Quality and Practices for Sustainability in Higher Education—An Impact Ranking Approach

Abstract

Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are critical to the growth of society since they are one of the key agents inthe transformation of professionals who will shape the labour market and societal trends.Those interested inuniversity growth Dll1B1: operateasabasis forknowledgedissemination andthe strengthening of sustain­ able practices. The TllD.CS Higher Education {THE) Impact Rankings are the only global performance tables that link universities to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).It assesses how well universities around the world are achieving those SDGs. Thethirdedition of the Impact Rankings, published in2021, covers 1,118 universities from 94 countries and regions.This work: is based on a qualitative analysis of the elements of sustainability and SDGs included inthe THE Impact Rankings for 4 selected Portuguese HEls and onthe elements anddocuments about the issues available intheir websites.The aim of this paper is to contribute to thetheoretical reflectiononthecontribution ofHEis tosustainability andtothe SDGs advocated inthe 2030 Agenda. Through the study of the selected Portuguese HEis it is intended to understand/COITOborate how these institutions are committed and involved insustainability practices and contribution tothe SOOs and amore sustain­ able world. Inconclusion, HEls are committed and involved insustainability prac­ tices, inatrue conttibution to the achievement of thegoalsoutlined for 2030through the SDGs.HEIare committed to ensure that no one is leftbehind or discriminated against, not compromising future generations.