Ramon Llull University (URL), of which La Salle-URL is one of its founding members, ranks in the 601-800 range of the best universities in the world in the Impact Ranking 2023 of the Times Higher Education magazine (THE), a study that evaluates the impact of universities in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations (UN).
It is the first time that the URL has participated in this prestigious ranking, managing to be classified in the ten SDGs for which it has collected and shared data. In this sense, the URL appears as the best Catalan university in the eighth SDG, 'Decent work and economic growth', which in this ranking measures the role of universities as drivers of economic growth and their responsibilities as employers. The URL is also above the world average in four other SDGs: 'Gender equality' (5), 'Reduced of inequalities' (10), 'Climate action' (13) and 'Peace, justice and strong institutions' (16).
To evaluate universities in the performance of the SDGs, the Impact Ranking values several indicators that are grouped into three areas: research, dissemination and management. In order to qualify, the ranking asks universities to participate in SDG 17 and, at least, in three more SDGs. With the data obtained, THE draws up two classifications: a global one, based on the results of each university in the three SDGs that have the best rating, in addition to SDG 17; and one specific for each of the 17 SDGs. A total of 1,591 universities from 112 countries around the world have participated in this year's edition.
The URL has an action plan to promote the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, which consists of developing 12 objectives and 20 specific actions. La Salle-URL has a decarbonisation plan through which all kinds of actions and activities are carried out, and whose objective is to work to reduce the carbon footprint on campus and contribute to the creation of a more sustainable world. Recently, undergraduate students from La Salle-URL presented the transversal projects that they have developed linked to the SDGs, in a pioneering activity that seeks to enhance the role of students as promoters of social change.
