Sustainability has been included as a core metric in the QS World University Rankings 2024, the first of the major world rankings to do so.
The 20th edition of the QS World University Rankings sees the University of Otago move up to 206th place overall, from 217th in 2023.
Director of Strategy, Analytics and Reporting David Thomson says the climb is a 'modest but welcome improvement in 2023'.
Featuring 1,500 institutions – QS World University Rankings 2024 introduces three new indicators to reflect the changing priorities of students and the evolving missions of world-class higher education institutions today: a commitment to sustainability; even greater emphasis on supporting graduate employability and increased international research collaboration to solve the world's biggest challenges.
Thomson says the new indicators have had overall positive impact for all New Zealand universities, Otago included.
In the latest rankings, Otago placed 22nd in sustainability.
“This year's ranking reflects Otago's commitment to sustainability and follows on from our strong performance in the inaugural 2022 QS Sustainability Rankings in which Otago was ranked 47 in the world.”
The University also ranked 44th for its international faculty ratio, 159th for employment outcomes and 178th for academic reputation.
Noting that the latest assessment is based on metrics gathered by QS that relate almost entirely to 2022 and prior years and not to 2023, Thomson adds that Otago continues to perform adequately in the rankings despite the current financial and funding challenges.
“Overall, the University is pleased with its 2024 QS World University Rankings, which maintains our place as the second highest ranked university in New Zealand.”