UBC ranked first within Canada and tied third globally in one of the subcategories of social impact—creating a climate of social equality in the university’s operations and research—in the new Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings: Sustainability.
As part of these efforts, UBC is focused on nine priority areas identified by a task force of students, staff and faculty formed in response to the climate emergency, such as supporting climate initiatives led by Indigenous, Black and people of colour, strengthening climate research and developing partnerships to tackle the climate emergency, and others. The first report on progress against these strategic priority areas is now available.
For example, the university is contributing to a five year research and engagement network to research nature-based solutions to sea-level rise informed by Indigenous knowledge and perspectives.
UBC also ranked 18th globally in knowledge exchange, which measures how the university partners with industry and others to share knowledge and drive educational growth.
“UBC researchers bring interdisciplinary perspectives and partner with industry, government, communities and non-profit organizations to advance research to benefit society. We are continually looking to find ways to support these collaborations most effectively in order to tackle social issues globally and locally,” said Dr. Gail Murphy, vice-president, research and innovation.
The QS rankings rate more than 700 institutions on their actions to tackle the world’s greatest environmental, social and governance challenges.