The QS Sustainability Ranking is a dynamically growing ranking of universities according to their performance in sustainable development. This year, there were 341 more institutions participating , with a total of 1,744 universities from 107 countries. According to the current methodology, the international QS Sustainability Rankings include 52 indicators, which are grouped into 9 thematic categories (Environmental Sustainability, Environmental Education, Environmental Research, Equality, Knowledge Exchange, Impact of Education, Employability and Opportunities, Health and Wellbeing and Good Governance). These categories are further aggregated into three pillars: Social Impact, Environmental Impact and Governance. Among Czech institutions, Masaryk University scores best in the Equality and Good Governance, and in the other categories it ranks second or third in the national comparison.
About a quarter of the rating is based on data sent to QS by the universities themselves. This includes numerical data such as the number of students of each gender and employment. In addition, universities answer qualitative questions and provide links to publicly available documents and websites to demonstrate the accuracy of their responses.
For the bulk of the assessment, the ranking draws information from other sources. These include bibliometric data from Elsevier linking scientific results to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the results of two reputation surveys organised by QS, publicly available data on the institution, national statistics managed by UNESCO, and ratings and awards from third parties such as Forbes.
Masaryk University performed best this year in the category of Good Governance indicators, ranking 53rd globally out of 1,744 institutions. Based on the documents provided for the assessment, the ranking takes into account the university’s values embedded in the MU Strategic Plan, the existence of student associations, the activities of the Board for Sustainable Development and many other factors. The results of a reputation survey of academic staff directly at Masaryk University, who comment, for example, on the institution’s adherence to ethical principles in research, education and its social role, are also included in the ranking in this category.
Another area in which MU is very strong is Knowledge Exchange, where it is ranked 126th in the world. The university performed well with its wide range of lifelong learning opportunities, its educational activities available to the general public online, and its awareness-raising events on society-wide issues. Universities are also ranked for their cooperation in science with institutions from developing countries.
“I am glad that international university rankings have started to assess parameters such as values enshrined in strategic documents, equality of opportunities, and contribution to society not only through science and education but also through other beneficial activities. It is a great achievement that we are among the top 3% in the Good Governance category. It is an appreciation of the long-standing development of Masaryk University and its much-needed and growing role in society,” said Rector Martin Bareš.
Masaryk University’s ranking in the Impact on Education category improved most significantly year-on-year, rising 188 places from 578th last year to 390th this year. This category includes bibliometric data from the Scopus database linked to the implementation of SDG 4 Quality Education, the results of a reputation survey among academics and significant achievements of MU graduates measured, for example, by international awards.
This year, twelve Czech universities made it into the QS Sustainability Rankings, two more than last year. Charles University in Prague is ranked the second best Czech university after Masaryk University (218th), followed by the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (283rd) and Palacký University Olomouc (360th). Then follow the Brno University of Technology, Czech Technical University in Prague, Mendel University in Brno, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Technical University of Ostrava, University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague and, appearing in the rankings for the first time, Tomas Bata University in Zlín and the University of Ostrava. Masaryk University holds the top position not only among Czech universities, but also in the Eastern Europe region, where QS also ranks institutions from Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine.
Leading the global rankings were the University of Toronto (Canada) and ETH Zurich (Switzerland), with Lund University (Sweden) and the University of California, Berkeley (USA) sharing third place. Other world-class universities were ranked as follows: Imperial College London (7th), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, 33rd), University of Cambridge (195th), University of Oxford (199th), Harvard University (202nd), Princeton University (223rd).
A comprehensive overview of Masaryk University’s activities related to the UN Sustainability Goals is presented in the newly revised Masaryk University Annual Sustainability Report 2023. Like the annual MU Annual Report on Activities, this MU Annual Sustainability Report is also compiled in full compliance with the MU Strategic Plan 2021–2028.