Cranfield University is number one in the UK and sixth in the world for its activities supporting the critical UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 – Partnerships for the Goals, which focuses on cross-sector and cross-country partnerships in pursuit of the SDGs. Cranfield has risen 25 places in this category from the 2023 rankings, demonstrating its deep strength and expertise in partnership working across sectors and borders.

For its overall work towards the SDGs, the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact ranking placed Cranfield in the global top 200 universities out of 1963 institutions, moving it up from the top 300 in 2023. This means that Cranfield is in the top 10% of all universities across the world for its sustainability work.

This year, the University has risen to be ranked in the global top 50 for SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, which relates to research in economics and employment, and into Cranfield’s working practices and student work placements.

Cranfield’s crucial work relating to SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, which examines both water related research and the university’s own water consumption and re-use, is in the global top 100.

For Responsible Consumption, SDG 12, covering sustainability reporting, recycling, and research into responsible consumption and production, Cranfield is in the global top 200.

Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University, Professor Karen Holford CBE FREng, commented: “We’ve seen a leap upwards in so many areas, in only our second year in the Times Higher Impact rankings. This reflects a whole University approach to developing and delivering our contribution to a sustainable world.

“I’m really proud of what we have achieved here, a big thank you to staff across Cranfield who have contributed to this submission and to our partners across the world. We will continue to build on our progress and push to align ourselves even more closely with these important goals.”

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a framework for action in a global partnership to achieve social, environmental, and economic sustainability by 2030. The 17 SDGs aim to tackle climate change, poverty, and inequality, and to develop health, education, and economic growth.