Özyeğin University is ranked as the “World’s Top Turkish University”, earning the highest score in THE Impact 2019 Global Ranking for its contributions towards United Nations’ “Sustainable Development Goals”

Ozyegin University was ranked the top Turkish university and 72nd in the overall ranking of the THE Impact published by THE (Times Higher Education), a London based higher education ranking institution. Announced by THE for the first time this year, THE Impact university rankings include 550 universities from 76 countries. 

THE Impact assesses universities based on the social, economic, and environmental practices they have adopted to deliver the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals. The ranking offers a brand new approach that previous international rankings have so far lacked, and reveals the significant societal value universities generate, with and beyond their research and education activities. According to the university rankings, Ozyegin University demonstrated success in all of the 11 sustainable development goals (SDG) considered in the rankings. Especially noteworthy is   OzU’s placement in the top 50 in 3 of the SDGs; namely, 24th in Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), 43rd in Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16), and 48th in Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11).  OzU was also among the top 100, ranked at 98th in “Partnerships for the Goals” (SDG 17), where all 550 universities were considered.   

Özyeğin in the World’s Top 100 in Partnerships for the Sustainable Development Goals:

Özyeğin University has demonstrated success in all of the 11 sustainable development goals (SDG) considered in the rankings. Especially noteworthy is OzU’s placement at 72nd in the overall ranking in which 4 SDGs were considered. OzU was also among the top 100, ranked at 98th in the SDG 17 - “Partnerships for the Goals”, where all universities were considered.

The ranking for the SDG 17 looks at the broader ways in which universities support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The ranking explores the scope of universities’ collaborations with government, industrial organizations, and NGOs to achieve all of the SDGs. Özyeğin University stood out in this goal in recognition of its national and international partnerships, in particular with TUSIAD, its sector-integrated education philosophy, and consulting services offered to government by its faculty.

Özyeğin University was also in the world’s top 50 for its impact in achieving the following 3 SDGs:

The University ranked 24th in the SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production. This ranking focuses on the efficient use of resources and minimizing waste. THE Impact explores universities’ food, waste, and recycling policies and practices towards this SDG. Özyeğin University led the way in this area for its high-impact efforts orchestrated by its Health, Safety and Environment Coordination Office, and for being the first university in Turkey to receive and best implement the ISO 14001 certificate.

Özyeğin University also placed 43rd in the SDG 16 -  Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. This ranking focuses on internal and external stakeholder participation in university management, the university’s combat against corruption and bribery, commitment to academic freedom and financial transparency, providing expert advise to or generating joint research for government, and all kinds of training offered by the Faculty of Law for law makers.  Özyeğin University stood out in this ranking for the formal structure of its stakeholder relationships, existence and effectiveness of relevant policies, and its close partnerships with government.

The University placed 48th in the SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities. This ranking explores universities’ commitment to sustaining and preserving the artistic and cultural heritage of their communities, making sustainability an integral part of their on-campus commuting, construction, and housing practices, and working with local authorities for urban planning. Özyeğin University scored high in this ranking for granting public access to its on-campus works of art, providing rich artistic events, conducting research and projects to preserve cultural heritage, and making significant contributions to urban planning through a series of research projects carried out by the Faculty of Architecture and Design, Faculty of Engineering, and CEEE (the Center for Energy, Environment and Economy). 

These results once again affirmed that Özyeğin University makes valuable contributions to Turkey’s sustainable development by changing our production and consumption habits to reduce our ecological footprint within the scope of SDG 12, establishing societal and institutional structures built on peace, stability, human rights, and supremacy of law within the scope of SGD 16, and contributing to changing our construction and management style for urban spaces within the scope of SDG 11.

The recognition of Özyeğin University’s sustainability efforts was not limited to these goals only. Özyeğin University was also in the world’s top 100, ranking 95th in SDG 5 - Gender Equality and 85th in SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities.  The SDG 5 ranking focuses on universities’ formal structures for gender equality, positive discrimination practices, non-discrimination policies, and rights and facilities offered to staff and students.  The ranking explores universities’ non-discriminatory and positive discriminatory admission policies, need-based scholarship opportunities, the existence of a diversity and equality committee on campus, mentoring or other support programs aimed at students and staff from under-represented groups, and cross-cultural awareness or training campaigns. Özyeğin University also came to the fore in these two goals in recognition of the orchestrated efforts of its Gender Equality Office, the extent of its need-based scholarships, and its comprehensive counseling services for all members of the university.

For more:
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/rankings/impact/2019/overall