• Charles Sturt University continues to be a global leader in sustainable practices according to the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 
• The University ranked within the top 2 per cent of universities globally for Gender Equality, within the top 5 per cent for Climate Action, and Partnerships for the Goals, and within the top 10 per cent for Life on Land 
• The University’s achievements are particularly notable as an increasing number of universities are participating in the rankings each year, with almost 2,000 participating  

Charles Sturt University holds its status as a global leader in gender equality, climate action and other sustainable practices as recognised within the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings.   

The 2024 rankings showed Charles Sturt ranked highly in four out of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals measured by the Impact Rankings.  

These four Goal categories outline that Charles Sturt ranked:   

• within the top 2 per cent for Gender Equality 
• in the top 5 per cent for Climate Action 
• in the top 5 per cent for Partnerships for the Goals 
• and in the top 10 per cent for Life on Land  

The rankings evaluate almost 2,000 universities internationally across three areas: research, outreach and stewardship, with the number of universities participating each year increasing. 

Charles Sturt Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research Professor Michael Friend said the 2024 results continued to demonstrate how sustainability and ethical practices were core priorities for the University.  

“Charles Sturt is investing heavily in research aligned to the UN Sustainable Development goals, in alignment with our ethos Yindyamarra Winhanganha' - The wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in,” Professor Friend said.  

“Our research in Climate Action and Life on the Land is focussed on delivering positive impacts from strengthening the resilience of our regional and global communities to restoring the health of our natural environments.”  

As a longstanding leader in the university sector for gender equality, Charles Sturt was awarded an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation from the Commonwealth Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) for four years in a row, between 2019 and 2022. 

The University’s groundbreaking course on Intersectionality, Diversity and Inclusion and other initiatives have also contributed to its standing as being within the top two per cent globally for gender equality.  

Under the Climate Action Goal where Charles Sturt was ranked within the top 5 per cent, it was noted in 2022 Charles Sturt reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent, compared to 2021.  

Research also contributed to the University’s ranking under this category. For example, research led by Charles Sturt’s Gayle Partridge and Professor Max Finlayson focussed on the Muir-Byenup System Ramsar wetland located in south-west Western Australia to better understand the ecological impacts of climate change and develop a climate change adaptation plan. 

The Partnership for the Goals category considers how universities support the SDGs through partnerships with other countries and knowledge sharing.   

Professor Friend said Charles Sturt placed high importance on its international partnerships, which contributed to the University ranking within the top 5 per cent. As an example, Charles Sturt researchers published a guide of practical examples to develop sustainability initiatives and programs within Australian Libraries.  

“This research is the first major publication from the Australian Library and Information Association in support of the UN SDGs.” 

The Life on the Land category looks at how universities can protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.  

Charles Sturt ranking within the top 10 per cent under this category was partially a result of research conducted, new partnerships, and research bodies such as the Charles Sturt Gulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and Environment being established.  

For example, research conducted on world-heritage listed Lord Howe Island investigated the impact of an island-wide rodent eradication program in order to conserve the effects on native bird populations.  

ENDS