Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and Mount Kenya University have been ranked top higher learning institutions in Kenya in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025.
Other institutions including Moi University, Egerton University, Strathmore University, and Maseno University were also featured in the rankings. Rongo University is ranked 25th in the Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings.
The rankings assess universities’ contributions to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching.
The announcement, made on 18th June 2025, revealed that 2,526 universities from 130 countries and territories were evaluated for their progress towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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The Impact Rankings recognize institutions that are making meaningful contributions to sustainable development, environmental responsibility, and social impact on a global scale.
MKU is the United Nation’s Academic Impact hub chair for SDG for Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
The 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings saw a significant increase in global participation, with over 2,500 universities submitting data for assessment against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This represents an 18 per cent rise compared to 2024, with notable growth from universities in Africa and Asia. The rankings evaluate universities based on their contributions to the SDGs, which aim to create a better and more sustainable world by 2030.
Out of 2,526 universities worldwide, Kenyan universities stood out for making real impact in areas that matter most: Good health and well-being, quality education, reduced inequalities and global partnerships.
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The University of Oxford of United Kingdom, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (United States), Harvard University (United States) and Princeton University (United States) led the global overall rankings in that order. However, universities in East and South-east Asia are improving rapidly when it comes to their contributions towards sustainable development, according to the latest Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
A South Korean and an Indonesian university now make the top 10 of the overall ranking, which assesses universities’ progress on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while 10 out of the 17 individual SDG rankings are now led by an Asian university, up from five last year.
On the University sustainability rankings 2025, Western Sydney University in Australia is number one overall for fourth consecutive year. Indonesia’s University Airlangga, in joint ninth place, is most sustainable institution from an emerging economy. Asian universities claim more than half of all places in the rankings, and 10 out of the 17 individual SDG rankings are now led by an Asian university
Eight countries/territories make their debut in the sustainability rankings this year: Botswana, Burkina Faso, El Salvador, Estonia, Maldives, Namibia, Papua New Guinea and Senegal
By John Kamau
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