The University of Melbourne’s efforts to embed sustainable practises across its operations has secured its position ranked ninth globally in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Sustainability Rankings for the second year in a row.
The University of Melbourne is now also the top ranked Australian university, with an overall score of 98.3 out of a possible 100.
The QS Sustainability Rankings are designed to measure higher education institutions’ performance in nine lenses that sit under three broad categories – Environmental Impact, Social Impact and Governance.
This year, the University of Melbourne is ranked fourth in the world for Social Impact, which includes measures on employability and outcomes, equality, health and wellbeing, impact of education, and knowledge exchange.
These results reflect the University’s focus on increasing access and belonging for all staff and students and enriching our wider community through initiatives including:
- Mandatory training programs for staff and students to support the prevention of and responses to sexual misconduct, and a range of optional training programs to educate our community on disability awareness, trans-affirming workplaces and mental health first-aid.
- Partnering on the development of the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence, an Indigenous-led community hub in Shepparton, and additional community outreach programs including the Africa Community Day building ties with diverse communities.
- The on-campus Food Relief program, providing free, nutritional meals to students struggling in the cost-of-living crisis.
The ratio of women among our University’s senior leadership team has also increased , while the academic staff gender ratio has improved in line with University-wide efforts to support the career progression of women in academia.
Vice-President (Administration and Finance) and Chief Operating Officer Katerina Kapobassis said the latest QS Sustainability Rankings result reinforces the University’s efforts to enhance environmental and social sustainability.
“Being recognised among the world’s leading universities on sustainability is a testament to our collective efforts to embed sustainability and equity into all aspects of our curriculum, research, operations and governance,” Ms Kapobassis said.
“The University of Melbourne is dedicated to empowering its community, ensuring our staff, and students feel included, supported and safe.”
The University will continue to implement its Sustainability Plan 2030, which includes a commitment to be climate positive by 2030.The University of Melbourne’s Sustainability Framework, which includes the Sustainability Plan, can be viewed .
