Texas State named among top institutions for social impact for second consecutive year

Inside TXST

Jayme Blaschke | June 4, 2020

For the second consecutive year, Texas State University has been named among the top educations for social impact on the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings.

Texas State was included in the 101-200 cohort. Only the first 100 institutions were assigned individual numerical rankings. Texas State ranked in the top 14 among universities from the United States. Among the individual categories, Texas State scored seven top 100 worldwide rankings, including one top 10 placement, two in the top 25, and three more in the top 50. 

THE University Impact Rankings assess universities worldwide against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), using calibrated indicators to provide comprehensive and balanced comparisons across three broad areas: research, outreach and stewardship. The rankings include more than 760 universities from 85 countries. 

The new global university ranking approach aims to measure institutions’ impact on society, evaluating their performance on the 17 SDG. The SDG – which include providing inclusive and equitable quality education, achieving gender equality and fostering innovation – were adopted by the U.N. in 2016 and provide a framework for developing the world in a sustainable way.

Texas State's result is based on its performance on SDG 17 - Partnership for the Goals, and the seven SDGs the university scored highest on:

• Life on Land (Texas State ranked 7th)
• No Poverty (Texas State ranked 15th)
• Sustainable Cities and Communities (Texas State ranked 25th)
• Life Below Water (Texas State ranked 28th)
• Clean Water and Sanitation (Texas State ranked 31st)
• Gender Equality (Texas State ranked 47th)
• Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (Texas State ranked 65th)

Texas State scores in the remaining SDG categories considered in the University Impact Rankings are:

• Quality Education (ranked 101-200)
• Affordable and Clean Energy (101-200)
• Partnership for the Goals (ranked 201-300)
• Good Health and Well-being  (not ranked)
• Decent Work and Economic Growth (not ranked)
• Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (not ranked)
• Reduced Inequalities (not ranked)
• Responsible Consumption and Production (not ranked)
• Climate Action (not ranked)

The University Impact Rankings metrics were developed in partnership with Vertigo Ventures and Elsevier. For more information on the ranking methodology, visit www.timeshighereducation.com/university-impact-rankings-2020-methodology

The University Impact Rankings list is led by New Zealand's University of Auckland for the second year, with the University of Sydney, Australia, second and Western Sydney University, Australia, third.

For the complete rankings, visit www.timeshighereducation.com/rankings/impact/2020