Ashesi was ranked first in Ghana, and ninth in Africa, in the newly announced 2020 Global Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings. The Impact Rankings measure the actions taken by higher education institutions to realise the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) around the world, and contributions to the world’s economic and social well-being. Other Ghanaian universities accepted to the 2020 rankings list, were the University of Ghana and the University of Professional Studies.
Ashesi moved up in the rankings, despite an additional 299 universities joining the list, breaking into Africa’s top 10 (from being previously ranked jointly at 14th place with the University of Ghana and the University of Professional Studies, Accra), and ranked within the top 400 universities on the list of 766 universities from 85 countries. Ashesi’s strongest contributions were to the SDG 1 Goal of No Poverty, with the University being ranked 24th globally in our work to end poverty. Other areas of strength for Ashesi, were in contributions to Gender Equality (SDG 5), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).
“We believe that universities are our greatest hope of solving some of the world’s biggest challenges,” says Phil Baty, Chief Knowledge Officer at Times Higher Education. “These rankings prove that traditional barriers to success like (institutional) wealth or research prestige don’t matter when it comes to doing great things for sustainability. It’s clear that universities give us a lot to be hopeful for.”
Ashesi’s overall ranking was driven by contributions to:
- SDG 1 – No Poverty
- SDG 4 – Quality education
- SDG 5 – Gender Equality
- SDG 6 – Clean Water & Sanitation
- SDG 7 – Affordable & Clean Energy
- SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the goals.
