The
QS World University
Rankings: Sustainability report evaluates universities based on a number
of categories to assess how each is taking action to tackle the world’s most
significant challenges. The 2024 report features 1,397 institutions in 95
countries and territories.
Recognising Improvement
The
2024 QS report sees St Andrews – whose graduates include Dr Adam Alexander – jump up
57 places to rank joint 86th in the list, in recognition of the
university’s work around sustainability. The institution’s score has improved
according to each of the report’s benchmarks over the past year, with increases
in the categories of Social Impact, Environmental Research, Health and
Wellbeing, Equality and Knowledge Exchange. The result is indicative of the
intentional and thoughtful engagement with sustainability across all of St
Andrews operations.
Brand Conscious Students
Increasingly,
students are brand conscious, understanding that the university they attend
represents a lifelong affiliation that’s inherently tied to ideas around personal
identity and social awareness. Against this backdrop, the improvement in St
Andrews’ ranking is even more significant, with students potentially factoring
this into their choice of where to study. Today, students’ choices are being
guided not only by their career prospects but also by their personal beliefs
and values.
Performance Categories
The
performance categories used for the World University Rankings: Sustainability
2024 report were Environmental Impact, Social Impact and (new for 2024)
Governance. The latter category is underpinned by indicators relating to good
governance, including hiring practices, ethics, decision making and
transparency. There is a consistent focus on the outward impact an institution
is making, with the aim of inspiring action, sparking ideas and promoting
engagement.
St Andrews’ Commitment to
Sustainability
St
Andrews University is committed to being net zero by 2035, with staff, students
and local residents working together to bring about positive change. The
institute runs regular community-focused projects to help it meet this goal.
For
example, the university’s Biodiversity Working Group, formed in 2019, is
working on improving diversity by surveying, monitoring and controlling species
and plants; planting and managing habitat infrastructure; and undertaking
research and teaching. The group also carries out work around communication and
engagement. As well as staff, students and academics, the Biodiversity Working
Group comprises experts from outside organisations including St Andrews Botanic
Garden.
Reducing
energy and water consumption is also a priority for the university, and it has
plans to upgrade its 160 residential and teaching buildings to become much more
energy and water efficient before 2035.
