THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026: The University of Bucharest, First in Romania for Engagement in Sustainable Development Activities; UB Ranked 3rd in Europe and 40th Worldwide for Quality Education

The University of Bucharest (UB) is the first university in Romania and among the first 200 universities worldwide according to the “Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings (THE) 2026”, one of the best-known rankings in the international academic space, which evaluates universities with the highest level of engagement in activities specific to sustainable development. For “Goal 4 – Quality Education”, the University of Bucharest occupies the 3rd position among higher education institutions in Europe and the 40th position worldwide.

At the national level, among the 13 universities included in the ranking, the University of Bucharest, which is placed in the 101–200 band worldwide, is followed by two universities that are members of the Universitaria Consortium, the Bucharest University of Economic Studies in second place nationally and in the 201–300 band worldwide, and “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași in fourth place nationally and in the 601–800 band worldwide.

Through the results obtained in the 2026 edition of the “Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings”, the University of Bucharest consolidates its presence among the universities recognised internationally for their contribution to sustainable development. Its positioning in first place in Romania and among the first 200 universities in the world highlights the constant concern of the University of Bucharest for the promotion of institutional policies based on equity, inclusion and social responsibility, as well as for the development of an academic environment connected to the needs of the community and to the global sustainable development goals.

For this year’s edition of the “Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings”, the University of Bucharest reported for 10 of the 17 goals. In the case of 5 of the ten goals reported, UB is in first position nationally. The best score obtained by the University of Bucharest is for “Goal 5 – Gender Equality”, where, according to the “Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026”, the institution occupies 29th place worldwide.

The University of Bucharest is also first nationally and occupies 39th place worldwide for “SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions”, as well as 40th place worldwide for “SDG 4 – Quality Education”. Furthermore, the University of Bucharest occupies first position nationally also for “SDG 1 – No Poverty”, “SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities”, and “SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities”. For “SDG 4 – Quality Education”, the University of Bucharest occupies the 3rd position among higher education institutions in Europe, while for “SDG 5 – Gender Equality”, the University of Bucharest occupies the 4th position among higher education institutions in Europe. Added to these is “SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals”, which places the University of Bucharest in first place nationally and in the 101–200 band internationally. In addition, at the global level, the results obtained for “SDG 1 – No Poverty”, “SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth”, and “SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities” place the University of Bucharest among the first 101–200 universities in the world; the results obtained for “SDG – Good Health and Well-being” and for “SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities” place UB among the first 201–300 universities in the world, while for “SDG – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure”, the University of Bucharest is situated in the 401–600 band worldwide.

“The fact that the University of Bucharest is, once again, the first university in Romania in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings and is situated among the first 200 universities in the world confirms that academic excellence must be accompanied by responsibility towards society and by an authentic commitment to sustainable development. The remarkable results obtained in areas such as gender equality and the promotion of effective and inclusive institutions reflect the values that the University of Bucharest cultivates and promotes day by day, through its activities in education, research and civic engagement. It is particularly important for us that the results in the «Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2026»  confirm the reality that students and employers know – the quality of education at the University of Bucharest – and the placement of the University of Bucharest in third place in Europe and among the first 40 universities in the world for «Goal 4 – Quality Education» represents a recognition of the sustained efforts that our teaching staff, researchers and the entire university community make day by day in order to provide high-quality education adapted to the demands of the present and the challenges of the future. This international recognition belongs to our entire academic community – students, teaching staff, researchers and administrative personnel – and motivates us to continue to build an open, equitable university connected to the major challenges of the contemporary world. The University of Bucharest continues to assume its role as a responsible actor of change, contributing, through knowledge and dialogue, to the development of a more equitable, more sustainable and more prosperous society,” states the Rector of the University of Bucharest, Professor Marian Preda, PhD.

The criteria according to which higher education institutions are evaluated in this ranking are based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (UN) included in the 2030 Agenda. The ranking methodology takes into account, for each institution, the scores for the three best-ranked goals, to which “Goal 17 – Partnerships for the Goals” is added as a mandatory component.