The University of Pretoria (UP) placed 167th out of 1,744 universities from around the world ranked in the 2025 QS World University Sustainability Rankings.
The rankings measure the social and environmental impacts of universities across various aspects related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UP improved its overall score to 80.8 from 79.6 in the previous year.
In Africa and South Africa, UP maintained its no. 3 position, despite a 63% increase in the number of ranked universities in Africa. UP is ranked No. 1 in Africa and South Africa for Governance, which measures whether ranked institutions are fostering “good leadership, a democratic process of appointing their leadership, open and documented decision-making, and power not only in the hands of the executive, but across the institution and including the students that they serve.”
The third edition of the QS Sustainability Rankings was released earlier this month.
Compared to the 700 universities ranked in the first edition in 2022 and 1,403 universities ranked in the second edition in 2023, the latest edition ranks 1,744 universities (a 25% increase).
The number of ranked universities in Africa increased from 43 to 70 and the number of ranked universities in South Africa (SA) increased from 12 to 13. UP improved its overall score in seven out of 11 indicators and maintained its score in three. In terms of global rank, UP improved its position in the following categories and indicators compared to the 2024 rankings: Governance (No. 31), Environmental Education (73), Impact of Education (251), and Employability and Outcomes (389).
UP is ranked in the top 50 in the world for Knowledge Exchange (29) and Governance (31); top 200 in the world for Environmental Education (73) and Environmental Impact (197); and top 250 in the world for Social Impact (210) and Equality (243). The university fell just outside of the top 250 for Impact of Education (251).
“I am immensely proud of the remarkable strides we continue to make in advancing our global impact, both locally and internationally,” said UP’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Francis Petersen.
“Our rankings in Knowledge Exchange, Governance, Environmental Education, Equality, and the Impact of Education reflect our unwavering commitment to fostering excellence in all facets of university life. Our position as the number one university in South Africa and Africa in areas such as Knowledge Exchange and Governance demonstrate the profound influence we have in shaping research, policy, and social transformation.”
Petersen added that these achievements testify to UP’s strategic focus on collaboration, ethical leadership, and a shared responsibility to address societal challenges through education and research. The QS World University Sustainability Rankings use three broad categories – Environmental Impact, Social Impact and Governance – underpinned by several performance lenses and indicators to determine final ranking position.
Some key points about UP’s performance across various measurements include knowledge exchange: UP is ranked 29th globally and No. 1 in South Africa and Africa.
Governance: UP is ranked 31st globally and No. 1 in South Africa and Africa.
Environmental Education: UP is ranked 73rd globally and No. 2 in South Africa and Africa.
Equality: UP is ranked No. 243 globally and No. 3 in South Africa and Africa.
Impact of Education: UP is ranked No. 251 globally and No. 3 in South Africa and Africa.
Petersen applauded all the participating universities for their commitment to working towards global sustainability. “The University of Pretoria remains steadfast in our mission to empower individuals, foster entrepreneurship, and engage both local and global networks to drive positive change across the African continent and beyond,” he said.
These achievements are deeply aligned with UP's strategic goals, which emphasise sustainability, inclusivity and the creation of knowledge that is both globally relevant and locally impactful.