3rd place in Poland and 167th in Europe - the University of Gdańsk achieved the highest score in the region in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026! The university also took the top spot on the national podium and second place among Eastern European universities in the Environmental Impact category.
The leading global ranking agency, QS World University Rankings, has addressed the current and important topic of sustainable development by developing a ranking that measures the commitment of universities to this issue.
QS World University Rankings: Sustainability - a unique approach to assessing universities in terms of selected ESG elements
The methodology is based on three main components: Social Impact, with a weight of 45% of the final score, Environmental Impact, with the same weight, and Governance, with a weight of 10%.
These components of the university assessment correspond to the obligation to collect and disclose ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) data, which is gradually being introduced in the business sector by the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
QS World University Rankings: Sustainability - methodology
Such a comprehensive approach to the issue is reflected in a rather complex methodology. The three main evaluation criteria mentioned above consist of individual components - for example, under the Social Impact criterion, the evaluation covers equality measures at universities (8 indicators make up the final score), knowledge exchange (4 indicators), the impact of education (5 indicators), graduate employability and prospects (6 indicators), and health and well-being (3 indicators). The Environmental Impact criterion was assessed on the basis of the degree of sustainable development (10 indicators) and environment-related education and research (3 and 4 indicators, respectively). The Institutional Management assessment was developed on the basis of 10 indicators, without grouping them by topic.
The universities assessed in this ranking had to prepare a detailed and comprehensive report enabling a very thorough evaluation of 53 individual indicators.
University of Gdańsk in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026 - a place on the podium among the best Polish universities
In the overall QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026, the University of Gdańsk was ranked 363rd in the world, 167th in Europe and 3rd among 26 Polish universities. Compared to last year, we improved our overall score from 72.1 to 74.5 out of a possible 100 points. This time, the Jagiellonian University took the lead in Poland (79.1/100 points, 271st place in the world), followed by the University of Warsaw (78.1/100, 286th place). Significant positions in the top 500 were taken by Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (70.6/100, 455th place) and Gdańsk University of Technology (69.7/100, 479th place). The remaining Polish universities were ranked lower - seven institutions made it into the top 1,000, while another 14 were ranked below 1,000th place.
The University of Gdańsk took the top spot on the national podium and second place among Eastern European universities in category E - Environmental Impact. This gives us 134th place among European universities and 306th in the world, confirming the highest quality of teaching and research for the environment. The highest-rated issues here are sustainable education - the leading position in Poland and 189th place in the world) and sustainable institution (understood as the strategy and actions of institutions for a sustainable future of the environment) - in this category, we also received the highest marks among all Polish universities.
In category S - Social Impact, UG ranks 4th in Poland and 526th in the world (the highest-rated aspects are equality - 360th place in the world - and quality of life - 394th place in the world). In the G - Governance category, the University of Gdańsk also maintains a strong position in Poland (4th) and worldwide (270th), confirming the highest quality in institutional management.
Once again, by taking a leading position in the ‘social’ ranking, our university has confirmed its strong position among Polish and global universities in facing the challenges posed by the modern world.
Benefits of participating in sustainable development rankings
In total, 2,001 universities from around the world, including 620 European and 26 Polish universities, were evaluated in this year's edition of the ranking. Interest in being assessed in this ranking is growing steadily year on year. The previous edition covered 1,751 universities from around the world, 563 European institutions and 22 Polish institutions. For universities, the results provide information on whether their chosen direction and development strategy correspond to global development trends set for higher education institutions and whether the quality of their research and education allows them to make a significant impact on the community and the environment. The ranking assesses the social and environmental impact of universities as employers and centres of education and research that face the challenges of sustainable development in a complex organisation. Another objective of this ranking, as well as other rankings measuring the commitment of higher education institutions to sustainable development issues, is to provide students with unique insight into which institutions are committed to building a safer, more friendly world. The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability does not limit itself to measuring commitment alone, but seeks external evidence of it – from the impact graduates have on science and technology to address climate issues, to the impact of research conducted under the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Link to the full ranking results: https://www.topuniversities.com/sustainability-rankings
Link to the ranking methodology: https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/sustainability-rankings/methodology