition highlights the dedicated efforts of our faculty, staff, and students in creating meaningful change. Our performances in the Impact Rankings have raised Queen鈥檚 profile internationally and continue to open doors for collaboration and opportunities to have even more impact."

鈥� Patrick Deane, Principal and Vice-Chancellor

Main text:

Queen鈥檚 submitted聽over 400 pieces of evidence聽for evaluation by THE adjudicators, contributed by over 50 Queen鈥檚 departments and units. THE鈥檚 evaluation analyzes this evidence using 100 metrics and 220 measurements to judge overall performance, including research output related to SDGs.

Since its launch in 2019, the THE Impact Rankings have been growing steadily. Institutions from a record 125 countries made submissions to the THE Impact Rankings this year, up from 76 in 2019, and the number of participating schools has grown from 450 to over 2,100 in that period. Between 2023 and 2024 alone, the number of participants increased 26 per cent.

Queen鈥檚 submission includes evidence demonstrating our leadership and progress on the SDGs that impact local, national, and global communities.

Main text:

"There鈥檚 no question about it 鈥� Canadian universities lead North America, standing head and shoulders above U.S. universities, and indeed most universities in the world, in Times Higher Education鈥檚 Impact Rankings 2024. This is all the more impressive given the context, with significantly increased worldwide competition in the ranking, with 447 more universities in it compared with last year."

鈥� Phil Baty, Times Higher Education鈥檚 Chief Global Affairs Officer

Making a global impact

Main text:

Among the hundreds of pieces of evidence reviewed聽by THE adjudicators were聽Queen鈥檚 research, teaching, and outreach initiatives聽that are helping to shape a better future for people and the planet. With efforts spanning sustainable development goals, from those that advance human health to those that encourage peace and social stability, Queen鈥檚 demonstrated notable commitment and progress.

A leading example: The聽聽(CCTG), headquartered at Queen鈥檚, is a global network of experts that conducts extensive research and trials in search for new therapies and treatments for cancer.

Queen鈥檚 is also supporting people affected by conflict and political instability through programs like the聽Principal鈥檚 Global Scholars and Fellows Program,听Scholars at Risk, and the聽Artist Protection Fund.

Contributing to Canada鈥檚 SDG work

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The submission also highlighted how our community is advancing SDG progress right here in Canada, with impacts on education access and the environment.

Access to education is being advanced by projects like the聽Weeneebayko Health Education Program, which prepares Indigenous students for healthcare careers while improving patient outcomes and addressing healthcare gaps in Northeastern Ontario.

Alongside other universities, Queen鈥檚 is actively tackling climate change, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing climate research and teaching. The university鈥檚聽Climate Action Plan聽aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, with significant progress already made. Wide-ranging research projects are helping to advance climate action too, with projects like聽Open Plastic, the聽, the聽, the聽, helping to preserve our environments and ecosystems.

Helping close to home

Main text:

The THE Impact Rankings take a close look at what universities do to positively impact local communities as well.

翱耻谤听Ban Righ Centre聽supports women returning to education with advice, workspaces, meals, and financial aid, and the聽Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre聽offers holistic support, mentorship, and cultural programs for Indigenous students on campus. Queen鈥檚聽Career Gateway Program聽creates job opportunities for vulnerable community members, and the聽Major Access Awards聽provide significant financial aid to high-need university applicants.

Queen鈥檚 workplace聽United Way campaign聽is the region's largest, contributing 10 per cent of the local charity鈥檚 annual fundraising target. Students support the local community too, with their聽Queen's Cure Cancer Classic聽initiative and the聽Queen's Relay for Life聽having collectively raised millions of dollars over the past few years.

Together, these and other important initiatives are advancing gender equality and education access and reducing inequalities.

"These rankings give us an incredible opportunity to realize the scale of universities鈥� impact around the world," says Patrick Deane. "They also tell us that, even with the significant progress we continue to make in advancing the SDGs, there is still more work we can do as a sector to address the world鈥檚 most urgent challenges and make a tangible difference."

Learn more about Queen鈥檚 performance in the聽.

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