The world's best teaching and research on education can be found at Aalborg University (AAU). According to a new list of universities contributing the most – and the very best – to meeting the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, AAU occupies a distinguished first place for Goal 4 on quality education.
The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, one of the world's most recognized ranking lists, ranks AAU as number one when it comes to ensuring and disseminating quality education that supports global sustainable development.
LEADING IN RESEARCH ON EDUCATION AND PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING
- First place is an enormous recognition of AAU, emphasising that we are a world leader in education and in research on education. We have very strong research environments on problem-based learning (PBL). Our unique pedagogical model of problem- and project-based learning, where student learning is based on real-life issues, directly addresses the UN's global goals. AAU focused on global sustainable development long before it was on everyone's lips. Most recently, our megaprojects involve students across semesters and programmes working together to find sustainable solutions, says Inger Askehave, Pro-rector for Education.
- In our ranking, Goal 4 covers both research on education and the opportunities universities offer for learning throughout one’s entire life. We also look at how individual universities support education in their country, including in relation to the availability of knowledge and the training of the next generation of teachers. Aalborg University performs excellently across all these areas, says Michael Caruana, Strategic Solutions Director at Times Higher Education.
NUMBER 10 IN THE WORLD IN SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
AAU also occupies an impressive position for Goal 7 which deals with sustainable energy. AAU is number 10 in the world and the best of the European universities.
- A good one in four researchers at AAU is involved in sustainable energy research. This is an immense contribution to the green transition, both in Denmark and the rest of the world. At the same time, AAU educates thousands of new graduates every year, who are then equipped to play a direct role in sustainable solutions in companies – partly because they have already learned to work with NGOs, public sector authorities and the business community, says Rector Per Michael Johansen.
When overall performance on the Sustainable Development Goals based on a total of 766 universities in 85 countries is measured, AAU ranks 23rd in the world – a significant increase from last year's ranking of number 92.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Times Higher Education is one of the world's most recognized rankings of universities. The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings is the only global ranking list that measures universities on their performance in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals through their education, research and global cooperation.
See the complete Times Higher Education Impact Rankings here
AAU megaprojects were launched in 2019. Students across programmes and semesters work closely together to solve global problems.
Learn more about the AAU megaprojects here
CONTACT
- Bo Jeppesen, Chief Strategic Advisor (contact for Rector Per Michael Johansen and Pro-rector Inger Askehave), Mobile: +45 61 40 40 61, Email: boje@adm.aau.dk
- Trine Kristensen, Journalist, AAU Communication, Mobile: +45 61 96 71 91, Email: tjek@adm.aau.dk