THE University Impact 2022: Sustainable industry, innovations and infrastructures are the strengths of the University of Oulu
THE (Times Higher Education) University Impact 2022 ranking examines the effectiveness of universities in reaching the 17 UN goals for sustainable development (sustainable development goal, SDG) aimed at advancing the well-being of people, the environment, and the economy.
The University of Oulu was ranked among the top 200 universities in the goal of “industry, innovation and infrastructure” (SDG9) and among the top 300 universities in the goal of “quality education” (SDG4), “decent work and economic growth” (SDG8), “sustainable cities and communities” (SDG11) and “life on land” (SDG15). The University of Oulu ranked best among Finnish universities in the goals “good health and well-being”, “quality education, and“ decent work and economic growth ”.
The number of universities in this year's rankings rose by a quarter, and the growth in the number of universities has further intensified competition for a good rank. The ranking now involved 1,438 universities and 500–1,100 universities in different goals.
Research score in each of the social development goal is assessed using the number of publications and the references to them. In the case of the University of Oulu, the research score in almost every goal was the best of the subgoals. In addition, the evidence produced by the university community improved the scores of the University of Oulu for many goals.
The University of Oulu purposefully promotes sustainable development through research, societal interaction, and campus development. The university is committed in its values to act responsibly toward society and the environment, to seek solutions for the sustainable use of the earth's resources, and to make ecologically responsible choices in its activities.
In research, the areas of strength in sustainable development are the sustainable and responsible use of natural resources, the bioeconomy and circular economy, the impact of environmental factors on health, research on the changing environment in the Arctic and boreal zone, and how globalisation and environmental change impact human interaction and communities.