Florida Tech a Top 100 University in New ‘Times Higher Education’ Ranking
‘University Impact’ Focus of New Assessment
MELBOURNE, FLA. — A new ranking from Times Higher Education (THE) has highlighted Florida Tech’s strength in sustainability research, its success in serving as a “community custodian” of arts and heritage, and the impact of its internal approaches to sustainability.
THE’s University Impact Rankings included more than 450 universities from 76 countries. The ranking measures institutions’ success in delivering the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Those goals, including providing inclusive and equitable quality education and fostering innovation, were adopted by the UN in 2016 and provide a framework for developing the world in a sustainable way.
Florida Tech earned its highest marks in the Sustainable Cities and Communities goal, finishing at No. 85 overall in this global category. It was one of just 22 U.S. schools ranked for the goal and the only one in Florida.
“The rankings offer an alternative view of university excellence,” said Phil Baty, chief knowledge officer at THE. “They help develop an unprecedented picture of the extraordinary impact that universities have across a huge range of activities.”
Florida Tech was credited for several facets under the Sustainable Cities and Communities goal, including:
- Free public access to its botanical garden, museums and library
- Its public theater and music performances
- Its commitment to sustainable commuting as indicated by the Panther Trolley and Shuttle system, which provide more than 35,000 rides annually, as well as the electric car charging stations on campus and bike sharing program
- Its 3.8 miles of paved walkways to help prioritize pedestrian access
- Sustainable building practices, which include the LEED-certified Panther Aquatic Center
“Your inclusion in these rankings is in itself a great achievement and it marks your institution out as a global pioneer – demonstrating your institution’s commitment not just to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals through its teaching, research and knowledge transfer, but also to embodying the goals in your institution’s internal practices, policies and procedures and providing verifiable evidence of your activities,” THE said in announcing the new ranking.
This is not the first time Florida Tech has been recognized for its sustainability excellence. Among recent accolades, the prestigious higher education publication The Princeton Review included Florida Tech in its “Guide to 399 Green Colleges, 2018” last year.
For more on the THE University Impact Rankings, click here.
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