Sustainability :: University of Waikato

How we're tackling the biggest problems facing the world today

The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) underpin all of our activities as an institution, and serve as a valuable framework for how we're addressing some of the biggest challenges facing humanity through our research, teaching, operations and external engagement.

Our performance in the Times Higher Impact Rankings

The 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings confirm the University of Waikato is making excellent progress when it comes to aligning its research, teaching, campus operations and engagement to the biggest challenges facing the world today.

The University is in the 101-200 band out of 2,152 institutions participating in the THE Impact Rankings worldwide.

The Impact Rankings, now in their fifth year, assess how institutions are contributing to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - the key issues identified as the most pressing facing humanity and the planet.

We are proud to be ranked in the top 100 institutions in the world for 5 of the 17 SDGs, including:

SDG5 Gender Equality (=86th in the world)
SDG6 Clean Water and Sanitation (72nd)
SDG8 Decent Work and Economic Growth (=42nd)
SDG15 Life on Land (=63rd)
SDG16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (=35th).

Find out more about our progress towards the SDGs.

QS Sustainability Rankings 2024

The University of Waikato has been recognised in the top 100 universities worldwide in the 2024 QS Sustainability rankings. The rankings highlight how universities are taking action to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues, drawing on the framework provided by the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Universities are ranked on their performance in three areas: Environmental Impact, Social Impact and Governance. We are ranked 36th globally for Environmental Impact and 27th for Environmental Education.

Climate Action Network for International Educators

The University of Waikato has recently become a Signatory to the CANIE Accord, a public commitment to climate action representing the international education sector’s climate ambitions and commitment to align with global climate agreements. By becoming a Signatory to the CANIE Accord, we are strengthening and accelerating the international education sector’s collective response to the climate crisis.

The Climate Action Network for International Educators (CANIE) is a volunteer grassroots initiative formed by international education practitioners from around the world who see the need and opportunity for the sector to take bold climate action. Through open-access resources, specialized events, networking and information sharing, CANIE aims to mobilize the full power of the international education community to address our contribution to the climate crisis.

“I applaud The University of Waikato on showing such leadership in our sector’s transition to more climate-conscious operations,” said CANIE co-founder and President of the Board, Ailsa Lamont. “By signing up to the CANIE Accord, international education leaders commit to real, practical action to combat global temperature rise and, crucially, to doing so in a way that is grounded in social justice.’’

Our progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals

Select a tile to discover how we are contributing to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Introducing our Assistant Vice-Chancellor Sustainability

Dr Joseph (Joe) Ulatowski is the Assistant Vice-Chancellor Sustainability for the University of Waikato. Joe continues to shape the University’s sustainability strategy not only by upholding policies and processes that fit the United Nation’s SDG framework, but also by emphasising the role of cultural values and kaitiakitanga that are vital to the prosperity of the peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand. Joe works with the University’s Sustainability Champions to encourage sustainable changes in individual behaviour across staff and students that have a positive influence on the local and global landscape.

To advance the SDGs we use the power of our Research and our people to make significant, positive contributions on both a local and global scale. The University plays an important role in raising awareness of sustainability among staff, students, and the wider community, and encouraging responsible use of Resources through Research, operational practices, partnerships, teaching and learning.