By Office of Public Affairs
April 21, 2021 -- The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok ranks 15th in the world in the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2021 for its work to end poverty, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: SDG1 – No Poverty. Work on four other SDGs also positions the institute in the global top 100.
The THE Impact Rankings measure how universities worldwide are performing against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With over 1,200 universities from 98 countries participating, the overall results place AIT in the global top 101-200, with five individual goals in the top 100, as follows:
15th for SDG1 No Poverty – for its research on poverty, number of financial aid provided, anti-poverty program at university level, and anti-poverty program at community level. For this specific goal, AIT has long been recognized for providing education to students from countries where poverty is an issue and of its success in producing graduates who return home to help eradicate poverty in their countries. (Last year, the institute ranked 19th in the world for SDG1.)
58th for SDG17 Partnership for the Goals – scoring top marks for its relationships cultivated through collaborations with global partners to support and achieve the goals and publication of SDG reports, the institute is also recognized for its research and education for the SDGs. This goal is compulsory for inclusion in the overall rankings.
64th for SDG14 Life Below Water – in recognition of AIT’s support on aquatic ecosystem education, support on aquatic ecosystem action, SDG14 research, local ecosystem maintenance, and water-sensitive waste disposal.
67th for SDG2 Zero Hunger – part of the global effort to ensure food security, AIT is recognized for its number of graduates in agriculture, programs to eliminate student hunger, SDG2 research, programs to eliminate national hunger, and its management of campus food waste. Last year, the institute ranked 86th for this goal.
80th for SDG 15 Life on Land – notable for the institute’s support on land ecosystem education, land-sensitive waste disposal, support on land ecosystem action, and SDG15 research.
In addition, AIT also ranks in the top 200 for its work on Clean Water and Sanitation/SDG6; Affordable and Clean Energy/SDG7; and Sustainable Cities and Communities/SDG11.
President Eden Woon of AIT said: “AIT is delighted that once again, we ranked high in SDG1—No Poverty—in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings this year. This is a very important SDG, and this is a recognition of the work of our faculty and students in education and in research on eradicating poverty in their home countries. We are also pleased with our overall rankings improvement this year. However, we will study in earnest to make sure we continue to make improvements in our work on sustainability.”
The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings assesses universities worldwide against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using indicators in four areas: research, teaching, outreach and stewardship. THE’s aim is to be a catalyst for action, a mechanism for holding universities to account, and an opportunity for the universities to highlight their great work.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by every member state of the United Nations, are an urgent call for action to end poverty which requires in parallel the improvement in health and education, reduction in inequality, stimulation for economic growth, solution to climate change, as well as preservation of oceans and forests.