The University of Cape Town (UCT) has been ranked ninth in the world for its clean water and sanitation management under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, published by the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings.
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Rankings are calculated using four categories: the knowledge or research that universities use to address issues in society, whether universities act as stewards of their resources (including physical resources, employees, faculty and students), the work that universities do with local and international communities, and whether universities ensure that skilled practitioners deliver on the SDGs and follow up on alumni to continue integrating their lessons on sustainability in their future careers.
The university also placed among the top 100 in other United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) areas, namely: no poverty (51st), gender equality (47th) and partnerships for the goals (76th). For the remaining five UN SDGs, the university placed within the top 200.
‘We are fast running out of time to achieve the targets set out in the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, particularly on the African continent, which is at the sharp end of these challenges,’ says Vice-Chancellor (Interim) Emeritus Professor Daya Reddy. ‘It is more important than ever for institutions of higher education to pursue the agenda through collaborative research of high quality, while also educating the next generation of leaders and having them set an example on their own campuses.’
Reddy says the university’s Vision 2030 initiative is led under the theme ‘Unleash human potential to create a fair and just society’. ‘This vision, we feel, encapsulates the mission of the UN SDGs and the African Union Agenda 2063, the latter of which importantly provides continent-specific goals. The Impact Ranking results demonstrate UCT’s commitment to contribute towards addressing the continent’s grand challenges.’
This is the third year that UCT has participated in THE’s Impact Rankings. It submitted a total of nine SDGs for the 2023 rating:
- SDG 1 – no poverty: 51st
- SDG 3 – good health and well-being: 101–200 band
- SDG 5 – gender equality: 47th
- SDG 6 – clean water and sanitation: 9th
- SDG 8 – decent work and economic growth: 101–200 band
- SDG 10 – reduced inequalities: 101–200 band
- SDG 11 – sustainable cities and communities: 101–200 band
- SDG 16 – peace, justice and strong institutions: 101–200 band
- SDG 17 – partnerships for the goals: 76th (tied)
For the overall global ranking, UCT placed in the 101 to 200 band.
‘Water scarcity is an increasing threat to health and well-being on the African continent, particularly in urban environments,’ says Professor Sue Harrison, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Internationalisation. ‘Further, its scarcity constraints developments in both industry and agriculture, demanding effective re-use of fit-for-purpose quality water. UCT’s Future Water Institute produces impactful research in this field by pulling together researchers across disciplines, and from all UCT’s faculties, to increase knowledge and understanding, and to produce potential solutions, collaborating closely with communities, policymakers and industry.’
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