Walailak University continues its remarkable ascent, reaching the 101-200 tier in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2024. The university also ranks jointly 5th in Thailand and has six Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the global Top 100, reflecting its commitment to sustainable development and excellence.

On June 12, 2024, Times Higher Education (THE), the renowned university ranking organization from the United Kingdom, released the results of the 2024 Impact Rankings. These rankings assess universities worldwide based on their contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A total of 2,152 institutions from 125 countries participated, with 77 universities from Thailand included in the rankings.

Walailak University’s performance was exceptional, ranking within the 101-200 bracket globally and securing a joint 5th place in Thailand. This marks a significant improvement from the 401-600 range in the previous year and highlights the university’s dedication to achieving sustainable development goals. Notably, six of Walailak University’s SDG-related initiatives ranked in the global Top 100:

• SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation: Ranked 55th globally and 1st in Thailand.
• SDG 14 – Life Below Water: Ranked 31st globally and 2nd in Thailand, with an impressive rise of 27 positions from the previous year.
• SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: Ranked 63rd globally and 2nd in Thailand, advancing 36 places from last year.
• SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Ranked 81st globally and 4th in Thailand.
• SDG 4 – Quality Education: Ranked 85th globally and 4th in Thailand.
• SDG 2 – Zero Hunger: Ranked 91st globally and 5th in Thailand.

The rankings were based on four main criteria: 1) research related to sustainable development indexed in Scopus, 2) sustainability policies and practices within the university, 3) academic services connected to both Thai and global communities, and 4) education that instills sustainable development concepts.

The growing participation in THE Impact Rankings 2024 reflects the increasing global emphasis on sustainability in higher education. Walailak University’s notable rise demonstrates its status as a leading institution on the global stage, recognized for its contributions to sustainable development. This achievement aligns with the university’s vision of local relevance and global excellence, further validated by the Global Good Governance Awards 2024 for sustainable development and green campus initiatives received in April