Sustainability at RGU
United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals
RGU has recently been recognised for its drive towards a more sustainable future after making its debut in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact rankings.
The University has been placed in the 401-600 banding in the global listings for 2023 which focus on highlighting how we are working towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 SDGs were adopted by the UN in 2015 to help provide a more sustainable future for all. More than 1,500 universities are included in the global list.
Find out about all of the UN SDGs:
RGU is focused on the following SDGs: Good Health and Wellbeing, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Sustainable Cities and Communities and Partnership for the Goals.
The University’s best-performing SDGs are:
- SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth – ranked 201 – 300 out of 960 institutions, with a score of 65 points out of 100
- SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing – ranked 301 – 400 out of 1,128 institutions, with a score of 65.1 points out of 100
- SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy - ranked 301 – 400 out of 812 institutions, with a score of 53.6 points out of 100
RGU was rated as 301-400 for SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation with a score of 46.2 points out of 100 and when it came to SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities the University was ranked 301 – 400 with a score of 53.6 points out of 100. For the compulsory SDG 17 Partnership for the Goals the University received a score of 59.2 points out of 100.
The THE Impact rankings demonstrate how higher education institutions across the world are working towards the SDGs. RGU’s overall ranking in the table in is determined by the combined score of its three best-performing SDGs and the compulsory category so the University’s overall score was 67 points out of 100. Globally there are 1,591 universities from 112 countries/regions included in the THE Impact Rankings 2023. Find out more:
RGU promotes good health and wellbeing through sports, which are accessible to staff and students at the University and also within local community.
Over the last two years, RGU has expanded our smart metres infrastructure to cover all our water meters on our Garthdee Campus, Boat House and National Subsea Centre.
RGU has a policy to ensure all renovations or new builds follow energy efficient standards of our Net Zero Emissions Construction, Refurbishment and Maintenance Standard.
Significantly contributing to the future prosperity of the nation underpins our focus on enhancing employability, harnessing talent and skills and promoting an inclusive society to support a just transition to a fairer, wealthier and greener economy.
Community engagement is a key strategic aim and RGU is committed to contributing to the prosperity and health of the region by delivering initiatives and projects focused on promoting sustainable social and cultural development.
RGU cannot achieve the SDGs alone and that is why is vital to work across all levels of local and national government and with the public, private and academic sectors.