Commitment to environment earns KTH high place in sustainability ranking

Published by QS World University Rankings, the Sustainability 2025 list awarded KTH a higher total of points than in the previous year’s results (90.2 as opposed to 86.2). Nevertheless, the number of universities considered this year has expanded from 1,397 to 1,751 and KTH’s place in the rankings turned out to be lower than the previous year (58^th).  

The QS rankings place KTH fourth among Swedish universities, after Lund University, Uppsala University and University of Gothenburg.

KTH Deputy President Mikael Lindström says the difference in KTH’s placement and score year over year could reflect a growing emphasis on sustainability by educational institutions worldwide.

He says KTH’s results underscore the university’s reputation as a progressive institution that is committed to societal betterment, and to creating attractive opportunities for prospective students who value socially impactful education.

“A strong performance in these rankings suggests that KTH is actively contributing to societal challenges, particularly in areas related to sustainable development, climate change, and social responsibility,” Lindström says. “It indicates a curriculum enriched with sustainability-oriented courses and research opportunities, allowing students to engage with real-world problems and develop the skills necessary to address them in their future careers.”

The QS ranking evaluates the social and environmental impact of universities as a centres of education and research, as well as a major employers with the operational sustainability challenges of any large and complex organization.

KTH received especially high marks (99.7 out of 100) for Environmental Impact, a scoring area that assesses the institution’s strategy and operations towards an environmentally sustainable future. It looks at whether or not an institution has committed to environmental impact alleviation and whether it has demonstrated that commitment. The final score is based on aggregated data from alumni, operations and policies, staff perceptions and reporting and governance.

KTH was awarded a score of 94.4 out of 100 for Good Governance, a category which takes account of the democratic process of appointing university leadership, as well as open and documented decision making, and distribution of power not only in the hands of the executive, but across the institution and including the students. 

Social Impact is another area where KTH garnered high marks, including 89.6 for Equality, 92.5 for Knowledge Exchange, 83 for Education Impact, 92.2 for Employability and Opportunities and 99.2 for Health and Well-Being.

David Callahan (story and photo)