Sustainability Rankings

Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and were first published in 2019.

Palacký University Olomouc has been included in these rankings since the very beginning, when it was ranked 101st–200th out of 467 institutions evaluated. In the most recent edition for 2024, the ranking already includes almost 2,000 universities, among which Palacký University is ranked 401st-600th. This ranking also means a split second place with the Czech University of Agriculture in Prague and Masaryk University in Brno. The absolute Czech leader is Charles University.

Times Higher Education Impact Ranking 2024

Overall Rank

University

Best Ranked SDGs

201st–300th

Charles University, Prague

3

8

16

17

401st–600th

Palacký University Olomouc

3

4

5

17

401st–600th

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

6

8

13

17

401st–600th

Masaryk University, Brno

11

12

16

17

601st–800th

VŠB - Technical University in Ostrava

7

8

11

17

1001st–1500th

Mendel University, Brno

2

5

6

17

1001st–1500th

University of Ostrava

3

8

16

17

1001st–1500th

University of West Bohemia, Plzeň

9

10

16

17

1501st+

Anglo-American University, Prague

5

9

13

17

1501st+ University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague 5 9 16 17

To be ranked in the overall rankings, an institution needs to complete the mandatory SDG 17 and any other three objectives. If a university provides data for multiple SDGs, the final ranking is calculated from the three strongest + mandatory SDG 17. A detailed methodology is available here.

In the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024, UP performed best in SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 5 (gender equality) and also in mandatory goal 17 (partnership to achieve the goals). In the latter, it even achieved the highest possible score in one of the indicators (relationships to support the goals).

Palacký University Olomouc – Times Higher Education Impact Ranking 2024

SDG

 

Score

Rank (World)

Rank (CZE)

3

Good health and well-being

78,2

101st–200th

2

4

Quality education

75,0

95th

1

5

Gender equality

64,2

101st–200th

1

8

Decent work and economic growth

70,2

101st–200th

1–3

9

Industry, innovation and infrastructure

52,4

401st–600th

3–5

11

Sustainable cities and communities

74,9

101st–200th

1–2

16

Peace, justice and strong institutions

61,9

301st–400th

3

17

Partnerships for the goals

84,4

101st–200th

1

 

Out of the total 8 SDGs, UP is once in the TOP 100, where it ranked 95th in the area of quality education. 5 times it is in TOP 200, 1x TOP 400 and 1x TOP 600th  In total, the University of Olomouc has improved its ranking 6 times compared to last year and stayed in the same positions twice. In some areas, UP is at the top in the Czech Republic according to the above mentioned overview. It has also been ranked number one three times in the AURORA Alliance.

QS Sustainability Rankings

The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability is a ranking aimed at comparing universities on the sustainability of their operations and has been published by Quacquarelli Symonds since 2022. In the second edition, called QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024, the methodology has been modified, including the division of the rankings into three main categories, instead of the original two. The individual categories and their weight on the final ranking are shown in the table below:

Category

Overall Weight

Social Impact

45%

Environmental Impact 

45%

Good Governance 

10%

The QS Sustainability Rankings are a combination of input data from participating universities, together with Elsevier data, publicly available national statistics, and third-party assessments.

Despite twice the number of universities ranked, Palacký University Olomouc managed to improve its standing to the 422nd position overall, which is a sum of the three categories mentioned above. Palacký University performed best in the Governance subcategory (187th position), which focuses on the management and governance of the university based on ten specific indicators. Among Czech universities, UP holds third place in this area, and among the Aurora alliance partners it is in second place.

Within the Social Impact category, universities are evaluated on the basis of 5 indicators focusing on equality, knowledge transfer, education, employment, and well-being. UP is ranked 488th in Social Impact, with its top-ranked indicators being Health & Well-being (221st place) which assesses the institution’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of humanity at large (through research) as well as of its own staff and students, and Knowledge Exchange (333rd place) which reflects how institutions collaborate in research, how they share knowledge, and stimulate educational growth. UP’s score in the Health & Well-being indicator is also the best in the Czech Republic.

The last category evaluated is Environmental Impact, in which Palacký University ranks 539th. This environmentally focused area is based on three indicators assessing sustainability, education, and research. UP performed best in Environmental Sustainability (409th place). In contrast, UP’s biggest weakness was the indicator Environmental Education, which assesses whether graduates and academic publications in the earth, marine, and environmental sciences have a good reputation in the community and whether sustainability topics are part of the curriculum.

While only four Czech universities were ranked in QS Sustainability Rankings 2023, ten Czech universities are included in the 2024 ranking.

QS Sustainability Ranking 2024

Overall rank

Environmental Impact Rank

Social Impact

Governance Rank

Masaryk University, Brno

161st

215th

186th

117th

Charles University, Prague

172nd

245th

180th

76th

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

323rd

183rd

610th

418th

Palacký University Olomouc

422nd

539th

488th

187th

Czech Technical University in Prague

801st–820th

954th

836th

606th

University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice

801st–820th

832nd

1001st+

267th

VSB – Technical University of Ostrava

841st–860th

761st

1001st+

603rd

University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague

901st–920th

832nd

1001+

599th

Brno University of Technology

921st–940th

839th

955th

1001st+

Mendel University in Brno

1201st+

1001st+

1001st+

1001st+

UI GreenMetric

UI GreenMetric World University Rankings has been the first international ranking since 2010 that assesses how well universities are developing their infrastructure and education with respect to the environment and sustainability principles.

Palacký University Olomouc participated in this ranking for the first time in 2021, when it was ranked 642nd out of 956 universities from 80 countries. In 2022, UP moved up 100 places to rank 546th out of 1,050 universities worldwide. In 2023, Palacký University improved again and ranked 427th out of almost 1,200 universities from all over the world. As in the previous year, UP defended its fourth place among the six Czech universities ranked:

2023 UI Green Metric

Ranked

University

Total Score (2022)

Total Score (2023)

36th

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

8600

8800

119th

Masaryk University, Brno

8100

8235

361st

Mendel University in Brno

6360

7010

427th

Palacký University Olomouc

5735

6695

486th

University of Hradec Králové

5510

6430

845th

Tomas Bata University in Zlín

4620

4700

The ranking focuses on six main areas: Settings & Infrastructure, Energy & Climate Change, Waste, Water, Transportation, and Education & Research. Between 5 and 20 indicators are to be completed in each of these areas, accompanied by evidence such as a photograph, a link to a website, and a description. The complete methodology is available here.

The rankings have newly included inquiries concerning organic waste and e-waste management. This enabled UP once again to receive the best ranking in the area of Waste, mainly due to its well-developed management of organic and toxic waste – in five out of six questions in this area, UP received the maximum score. The number of green spaces on the campuses, such as the park near the UP Faculty of Science building at the Envelopa campus and the UP Centre for Education and Science Park on the Šlechtitelů Street Campus, as well as the pedestrian paths covering the parks and the UP campus, also resulted in extra points. Surprisingly, the electricity consumption per capita at the university was also positively evaluated. Questions on sustainability strategy and sustainability reports were also newly included, which improved UP’s performance in Education & Research, and earned it additional points. Acknowledged were also disciplines whose curriculum includes sustainability and climate change issues. The specific scores are shown in the table below.

University

Settings & Infrastructure

Energy & Climate Change

Waste

Water

Transportation

Education & Research

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

1150

1650

1725

1000

1500

1775

Masaryk University, Brno

1010

1550

1575

850

1600

1650

Mendel University in Brno

1140

885

1425

650

1360

1550

Palacký University Olomouc

720

1075

1650

800

1150

1300

University of Hradec Králové

60

1285

1575

460

1275

975

Tomas Bata University in Zlín

590

585

1200

550

700

1075

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