Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) is the world’s leading provider of services, analytics, and insight to the global higher education sector, whose mission is to enable motivated people anywhere in the world to fulfil their potential through educational achievement, international mobility, and career development.
The QS Sustainability Rankings provides which institutions are demonstrating a commitment to a more sustainable existence. More than just the commitment, it looks for outwards evidence of this – from the impact that alumni are making in science and technology to solve climate issues, to the impact of research being done across the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals. It evaluates the social, environmental, and governance impact of universities as a center’s of education and research, as well as a major employers with the operational sustainability challenges of any large and complex organization.
QS’ Environmental Impact recognizes the efforts universities are making to transform the planet for the better, whether through its research into areas such as the environment and climate science, a strategic focus on climate mitigation, and how impactful its alumni have been in creating a more sustainable world.
This metric consists of Environmental Sustainability, Environmental Education, and Environmental Research.
QS’ Social Impact recognises the efforts universities are making to transform society for the better, whether through equality measures, sharing the knowledge and learning from others, providing strong outcomes to graduates and ensuring that students have a great experience whilst under their care.
This metric consists of Equality, Knowledge Exchange, Impact of Education, Employability & Opportunities, and Health & Wellbeing.
QS’ Good Governance has been recognized as vital if countries are to pursue and meet the sustainable development goals. They will require strong leadership, transparent and evidence-based decision making, democratic and open justice and the willingness to transfer power out of central government to local centers.
This metric consists of Ethics Culture, Open-Access Publishing, Transparent Financial Reporting, Published Governance Minutes, etc.