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Charles University ranks among the TOP 200 universities in the world in sustainability

Charles University was today ranked 172nd out of 1,403 ranked universities in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability and 75th out of 493 ranked universities in Europe.

This is the second year that the ranking of universities' contribution to addressing the challenges of sustainable development has been expanded from last year to include Governance in addition to the Environmental Impact and Social Impact pillars. In this pillar, Charles University was ranked the highest (76th in the world) of all three areas assessed.

In addition to the research excellence rankings, in which Charles University has long been ranked first in the Czech Republic, it has also achieved success in international (most recently, the UK has won the only two ERC Consolidator grants in the Czech Republic) and domestic grant and project competitions. In the Czech scientific environment, Charles University has recently dominated in the number of standard and postdoctoral projects awarded funds by the Czech Republic's Grant Agency. The current international ranking of sustainability is an important part of the overall mosaic of not only significant scientific activity, but also in the field of the university's social role.

Charles University considers solving the challenges of sustainable development to be one of its priority areas alongside excellent science and teaching, even under challenging conditions, where, for example, the area of energy management significantly affects the size of the institution and its operations in hundreds of buildings, often listed. In 2022, it prepared and this year adopted a Sustainable Development Strategy for Charles University: Towards Sustainability 2030, which sets out the so-called mission and vision in this area and defines indicators for achieving the goals by 2030. At the same time, the UK has begun implementing an Action Plan which, among other things, addresses:

• The creation of a functional system of faculty sustainability coordinators,

• Updating internal regulations in line with the Strategy (e.g. Update of the UK Responsible Procurement Strategy),

• Initiating activities with the aim of reducing the environmental footprint and achieving sustainable operation and management of the University, i.e. a socially and environmentally responsible approach to its own activities,

• Strengthening the theme of sustainable development in education, scientific and research activities.

The world ranking also takes into account the area of equal opportunities. The Equal Opportunities Plan of Charles University has been implemented since 2022, and the Equal Opportunities Council, which is an advisory body to the Rector, meets regularly. The position of the University Ombudsperson has been newly established and a system of faculty ombudsmen is being created. The UK is of course also committed to ensuring social security, reconciling family and working life, the gender dimension in research and career development, and is actively involved in the Coimbra Group, 4EU+ and CE7, thus contributing to the overall policy of equality and diversity in European academia.

Not only this year's steps in the field of sustainable development, but also the goals that Charles University is working towards, are cultivating the academic environment and its community, and it is expected that this joint effort will be further positively reflected in international rankings.

Mgr. Mgr. Václav Hájek

Spokesman of Charles University

Department of External Relations

Charles University

tel: +420 721 285 565

e-mail: pr@cuni.cz