June 2, 2023

Innovative Research Universities lead in global impact

The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) is celebrating the positive impact of its members following the release of the 2023 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings.

For the second year in a row, IRU member Western Sydney University (WSU) has come out on top of the international ranking that assesses universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). WSU also came first in the world for three individual SDGs: Gender Equality; Responsible Consumption and Production; and Partnerships for the Goals.

All five IRU members that participated in this year’s exercise are highly ranked, with La Trobe University, Griffith University and the University of Canberra in the top 100 and James Cook University featuring in the 101-200 band.

IRU Chair Professor Paddy Nixon said the result highlights the commitment of IRU members towards meaningful impact in their communities.

“The IRU values inclusion and innovation, delivering results for communities both locally and globally,” he said. “The strong results from our members in the 2023 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings shows that we are delivering on these values.”

“I’d like to congratulate the IRU members involved in this ranking, and acknowledge Western Sydney University for an outstanding two years in a row as number one in the world.”