Latest Results of the Times Higher Education University Impact Ranking Published
On June 18, the results of the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking 2025 (THE Impact Ranking 2025) were published. Among the world’s leading universities, several Latvian universities were named, including the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) which for the fifth consecutive year has been included in the ranking. This year, LBTU is ranked in the group of universities placed between "1001 and 1500" globally, for successfully implementing sustainability goals. The ranking evaluates universities’ effectiveness in promoting sustainable development worldwide, including social, economic, and environmental aspects.
THE Impact Ranking measures universities’ activities according to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), covering social and economic development challenges such as poverty, hunger, health, education, global warming, gender equality, water supply, sanitation, energy, urbanization, nature conservation, and social justice. Each university is assessed by selecting at least four of the UN SDGs. The 2025 Impact Ranking is the seventh edition and includes 2,526 universities from 130 countries or territories.
The published 2025 ranking compiles information on LBTU’s performance in achieving four sustainable development goals. LBTU scored highest in the ranking’s percentage points in Goal 16, "Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions," receiving 57.9 points. The university also ranks highly in Goal 17, "Partnerships for the Goals," with 44.0 points, and Goal 15, "Life on Land," with 43.6 points. In Goal 11, "Sustainable Cities and Communities," LBTU achieved 38.6 points.
Leading positions in the Impact Ranking are held by well-known universities such as Western Sydney University, University of Manchester, and Kyungpook National University.
From Latvia, other universities meeting the ranking’s quality criteria include University of Latvia, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga Technical University, Transport and Telecommunication Institute, and EKA University of Applied Sciences. In the Baltic states ranking, seven universities from Lithuania are represented – Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Mykolas Romeris University, Klaipeda University, Vytautas Magnus University, SMK University of Applied Sciences, and Vilnius Gediminas Technical University – as well as one from Estonia – Estonian Academy of Arts.
LBTU is one of Latvia’s leading multidisciplinary science universities specializing in the sustainable use of natural resources. Research at the university and associated scientific institutes is conducted in three main areas – life sciences, engineering sciences, and social sciences. Research is closely integrated into the university’s academic programs, extending across bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral study programs.