Overview
- Evaluating body: Times Higher Education (THE), the university ranking organization of The Times (UK)
- Evaluation concept: Assessment of higher education institutions’ responsibility for implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Evaluation indicators: Research outputs and quantitative figures for the 17 UN SDGs, and performance indicators of related programs
- Overall score: Calculated by adding the score of SDG 17 and the top 3 SDG scores among the remaining SDGs
Participation Status
| SDGs | Number of Participating Universities (Global) | Number of Participating Universities (Korea) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | |
| SDG 1. No Poverty | 1,093 universities | 1,267 universities | 18 universities | 21 universities |
| SDG 3. Good Health and Well-being | 1,498 universities | 1,788 universities | 19 universities | 23 universities |
| SDG 4. Quality Education | 1,681 universities | 1,975 universities | 14 universities | 16 universities |
| SDG 7. Affordable and Clean Energy | 987 universities | 1,181 universities | 10 universities | 13 universities |
| SDG 9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | 1,018 universities | 1,156 universities | 21 universities | 26 universities |
| SDG 10. Reduced Inequalities | 1,108 universities | 1,261 universities | 14 universities | 14 universities |
| SDG 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities | 1,026 universities | 1,154 universities | 17 universities | 20 universities |
| SDG 16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | 1,086 universities | 1,214 universities | 13 universities | 14 universities |
| SDG 17. Partnerships for the Goals | 2,031 universities | 2,389 universities | 24 universities | 28 universities |
Detailed Indicators
| SDGs | Detailed Indicator | Weight | SDGs | Detailed Indicator | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG.1 No Poverty |
1-1. SDG 1 Research | 7 | SDG.9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure |
9-1. SDG 9 Research | 3 |
| 1-2. Proportion of Students Receiving Financial Support for Poverty | 7 | 9-2. Patents | 4 | ||
| 1-3. University Poverty Alleviation Programs | 6 | 9-3. Technology Holding Company (Over 3 Years) | 9 | ||
| 1-4. Community Poverty Alleviation Programs | 6 | 9-4. Private Research Income per Faculty | 10 | ||
| SDG.3 Good Health and Well-being |
3-1. SDG 3 Research | 7 | SDG.10 Reduced Inequalities |
10-1. SDG 10 Research | 7 |
| 10-2. Proportion of First-Generation Higher Education Students | 4 | ||||
| 3-2. Graduates in Health-Related Fields | 9 | 10-3. Proportion of Students from Developing Countries | 4 | ||
| 10-4. Proportion of Students with Disabilities | 3 | ||||
| 3-3. Health and Well-being Services | 10 | 10-5. Proportion of Staff with Disabilities | 3 | ||
| 10-6. Anti-Discrimination Policies | 5 | ||||
| SDG.4 Quality Education |
4-1. SDG 4 Research | 7 | SDG.16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions |
16-1. SDG 16 Research | 3 |
| 4-2. Graduates with Teaching Qualifications | 4 | 16-2. University Governance | 4 | ||
| 4-3. Lifelong Learning | 7 | 16-3. Cooperation with Government and Local Authorities | 9 | ||
| 4-4. Proportion of First-Generation Higher Education Students | 8 | 16-4. Proportion of Law Graduates | 10 | ||
| SDG.7 Affordable and Clean Energy |
7-1. SDG 7 Research | 7 | SDG.17 Partnerships for the Goals |
17-1. International Co-authored SDG Research | 6 |
| 7-2. University Energy Policy | 7 | 17-2. Partnerships for the SDGs | 4 | ||
| 7-3. Energy Use Intensity | 6 | 17-3. Open Data for Each SDG | 6 | ||
| 7-4. Energy and the Community | 6 | 17-4. SDG Education | 6 |
2026 THE Impact Rankings – Overall Results
| Domestic Rank | University | 2026 THE Impact Rankings | 2026 QS Sustainability Rankings | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2023 | Oct 2024 | Oct 2025 | Jun 2024 | Nov 2025 | ||
| 1 | Kyungpook National University | 42 | 39 | 3 | 346 | 357 |
| 2 | Pusan National University | 201-300 | 67 | 13 | 268 | 238 |
| 3 | Kyung Hee University | 42 | 23 | 19 | 239 | 244 |
| 4 | Yonsei University | 14 | 11 | 21 | 86 | 92 |
| 5 | Hanyang University | 101-200 | 101-200 | 44 | 136 | 161 |
| 6 | Korea University | 401-600 | 301-400 | 71 | 101 | 95 |
| 7 | Chonnam National University | 301-400 | 201-300 | 98 | 477 | 462 |
| 8 | Ajou University | 101-200 | 201-300 | 101-200 | 653 | 558 |
| 8 | Chung-Ang University | 301-400 | 201-300 | 101-200 | 333 | 346 |
| 8 | Chonbuk National University | 101-200 | 101-200 | 101-200 | 410 | 440 |
| 11 | Kangwon National University | 201-300 | 201-300 | 101-200 | 580 | 512 |
| 12 | Soonchunhyang University | 201-300 | 101-200 | 101-200 | 875 | 822 |
| 12 | Sungkyunkwan University | - | 401-600 | 101-200 | 245 | 187 |
| 12 | Chungnam National University | 201-300 | 301-400 | 201-300 | 512 | 440 |
| 15 | Chungbuk National University | 601-800 | 801-1000 | 301-400 | 710 | 672 |
| 15 | Jeju National University | 401-600 | 401-600 | 301-400 | 649 | 587 |
| 15 | Ewha Womans University | 401-600 | 401-600 | 401-600 | 363 | 363 |
| 15 | Gyeongsang National University | 601-800 | 801-1000 | 401-600 | 1351-1400 | 629 |
| 15 | Konkuk University | - | 801-1000 | 401-600 | 465 | 495 |
| 15 | Sogang University | 401-600 | 401-600 | 401-600 | 735 | 599 |
| 15 | The Catholic University of Korea | - | 601-800 | 401-600 | 893 | 860 |
| 22 | Gachon University | - | - | 801-1000 | 677 | 658 |
| 23 | Dankook University | - | - | 1001-1500 | 805 | 640 |
| 23 | University of Ulsan | 1001+ | 1001-1500 | 1001-1500 | 911-920 | 824 |
| 23 | Dongseo University | - | - | 1501+ | - | - |
| 23 | Hanseo University | 1001+ | 1501+ | 1501+ | - | - |
| 27 | Kyungdong University | - | - | 1501+ | - | - |
| 27 | Woosong University | - | 1501+ | 1501+ | - | - |
