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Best universities for reducing inequalities

Explore the top 100 universities for reducing inequalities based on data collected for the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings

    August 3 2023
    Best universities for reducing inequality

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    First-generation students and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds are still poorly represented in higher education. But universities are now working hard to rectify this and the Impact Rankings are an indicator of which institutions are doing this successfully. 

    To put together this ranking we mapped how universities around the world are committing to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs are a global call to action to tackle poverty, climate change and inequality. 

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    The SDGs look to tackle some of today’s biggest global issues and SDG 10 in particular covers reducing inequalities. 

    Some of the metrics that helped measure which universities are excelling at reducing inequalities were the number of first-generation students, the number of students from developing countries, the proportion of students and staff with disabilities, measures against discrimination and the amount of research a university undertakes on reduced inequalities. More information on the methodology can be found here.

    These are the top five universities for reducing inequality:

    1. RMIT University

    RMIT University is committed to working across all the SDGs, and SDG 10 is no exception. 

    RMIT is conducting a number of research projects that explore inequalities in all aspects of society in Australia and beyond. One such project focuses on the liveability of Australian cities through analysing public transport systems, public open spaces, housing affordability, walkability, employment and food and alcohol environments.

    2. Aalborg University

    Aalborg University conducts a range of research projects related to tackling inequalities, looking into social housing, language inequalities, policies for refugees and much more. 

    The university has three research units dedicated to researching inequalities. 

    3. Western Sydney University

    The disability service at Western Sydney University is made up of a team of professional disability advisers and trained educational support staff. The service provides pre-admission advice, academic support and advocacy on disability-related issues.

    There is also a wide range of support for international students. There are guides providing practical advice on living and studying in Australia, as well as important information about mental health and loneliness.

    There is also a specific support centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. 



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    4. University of Canberra

    This year the University of Canberra moves down to number four from number one for SDG 10. 

    The university was an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality for 12 years, until its last submission in 2019. It also received the Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Award as part of the Science in Australia Gender Equity programme in 2020.

    The university conducts research into social inequalities and discrimination. It is also committed to recruiting staff and students from under-represented groups.

    5. University of Huddersfield

    The University of Huddersfield has implemented a range of anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies for students and staff. 

    The university offers mentoring, counselling and peer support to members of the university community: for example, with care-experienced students through the work of care leaver support coordinators, or among staff through the work of diversity champions and the networks for BAME, LGBTQI+, female, and disabled staff.


    The top 100 universities for reducing inequality

    Reducing inequalities rank 2023UniversityCountry/region
    1RMIT UniversityAustralia
    2Aalborg UniversityDenmark
    3Western Sydney UniversityAustralia
    4University of CanberraAustralia
    5University of HuddersfieldUnited Kingdom
    6Dublin City UniversityIreland
    7Ahlia UniversityBahrain
    8London South Bank UniversityUnited Kingdom
    9Sheffield Hallam UniversityUnited Kingdom
    10Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamNetherlands
    11Qatar UniversityQatar
    12University of British ColumbiaCanada
    13Brunel University LondonUnited Kingdom
    14University of BolognaItaly
    15University of LeicesterUnited Kingdom
    16University of SurreyUnited Kingdom
    17KIIT UniversityIndia
    18University of AberdeenUnited Kingdom
    18University of EssexUnited Kingdom
    20University of GreenwichUnited Kingdom
    21University of AucklandNew Zealand
    21Lancaster UniversityUnited Kingdom
    21University of ValenciaSpain
    24Arizona State University (Tempe)United States
    25University of LimerickIreland
    25University of the West of ScotlandUnited Kingdom
    25York UniversityCanada
    28Politecnico di MilanoItaly
    29University of NorthamptonUnited Kingdom
    30University of ReadingUnited Kingdom
    31University of Technology SydneyAustralia
    32Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUnited States
    33University of GlasgowUnited Kingdom
    33University of LiverpoolUnited Kingdom
    35Holy Spirit University of KaslikLebanon
    36University of ExeterUnited Kingdom
    36Keele UniversityUnited Kingdom
    38Monash UniversityAustralia
    39Queen’s University BelfastUnited Kingdom
    40Concordia UniversityCanada
    40University of HullUnited Kingdom
    40University of JohannesburgSouth Africa
    40Nottingham Trent UniversityUnited Kingdom
    44University of the West of EnglandUnited Kingdom
    45American University of the Middle EastKuwait
    45Glasgow Caledonian UniversityUnited Kingdom
    45University of StrathclydeUnited Kingdom
    45University of TorontoCanada
    49Al Ahliyya Amman UniversityJordan
    49McMaster UniversityCanada
    49Montpellier UniversityFrance
    52University of BresciaItaly
    52Iran University of Medical SciencesIran
    52Macquarie UniversityAustralia
    55University of Maryland, Baltimore CountyUnited States
    56James Cook UniversityAustralia
    57Central Queensland UniversityAustralia
    58Old Dominion UniversityUnited States
    59Nanhua UniversityTaiwan
    60University of WollongongAustralia
    61University of South AustraliaAustralia
    62Bournemouth UniversityUnited Kingdom
    63University of BordeauxFrance
    63Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityUnited States
    66Trinity College DublinIreland
    66University of WarwickUnited Kingdom
    68University of SouthamptonUnited Kingdom
    69Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong
    69National and Kapodistrian University of AthensGreece
    71University of Bari Aldo MoroItaly
    72La Trobe UniversityAustralia
    73Bangor UniversityUnited Kingdom
    74ExceliaFrance
    75University of TasmaniaAustralia
    76Florida International UniversityUnited States
    76University of PretoriaSouth Africa
    76University of YorkUnited Kingdom
    79Auckland University of TechnologyNew Zealand
    79University of CalgaryCanada
    79University of WaikatoNew Zealand
    82University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusUnited States
    84Institut Mines-Télécom Business SchoolFrance
    85University of Central LancashireUnited Kingdom
    86Autonomous University of BarcelonaSpain
    86University of New Brunswick UNBCanada
    88Newcastle UniversityUnited Kingdom
    88Rovira i Virgili UniversitySpain
    88University of SussexUnited Kingdom
    91University of WaterlooCanada
    92University of ManchesterUnited Kingdom
    92University of TusciaItaly
    94University of ParmaItaly
    95Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)United Kingdom
    95Gulf Medical UniversityUnited Arab Emirates
    95ISCTE-University Institute of LisbonPortugal
    95University of SaskatchewanCanada
    99De Montfort UniversityUnited Kingdom
    99Queen’s UniversityCanada
    99University of Rennes 1France
    99University of Southern DenmarkDenmark

     

    Editors note: As part of our THE statement on Ukraine published on 2 March 2022, Russian universities have been given less prominence in our rankings. Russian universities that met the criteria for this ranking are not displayed in the table above.

     


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