UEL leads advance towards UN equality targets

The University of East London (UEL) is on the frontline of a global quest to ensure higher education makes a positive impact on society, according to new figures.

In rankings released by Times Higher Education, the University was second in a field of 760 worldwide in its drive to reduce inequality ­– ranking top in the UK.

It was also second in the UK in two other categories entered, gender equality and quality education, ranking 8th and 57th in the world in these categories respectively.

Institutions in the THE’s Impact Ranking were assessed against challenges set by the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - global challenges laid down in 2015 with the aim of ensuring peace and prosperity and leaving nobody behind. Overall, the University came in the top 200 globally.

The ranking is primarily based on institutional submissions to national and international datasets, measuring University impact in terms of teaching, research, outreach and institutional stewardship in relation to each of the SDGs. For example, the University’s record in recruiting students who are the first in their families and those on low income to take up higher education. Other criteria included efforts to encourage women to participate in subjects with low female representation, recruiting and promoting women and individuals from BAME backgrounds and providing mentoring support.