Ashesi was ranked among the world’s top 400 most impactful universities in the 2021 Global Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings. The Impact Rankings, now in its third year, measure actions taken by higher education institutions to realise the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) worldwide and their contributions to the world’s economic and social well-being. Ashesi also ranked second in Ghana and ninth in Africa. Other Ghanaian universities accepted to the 2020 rankings were the University of Ghana (which ranked first in Ghana) and the University of Professional Studies, Accra.
Universities being evaluated for the Impact Rankings grew this this year, with 1,115 from 94 countries being listed versus 768 in 2020. Ashesi’s strongest contributions were to the SDG 1 Goal of No Poverty, with the University being ranked 26th globally for our work in the area. 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).
Ashesi’s overall ranking was driven by contributions to:
- SDG 1 – No Poverty
- SDG 5 – Gender Equality
- SDG 6 – Clean Water & Sanitation
- SDG 7 – Affordable & Clean Energy
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the goals.
The University received especially strong commendation in the areas of:
- Providing scholarships
- Engagement in anti-poverty projects by the University community
- The establishment of lifelong learning measures
- Providing opportunities to first-generation students
- The percentage of senior academics who are women
- Percentage of women within the student community, and measures to help them succeed.
- Measures in place to increase access for all students
- Water reuse strategies and systems
- Efficiency of energy use on campus, and community activities around energy
- Measures put in place to reduce discrimination
- Education for the Sustainable Development Goals