Research | Queen’s University Canada

Queen’s places 8th globally in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

Queen’s places 8th globally in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

Written by:
Dave Rideout
June 13, 2024
Dave Rideout
June 12, 2024
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The university earns its fourth consecutive top 10 finish in the worldwide assessment of progress on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

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The university earns its fourth consecutive top 10 finish in the worldwide assessment of progress on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

For the fourth straight year, Queen’s has secured a top 10 spot in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, finishing eighth globally and second in North America out of more than 2,100 institutions from 125 countries. It is the only Canadian university to achieve this milestone since the rankings launched in 2019.

The THE Impact Rankings measure how well universities advance the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These 17 goals were established by UN member nations in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030.

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"The Queen’s community should be very proud of this year’s results, as they show that our institution’s commitment to tackling the world’s greatest challenges remains strong and is supported by real action. This recognition highlights the dedicated efforts of our faculty, staff, and students in creating meaningful change. Our performances in the Impact Rankings have raised Queen’s profile internationally and continue to open doors for collaboration and opportunities to have even more impact."

– Patrick Deane, Principal and Vice-Chancellor

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Two researchers examine a specimen
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Queen’s submitted over 400 pieces of evidence for evaluation by THE adjudicators, contributed by over 50 Queen’s departments and units. THE’s evaluation analyzes this evidence using 100 metrics and 220 measurements to judge overall performance, including research output related to SDGs.

Since its launch in 2019, the THE Impact Rankings have been growing steadily. Institutions from a record 125 countries made submissions to the THE Impact Rankings this year, up from 76 in 2019, and the number of participating schools has grown from 450 to over 2,100 in that period. Between 2023 and 2024 alone, the number of participants increased 26 per cent.

Queen’s submission includes evidence demonstrating our leadership and progress on the SDGs that impact local, national, and global communities.

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"There’s no question about it – Canadian universities lead North America, standing head and shoulders above U.S. universities, and indeed most universities in the world, in Times Higher Education’s Impact Rankings 2024. This is all the more impressive given the context, with significantly increased worldwide competition in the ranking, with 447 more universities in it compared with last year."

– Phil Baty, Times Higher Education’s Chief Global Affairs Officer

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Queen's University Biological Station

Making a global impact

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Among the hundreds of pieces of evidence reviewed by THE adjudicators were Queen’s research, teaching, and outreach initiatives that are helping to shape a better future for people and the planet. With efforts spanning sustainable development goals, from those that advance human health to those that encourage peace and social stability, Queen’s demonstrated notable commitment and progress.

A leading example: The Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG), headquartered at Queen’s, is a global network of experts that conducts extensive research and trials in search for new therapies and treatments for cancer.

Queen’s is also supporting people affected by conflict and political instability through programs like the Principal’s Global Scholars and Fellows Program, Scholars at Risk, and the Artist Protection Fund.

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Hockey teams poses for a photo on the ice rink.

Contributing to Canada’s SDG work

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The submission also highlighted how our community is advancing SDG progress right here in Canada, with impacts on education access and the environment.

Access to education is being advanced by projects like the Weeneebayko Health Education Program, which prepares Indigenous students for healthcare careers while improving patient outcomes and addressing healthcare gaps in Northeastern Ontario.

Alongside other universities, Queen’s is actively tackling climate change, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing climate research and teaching. The university’s Climate Action Plan aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, with significant progress already made. Wide-ranging research projects are helping to advance climate action too, with projects like Open Plastic, the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory, the Queen’s University Biological Station (QUBS), the Queen’s University Phytotron, helping to preserve our environments and ecosystems.

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Two students walk through Queen's campus.

Helping close to home

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The THE Impact Rankings take a close look at what universities do to positively impact local communities as well.

Our Ban Righ Centre supports women returning to education with advice, workspaces, meals, and financial aid, and the Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre offers holistic support, mentorship, and cultural programs for Indigenous students on campus. Queen’s Career Gateway Program creates job opportunities for vulnerable community members, and the Major Access Awards provide significant financial aid to high-need university applicants.

Queen’s workplace United Way campaign is the region's largest, contributing 10 per cent of the local charity’s annual fundraising target. Students support the local community too, with their Queen's Cure Cancer Classic initiative and the Queen's Relay for Life having collectively raised millions of dollars over the past few years.

Together, these and other important initiatives are advancing gender equality and education access and reducing inequalities.

"These rankings give us an incredible opportunity to realize the scale of universities’ impact around the world," says Patrick Deane. "They also tell us that, even with the significant progress we continue to make in advancing the SDGs, there is still more work we can do as a sector to address the world’s most urgent challenges and make a tangible difference."

Learn more about Queen’s performance in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.