The Aga Khan University (AKU) has been recognized among the world’s top 100 universities for its efforts in promoting environmental sustainability, social inclusion, economic growth, and partnerships.
The Times Higher Education 2024 Impact Ranking has impressively placed AKU at 55th position out of 1,498 learning institutions worldwide, recognizing its significant contributions to “good health and well-being” under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number three.
Times Higher Education’s annual analysis acknowledges the contributions of higher education institutions globally, encompassing all 13 SDGs.
The university achieved high marks in three areas: research, the number of students graduating in health-related fields, and collaboration with health services.
AKU researchers frequently publish work on various SDGs, with a particular emphasis on SDG 3 (good health and well-being).
“These leading universities are recognized for their overarching impact across multiple dimensions of sustainable development, making significant contributions to creating a sustainable and resilient future. Their broad-based excellence underscores the importance of holistic approaches to global challenges and highlights the critical role of academia in driving sustainable change,” said Times Higher Education.
Based on AKU’s bibliometric analysis, SDG 3 garnered the highest focus from faculty, resulting in over 2,500 publications between 2017 and 2023.
“The global relevance of AKU scholarship is further demonstrated by the fact that nearly 80 per cent of faculty publications in 2022 were aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. If we examine the past, we see that research at AKU has grown rapidly in volume, quality, diversity, recognition, impact and research. If we examine the present, it is clear that the university’s research capacity is impressive,” said Dr Salim Virani, AKU Vice Provost.
AKU’s ranking in the SDG reflects its 2022 position, showcasing the university’s dedication to excellence and quality healthcare, now acknowledged on a global scale.
Other prominent academic contributions include SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 10 (Reducing Inequalities).
The Sustainable Development Goals have been integrated across the institution through the inclusion of optional teaching modules, such as the SDG courses offered by the Institute for Global Health and Development and the Institute for Educational Development, and the inclusion of the SDGs in the postgraduate curriculum of the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
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