Dear Colleagues,
Times Higher Education has recently published its Impact Rankings for 2023. This 5th consecutive annual edition of THE Impact Rankings assessed Universities’ economic and social impact against the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This year’s edition of THE Impact Rankings marked the highest performance and distinctions in NKUA’s history, with the University breaking into the top 10 for the first time by placing 9th globally out of 1,081 Higher Educational Institutions for SDG 5, which assesses Universities’ policies and actions on Gender Equality. Moreover, NKUA placed 27th globally for SDG 4 – Quality Education and 69th globally for SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities. Furthermore, NKUA scored exceptionally well and achieved distinctions in four other Sustainable Development Goals, ranking in the 101-200 bracket in all four for the first time in the same year.
The above achievement by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is particularly noteworthy because it places the Institution for the first time among the top ten in the world, on the one hand, and demonstrates in practice the administration’s efforts to create a people-oriented University, one that respects diversity, seeks equality, creates and innovates continuously, and provides an excellent working environment for its academic and administrative staff, on the other.
THE Impact Rankings assessed our University against 8 Sustainable Development Goals. You may find all the relevant information in the table below.
| NKUA’s Score per SDG and Metric | ||||
| SDG | Metric | Score | NKUA Rank | Number of Universities |
| SDG3: Good Health and Wellbeing | Research on health and well-being | 82.1 | 301-400 | 1,218 |
| SDG3: Good Health and Wellbeing | Number of students graduating in health professions | 61 | 301-400 | 1,218 |
| SDG3: Good Health and Wellbeing | Collaborations and health services | 61.1 | 301-400 | 1,218 |
| SDG4: Quality Education | Research on early years and lifelong learning education | 77.2 | 27 | 1,304 |
| SDG4: Quality Education | Proportion of graduates with teaching qualification | 79.1 | 27 | 1,304 |
| SDG4: Quality Education | Lifelong learning measures | 62.5 | 27 | 1,304 |
| SDG4: Quality Education | Proportion of first-generation students | 98.6 | 27 | 1,304 |
| SDG5: Gender Equality | Research on gender equality | 77.8 | =9 | 1,081 |
| SDG5: Gender Equality | Proportion of first-generation female students | 78.6 | =9 | 1,081 |
| SDG5: Gender Equality | Student access measures | 68.2 | =9 | 1,081 |
| SDG5: Gender Equality | Proportion of senior female academics | 75.6 | =9 | 1,081 |
| SDG5: Gender Equality | Proportion of women receiving degrees | 78.5 | =9 | 1,081 |
| SDG5: Gender Equality | Women’s progress measures | 76 | =9 | 1,081 |
| SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Research on economic growth and employment | 71.8 | 101-200 | 960 |
| SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Employment practice | 47.9 | 101-200 | 960 |
| SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Expenditure per employee | 4.9 | 101-200 | 960 |
| SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Proportion of students taking work placements | 98 | 101-200 | 960 |
| SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Proportion of employees on secure contracts | 100 | 101-200 | 960 |
| SDG9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | Research on industry, innovation and infrastructure | 73.5 | 101-200 | 873 |
| SDG9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | Patents citing university research | 100 | 101-200 | 873 |
| SDG9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | University spin offs | 44.8 | 101-200 | 873 |
| SDG9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | Research income from industry and commerce | 99.9 | 101-200 | 873 |
| SDG10: Reduced Inequalities | Research on reduced inequalities | 72.6 | =69 | 901 |
| SDG10: Reduced Inequalities | First-generation students | 99.1 | =69 | 901 |
| SDG10: Reduced Inequalities | Students from developing countries | 62.5 | =69 | 901 |
| SDG10: Reduced Inequalities | Proportion of students with disabilities | 99.5 | =69 | 901 |
| SDG10: Reduced Inequalities | Proportion of employees with disabilities | 87.3 | =69 | 901 |
| SDG10: Reduced Inequalities | Measures against discrimination | 57.9 | =69 | 901 |
| SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | Research on peace and justice | 85.9 | 101-200 | 910 |
| SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | University governance measures | 63.5 | 101-200 | 910 |
| SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | Working with government | 51.7 | 101-200 | 910 |
| SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | Proportion of graduates in law and civil enforcement | 80.1 | 101-200 | 910 |
| SDG17: Partnership for the Goals | Research into partnership for the goals | 70.8 | 601-800 | 1,625 |
| SDG17: Partnership for the Goals | Relationships to support the goals | 46.6 | 601-800 | 1,625 |
| SDG17: Partnership for the Goals | Publication of SDG reports | 56.9 | 601-800 | 1,625 |
| SDG17: Partnership for the Goals | Education for the SDGs | 55.5 | 601-800 | 1,625 |
Source: SDG Impact Overview | THE DataPoints
Thanos Dimopoulos
Rector of NKUA
