The University of Gdańsk remains among the world leaders in gender equality, records significant progress and scores the highest nationwide for Goal 10. Reduced inequalities, and confirm its leading position among Polish universities! On June 18, 2025, the results of the seventh edition of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings were published, assessing universities from around the world in terms of their commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The University of Gdańsk is the only Polish university to have prepared a report for 16 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals!
THE Impact is currently one of the most prestigious, comprehensive and fast-developing rankings covering all aspects of higher education institutions' activities in the context of sustainable development. The University of Gdańsk is consolidating its strong leading position in this area in Poland, ranking first in the national ranking for the fourth year in a row. In the 2025 edition, it shares the position of the best university in Poland in the scope covered by the ranking with another Fahrenheit University, Gdańsk University of Technology.
A look at the University of Gdańsk's results in a global context
In the THE Impact 2025 ranking, the University of Gdańsk maintains its place in the 301-400 group, out of over 2,300 institutions from around the world. Maintaining a high global position despite an increase of over 300 new participants in the ranking improves the result in terms of belonging to the group of 15% of leading universities best responding to the challenges of the modern world (in the previous edition, it was in the Top 20%).
UG maintains its leading position in the world in the implementation of Goal 5. Gender equality, ranking 24th among 1,559 institutions that took up this challenge.
It also holds a strong position (101-200) in Goal 10. Reduced inequalities (change from the 201-300 range in 2023 and 2024). The positive and real pro-equality measures taken at the University of Gdańsk, aimed at equalising opportunities for all and counteracting all forms of exclusion, were recognised here. Advancement in Goal 3. Good health and well-being to the 401-600 range (from 601-800 in 2024 and 801-1000 in 2023) out of nearly 1,800 institutions reporting in 2025 confirms the positive trend in the development of the University of Gdańsk towards caring for the well-being of its employees.
The above-mentioned Goals 3, 5 and 10, together with the mandatory Goal 17, were identified by the ranking organisation as those in which the university has achieved the most or made the most progress in the last reporting period.
The University of Gdańsk also ranks high in many other ranking categories. In the 201-300 group, it ranks high in Goals: 11. Sustainable cities and communities, 14. Life below water and 17. Partnerships for the goals. In the 301-400 range, UG was classified in Goals: 15. Life on land (reported for the first time) and 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions.
24th place in the world and highest in Poland in terms of gender equality
Thanks to measures promoting the presence of women in science and in the broadly understood life of the university, the University of Gdańsk achieved excellent results in Goal 5. Gender equality . The situation of women at the university has been the subject of much attention for several years. The development and implementation of a coherent gender equality plan is one of the main objectives of the Senate Committee for Social Responsibility. The result of the Committee's work is a report published in 2020 entitled ‘Women in science. Diversity management and gender equality in the social responsibility of the University of Gdańsk’. The report identified the needs and outlined the objectives, which were described in detail in the ‘Plan for the implementation of gender equality policy at the University of Gdańsk’ published at the end of 2021. The document presents equality measures planned for 2022-2023. The document has been updated for the years 2024-2028 and is currently being implemented within this time frame. Discrimination, including gender discrimination, is addressed by the Office of the Ombudsman for Equal Treatment and Anti-Mobbing.
The annual competition ‘I include gender in research’, organised at the University of Gdańsk since 2022, promotes the inclusion of gender in research. The first three editions of the competition were held as part of the MINDtheGEPs Modifying Institutions by Developing Gender Equality Plans (EU Horizon 2020) project implemented at the University of Gdańsk in 2021-2025. Since 2024, the award has been financed by the Rector of the University of Gdańsk.
The high and still growing percentage of women in top management positions at our university cannot be overlooked: women are strongly represented in the University of Gdańsk's governing bodies and council, as well as in faculty and administrative bodies. All initiatives undertaken systematically strengthen the position of women not only at the University of Gdańsk, but also in partner institutions and in society. This is recognised and appreciated not only by the excellent position of the University of Gdańsk in the analysed ranking - it is worth recalling here that the University of Gdańsk is the only Polish institution to have been honoured with the EU Award for Gender Equality Champions, awarded by the European Commission. The university was awarded in the Newcomer Gender Equality Champions category.
The Fahrenheit University Women's Club is also very active, promoting the role of women in science during regular meetings and integrating the female scientific community of the three largest universities in Gdańsk.
Gender equality activities at the University of Gdańsk are extended to other areas where equal access and equal opportunities for all are important.
The high ranking in Goal 10. Reduced inequalities is a sign of appreciation for the many activities undertaken by, among others, The Disabilities Office and The Office of the Ombudsman for Equal Treatment and Anti-Mobbing. It is worth mentioning here two documents that are important in terms of equality: ‘Policy for counteracting mobbing and discrimination’ and ‘Policy for counteracting discrimination against students and doctoral students at the University of Gdańsk’.
The leading position of the University of Gdańsk among Polish universities
Maintaining its leading position among 25 Polish universities for the fourth year in a row is undoubtedly a huge success for the University of Gdańsk. It is also a sign that we are responding appropriately to the needs of today's world and that the vision of the University of Gdańsk as a responsible and socially committed university is becoming a reality. which intensively develops relations with various stakeholders and involves the widest possible group of citizens and organisations in the process of creating, transferring and disseminating knowledge for the common good.
Of the sixteen issues assessed in the ranking, in five cases, the University of Gdańsk was rated the highest among Polish universities and individually holds the highest national position in Goals: 1. No poverty, 4. Quality education, 5. Gender equality, 10. Reduced inequalities and 14. Life below water. It is worth noting that for the first time, the University of Gdańsk has achieved the highest individual position in the area of quality education among eighteen Polish universities.
In six cases, the University of Gdańsk ranked second in Poland, and in four goals it ranked third among Polish universities, which means that out of 16 parameters assessed, the University of Gdańsk is on the national podium in 15 cases! It is worth noting that universities ranked ex aequo, in one category, are presented in the ranking in alphabetical order. The order in which universities are presented in a given category is not a detailed classification - they occupy equivalent positions.
The University of Gdańsk is the only Polish university to have prepared a report for 16 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. To be included in the THE Impact ranking, a report must be prepared for at least 4 goals, of which goal 17. Partnerships for the goals is mandatory.
The results of the ranking confirm, for another year in a row, that the University of Gdańsk is a university that is able to respond perfectly to the challenges of civilisation , both in a global context, through care for the natural environment, climate and water and land ecosystems, and in a local context, through involvement in the sustainable development of the region, numerous equality initiatives, promotion of women in science and university life, and care for the well-being of every member of our university community. Winning the leading position for the fourth time in a row demonstrates the intellectual, scientific and organisational potential of the University of Gdańsk, which through its activities is building a brand of a university that not only implements and promotes the ideas of sustainable development, but also sets the direction and trends in building a better world - a friendly, open and sustainable world.
Results of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/impactrankings
Full methodology of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025:
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/impact-rankings-2025-methodology