23 Pakistani varsities included in ‘THE’ ranking

Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2020 released

ISLAMABAD: As many as 23 Pakistani universities have been included in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2020, which scored 859 varsities from 89 countries for their engagement of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) identified by the United Nations.

This is up from the 10 varsities included in the inaugural rankings last year.

From Pakistan, the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Lahore was the highest-ranked university this year, coming in at 195. Its overall score for SDGs was 75.4-83.3 while it received scores of 68.8 for SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), 67.4-75.1 for SDG 3 (good health and wellbeing),  70.2 for SDG 2 (zero hunger) and  70.7-80.6 for SDG 17 (partnerships for goals).

This was a rise of 100 places for the varsity from its 295 ranking last year.

The Comsats University, Islamabad finished at 221 in the rankings, and second for Pakistan. Its SDG scores were 68.2-75.3. Results for individual SDGs were 72.8 for SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), 48.-/62.3 for SDG 7, 56 for SDG 6 (clean water), and 54.3-62.3 for SDG 17. This was up by over a hundred places from last year’s ranking when it finished at 332.

It was followed by the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) with a ranking of 265. Its SDG scores were  68.2-75.3, including 71.7 for SDG 4 (quality education), 68.1 for SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production),54.5-64.9 for SDG 8, 54.3-62.3 for SDG 17.

Other varsities which made it include the NED University of Engineering and Technology, the Ghulam Ishaq Khan University of Engineering Sciences and Technology, King Edwards Medical University, University of Lahore, University of Malakand, University of Management and Technology, University of Peshawar, PMAS Arid Agriculture University and several other university.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2020.