University a global leader in gender equality
GCU's long-standing dedication to delivering impact on the United Nations' (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has seen the University named fourth in the world – and number one in the UK – for promoting gender equality in the latest Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings.
The University is ranked joint 70th in the world overall out of 1406 universities, which places it in the top 5% globally. The overall rankings also place GCU 3rd in Scotland and 14th in the UK.
GCU performed exceptionally well in a number of other key areas, also coming top in Scotland for both SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – where GCU was ranked 21st in the world.
Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Pamela Gillies CBE FRSE, welcomed the outstanding results.
She said: “These results confirm that Glasgow Caledonian University is one of the top performing universities in the world when it comes to the social outcomes we deliver through our work.
“I am especially proud that our University has been recognised globally for our research, policy and practice, and educational excellence in relation to gender equality, health and wellbeing, and reducing inequalities.
“Now, more than ever, we need to continue this work in partnership with others – both at home and around the world, to find new ways to tackle the complex global changes that we all face.”
The SDGs are central to GCU’s Strategy 2030 ambitions, and the University’s performance in the rankings reflects its commitment to embedding the SDGs across all aspects of the University's work – including, education, research, partnerships, policies, facilities and operations.
The University has been ranked for SDG 5: Gender Equality based on its research related to gender equality, as well as metrics including the proportion of female students, the proportion of female senior academics in senior roles, for example, 52% of Senior Academic Staff at GCU are female; student access measures and measures relating to women’s progress. GCU has already been formally recognised for its commitment to gender equality by attaining Advance HE's Athena SWAN Institutional Silver Award, one of only two Scottish institutions to hold this accolade.
First published in 2019, the University Impact Rankings provide a new way of assessing excellence in universities, and shine a light on the institutions that are working hard to tackle global issues such as gender equality, climate change and access to education for all. They show how the global higher education sector is working towards developing the world in a sustainable way.
To find out more about the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings, contact strategy@gcu.ac.uk, or view the Strategy 2030 dashboard at Strategy 2030 Dashboard - Power BI.