The University of Haifa has been ranked 95th in the world and first in Israel in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which examine academic institutions’ contributions to social, economic and environmental sustainability.
These rankings are the only global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world body’s benchmarks in the realm of eliminating poverty, hunger and discrimination. Haifa’s ascent to the top 100 for the first time reflects an institution-wide commitment to making strides towards achieving recommended goals by the United Nations.
“Our steady increase in the impact rankings—from 400th place in the world to 95th place in just three years—indicates the hard work we have done to meet the crucial task of universities in the 21st century: to be influential institutions that take part in solving the major challenges of humanity in the 21st century,” said professor and rector Gur Elroy, who will become the university’s new president in October.
He added that “this year’s rankings affirm our status as a beacon of the values that shape Israeli society as a whole, and the social, economic and environmental fabric in the north of the country, in particular.”
Home to 18,000 students, the University of Haifa enrolls a diverse student body, including students from around the world, as well as domestic students from Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Baha’i, Druze, Bedouin and other backgrounds.
This year, 400 additional universities joined the index, underscoring the rankings’ growing importance and influence.
“Not only do these institutions stand out in individual areas, but they also demonstrate comprehensive excellence in contributing to global sustainable development,” according to Times Higher Education. “By excelling in a variety of SDGs, these universities showcase their commitment to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges, including environmental sustainability, social inclusion, economic growth and partnerships.”
