University rankings and sustainable development: the state of the art

Leal Filho, Walter; Trevisan, Laís; WAHAJ, ZUJAJA; Déda Araújo Nunes, Denner; Vasconcelos, Claudio Ruy Portela de; Dibbern, Thais Aparecida; Ruiz Vargas, Valeria; Iyer-Raniga, Usha; Anholon, Rosley; Novikau, Aliaksandr; Abubakar, Ismaila Rimi; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta

http://hdl.handle.net/10284/14879

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Authors

Leal Filho, Walter

Trevisan, Laís

WAHAJ, ZUJAJA

Déda Araújo Nunes, Denner

Vasconcelos, Claudio Ruy Portela de

Dibbern, Thais Aparecida

Abstract(s)

Purpose In light of the growing emphasis on sustainability in higher education, this paper aims to explore the effectiveness of sustainability university rankings, specifically focusing on sustainable development (SD), to understand their impact on advancing universities’ sustainability goals and address gaps in practical implications and limitations. Design/methodology/approach This study examines sustainability rankings in higher education (HE) through document analysis. Chosen for significance, these rankings were evaluated for regional participation, criteria and the top 20 universities. The method involved scrutinising official ranking websites for diverse perspectives on sustainability. The results are classified into three categories: regional participation, assessment criteria and top universities in the latest iterations. Findings The findings show that sustainability rankings are widely spread, and their existence has led to an increased motivation for universities to further engage in efforts in the field of SD. This study offers suggestions for optimising the role of promoting SD principles and practices in HE. Originality/value This comprehensive assessment sheds light on rankings’ operations and success levels. It makes a significant contribution to the literature, providing an unprecedented overview of analysed rankings and on sustainability assessment and their impact. This analysis will be valuable for universities towards the integration of SD principles and practices into the HE environment.

Keywords

Sustainability Rankings Universities Higher Education Sustainable Development

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10284/14879

Citation

APA7th: Leal Filho, W., Trevisan, L. V., Wahaj, Z., Nunes, D. D. A., Vasconcelos, C. R. P. d., Dibbern, T. A., Vargas, V. R., Iyer-Raniga, U., Anholon, R., Novikau, A., Abubakar, I. R., & Dinis, M. A. P. (2025). University rankings and sustainable development: the state of the art. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 26(7), 1615-1636. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-11-2023-0530