KTH among world top 50 in sustainability impact, seventh in EU

A marked improvement over last year’s placement at 77^th, the ranking can be credited to numerous factors, but a large part of it results from KTH’s focus on sustainability and sustainable technologies, says Vice President of Global Relations Stefan Östlund.

"We are strong in many relevant areas," Östlund says.

The THE Impact Rankings  assess universities' performance against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the third year of the ranking list.

KTH was ranked highest among Swedish universities in the 2021 THE Impact Rankings, and seventh among universities in the European Union.

“We’re really happy about this - it reflects the awareness at KTH of sustainable development, as well as strong research and comprehensive collaborations with both industry and public partnersm,” he says. “We are doing very well in a number of areas.”

Östlund says that to some extent the dramatic leap toward the top of the list can be attributed to the novelty of the list, which is now in its third edition. But he says the higher position also is a result of KTH “having a more focused way of working with rankings.”

Individual goals in which KTH ranked among the top 20 worldwide were Partnerships for the Goals (seventh), Climate Action (seventh), and Sustainable Cities (20th). 

Regarding the Times Higher Education Impact Summit that KTH will host in April 2022 (the replacement date for the event that originally was to take place in April 2020), Östlund says he is eager to see online preparations give way to real life activation.

“I think it will be very positive, not just for KTH as host but for the guests being able to once again participate in these kinds of events - being in Sweden at this time of year, to meet with interesting people in a nice environment including a dinner at the City Hall will be fantastic.”

David Callahan

THE Impact Rankings