Massey recognised as global leader in sustainability in 2025 THE Impact Rankings

The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings measure global universities’ success in delivering on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University has one SDG ranked in the top 10 worldwide, three in the top 50 and a further three in the top 100. For the overall result, the university has come in at 84th equal in the world and third in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The 2025 rankings saw an 18 per cent increase in institutions taking part.

Achieving a place in the top 10 was SDG2 Zero Hunger, in which Massey ranked 10th equal, up from 13th in 2024. The university’s excellent research in SDG2 and commitment to sustainable agriculture, in initiatives such as the Whenua Haumanu regenerative farming project, the ‘Can-Can Plus’ campaign to help reduce student hunger, food waste tracking across all campuses and others contributing to the rise.

Ranked in the top 50 worldwide are SDG13 Climate Action, SDG5 Gender Equality and SDG15 Life on Land, for which Massey has ranked 33rd equal, 42nd equal and 49th equal respectively.

The university’s increased score in gender equality research, increasing proportion of female students, high achievement rates for female students, increase in women in senior leadership positions and encouragement of women into typically male-dominated fields, have contributed to the positive ranking for SDG5 Gender Equality.

Massey’s significant increase in SDG13 research this year, and commitment to renewable energy use, research into climate change and campus events to highlight climate action are examples of the university’s work towards SDG13 Climate Action.

SDG15 Life on Land seeks to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Massey also does a lot of exemplary research in this space, from conservation support for endangered birds, to native tree plantings and sustainable agriculture research and practice.

Rounding out Massey’s top 100 rankings are SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities at 54th equal, SDG14 Life Below Water at 73rd equal and SDG7 Affordable and Clean Energy at 80th equal. The strong results in this year’s rankings reflect Massey’s commitment to working with local communities to support SDG-related outcomes, such as the Catchment Solutions project from the School of Agriculture and Environment, which is helping to improve freshwater quality.

Provost Professor Giselle Byrnes says, “The SDGs are vitally important and globally relevant sustainability indicators. Massey’s excellent performance in Zero Hunger, Climate Action, Affordable and Clean Energy and Life on Land, as well as Gender Equality and Sustainable Cities and Communities speaks to our strategic research and teaching strengths and longstanding commitment to sustainability across our university.

“These results, which represent the hard work of many people, are important because they showcase the ways in which our research positively impacts the many communities we exist to serve.”

Find out more about Massey’s commitment to the SDGs and more about Massey’s rankings here.

Results for Massey University:

How is the overall ranking created?

A university’s score for the overall result is calculated by combining its score in SDG 17 with its top three scores out of the remaining 16 SDGs. This result is averaged over the last two years. SDG 17 accounts for 22 per cent of the overall score, while the other SDGs each carry a weight of 26 per cent. This means that different universities are scored based on a different set of SDGs, depending on their focus.