GEORGE TOWN: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has inched even closer towards becoming a top sustainability-led university after being placed at No.4 in the recent Times Higher Education (THE-GIR) 2022 global sustainability rankings.
The THE-GIR rankings measure the contributions made by an institution and its community in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations by 2030.
This includes the initiatives taken by the institution together with its partners in fulfilling the requirements of the SDGs.
A total 1,406 higher educational institutions participated in the latest ranking exercise based on the 17 SDGs.
In the latest listings released by THE-GIR, USM is ranked at #4, a huge jump compared to when it was ranked in 2021 at #39.
In addition to showing an increase in scores in all 17 SDGs, USM is also highly-ranked in four SDGs among the 17, namely SDG 5 (Gender Equality), where it portrays USM's success in promoting research based on gender, the percentage of female academics, percentage of female graduates and in measuring the overall success of the fairer sex.
Apart from that, USM is highly-placed in SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), where it reflected the role of USM in taking measures relating to energy efficiency and renewable energy, and its applications in the community.
USM managed to obtain a score of 96.4 for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) when its efforts in research, management, linkages with authorities and student involvement were also given recognition.
USM even obtained a full score for SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals), itself a compulsory SDG to be measured in the THE-GIR ranking exercise, in showing the strong connections that the university has with other partners at various levels, including the community and the industry, as they work together to achieve the goals. This encapsulates the moves toward instilling a culture of sustainability among the university community.
USM Board of Governors chairman Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin, in expressing gratitude and his proud feelings, said this was the highest acknowledgement given to USM.
"This bears testimony that USM can become a world leader in sustainable initiatives, especially in raising the quality of life for all of mankind, more specifically for the communities in the country.
"Examples can be seen in the recognition given on the efforts by USM for SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), both reflecting the concerns for the welfare of the students, staff and even the surrounding community, especially the poor and those at the lower rungs of society.
"The rankings are of great significance in measuring the contributions made by the university to society and the country, which undoubtedly is the responsibility that should be shouldered by a higher educational institution.
"We will continue to ensure that the university maintains its leading position in this field, now that we have been given the acknowledgement and recognition on this noble effort," he said today.
USM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan said the success was an absolute acknowledgement, befitting the aim of USM in becoming the institution that leads in global sustainability as part of the APEX aspiration.
"Various measures have been taken and continuously monitored all the while to ensure that sustainability will be the norm of the campus community."
"USM has even readied various infrastructure and policies regarding this matter," he added.
He also congratulated and thanked those who had been involved in the implementation of such measures, and in qualifying USM and ensuring success with the recognition.
Meanwhile, USM deputy vice-chancellor (Sustainability and Institutional Development) Professor Dr Md Roslan Hashim described the success as the outcome of a collective effort from various parties, with regard to the huge amount of data on sustainable efforts that had been amassed from those on campus, and how each effort had made an impact on society.
"USM has also established a University Sustainability Council that effectively prepares guidelines and monitors initiatives made by the university, especially the role of the Centre for Global Sustainability Studies which coordinates and compiles all the relevant data," said Md Roslan.
He emphasised that the focus given on this matter reflected the seriousness of the university in aligning higher educational institutions and the responsibility that needed to be upheld in bringing development and growth to society and country, in addition to maintaining the standards in academics.