EdUHK Ranks 2nd Globally in SDG 4 (Quality Education), Debuts in THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) has achieved a major global milestone, ranking 2nd worldwide in SDG 4 (Quality Education) in the Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026. This recognition underscores the University’s leadership in advancing quality education and highlights its growing impact in sustainable development and academic excellence in pursuit of “Education Futures”.
The results were announced at the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia, where nearly 5,000 thought leaders and policymakers gathered to exchange strategies for a sustainable future. Overall, EdUHK made a notable debut, securing a position in the 101–200 band globally and ranking 6th in Hong Kong. The ratings assess universities’ contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching.
This outstanding performance reflects EdUHK’s distinctive strengths, including its internationally recognised expertise in teacher education, leadership in innovative and technology-enabled pedagogy, and impactful research and outreach that promote inclusive and equitable learning opportunities across diverse communities. In addition to SDG 4, EdUHK demonstrated strong and balanced performance across multiple sustainability areas. The University ranked within the Top 100 globally in SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water), highlighting its contributions to environmental sustainability. It also placed within the Top 200 globally in SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), reflecting its commitment to social inclusion and sustainable urban development.
Commenting on these achievements, EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin said: “Recognition in THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 in our first participation affirms EdUHK’s dedication to fulfilling its mission of advancing quality education and sustainable development. It reflects our long-term focus on preparing future-ready educators and strengthening the role of education in building a more inclusive and sustainable society. We will continue to deepen our commitment to teaching, research and outreach, and to broaden collaborations that create practical, long-term impact.”
As the track partner for “Education, gender and inequality,” EdUHK contributed to three key sessions:
- Keynote speech: “Reimagining education for a sustainable future: Tackling education, gender and inequality in an environmentally integrated learning ecosystem,” delivered by President, Professor John Lee Chi-Kin;
- Panel discussion: “Lifelong learning as a catalyst for educational excellence and social impact,” moderated by Professor Chetwyn Chan Che-hin, Vice President (Research and Development) and joined by Professor Stephen Chiu Wing-kai, Chair Professor of Sociology; and
- SDG showcase stage presentation: “Transforming Campus into a Living Lab: Experiential Learning for Sustainable Citizenship”, delivered by Dr Michelle Cheng Wing-tung, Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
This achievement follows the University’s recent success in different league tables. In the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities rankings released on 16 June, EdUHK maintained its position as a world leader in the field of education, ranking 3rd globally in Education and Educational Research. Its overall ranking also rose significantly from 633rd last year to 559th this year, placing it 154th in Asia and 7th in Hong Kong. In QS World University Rankings 2027 released on 18 June, EdUHK made a spectacular leap of 124 places to reach 406th globally, placing the University within the top 30% of institutions worldwide.
With its strong achievements across sustainability-focused impact, education-related expertise, and broader international measures of performance, EdUHK continues to strengthen its position as a leading institution dedicated to advancing quality education and contributing to sustainable development locally and globally.
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