UDA leads in Ecuador in Impact Rankings 2021
In its second year of application, the University of Azuay ranks between 300 and 400 of 1.115 universities in the world and is the only one in Ecuador that enters the top 100 in two Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): the end of poverty and decent work and economic growth.
Furthermore, in objective 17 -obligatory for all those who wish to participate in this ranking, in which information about alliances must be presented to achieve the objectives-, the institution obtained 100/100.
The official Impact Rankings page describes this project as the only one that evaluates universities with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through a comparison in areas such as: research, administration, dissemination and teaching.
This initiative had its first edition in 2020 and currently includes 1.115 universities from 94 countries / regions.
The impact classifications for the individual SDGs are: general classification; not poverty; zero hunger; good health and well-being; quality education; gender equality; clean water and sanitation; clean and affordable energy; decent work and economic growth; industry innovation and infrastructure; reduction of inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; responsibility for consumption and production; climate action; life under water; life on earth; peace, justice and strong institutions; partnerships for goals.
Carla Salgado, Viviana Guamán and Lorena Orellana, representatives of the IReNE working group (in charge of connecting the University of Azuay with the world through research and who was put in charge of the SDGs) explain that this ranking measures weight in research.
But it also takes into account how the University has worked with the SDGs within the institution, with its students, faculties, staff, with the community, with local governments and NGOs.
As Salgado affirms: “The results clearly show the support that the University has given for this. For example, the objective of ending poverty has recognized the percentage of financial aid that is given to students and the anti-poverty programs that the institution has ”.
"We are not only the best 100 in the world, in Ecuador we are the only ones who have done well in this goal," he adds.
Regarding decent work and economic growth, it has been taken into account how secure the workers are -both the janitor and the dean- and in that the performance of the UDA has been excellent, as well as in reducing inequalities and in measures against discrimination.
"This takes into account whether we have students or employees with disabilities and whether the University has taken measures so that their stay here is safe and that they can adapt like any other member of the university community," Salgado concludes.
Then, it can be said that the results of the Impact Rankings are not only an aid for the University of Azuay to optimize its objectives, but also for the institutions in general, as they are a guideline to be able to form a better community.
UDA Correspondent
