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By Charmaine Ndlela
The University of Cape Town (UCT) has broken into the global top 10 of the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings for Sustainable Development Goal 17, climbing to eighth place from the 101–200 band in 2025.
UCT’s ranking for SDG 17, which measures partnerships for the goals, was based on an assessment of 1,610 universities from 114 countries and territories.
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The broader 2026 THE Sustainability Impact Ratings assessed 1,646 universities from 116 countries and territories across the 17 SDG tables and an overall ranking, measuring higher education institutions’ contributions to the goals through research, teaching, stewardship and community engagement.
According to the UN Development Programme, the SDGs were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
UCT also recorded strong performances across several other goals, ranking 50th globally for SDG 1, which focuses on no poverty, tied 64th for SDG 5, which measures gender equality, and placing in the 101–200 band for SDG 3, which focuses on good health and well-being.
At the continental level, UCT ranked first in Africa for SDG 14, Life Below Water, and SDG 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
UCT also ranked first in South Africa for SDG 6, Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 15, Life on Land, and SDG 17, Partnerships for the Goals.
In a statement, the university said its global top 10 performance for partnerships demonstrated the value of working across disciplines, sectors and borders to address shared challenges.
UCT attributed its improved performance to a range of initiatives aimed at expanding access to higher education, supporting students and strengthening partnerships across Africa and beyond.
The 2026 rankings were based on work completed in 2024.
In 2024, the university awarded R371.3 million in gap funding through more than 4,300 scholarships to students who did not qualify for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. The funding also supported 762 international and refugee students.
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The university also expanded its continental reach through the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the UCT Graduate School of Business, which launched its flagship Impact Investing in Africa programme in Nairobi in 2024, marking its first expansion into East Africa.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela said the recognition highlighted UCT’s commitment to producing knowledge that creates meaningful impact for society.
“Ultimately, the Impact Rankings recognise something fundamental about the role of a university in the 21st century: excellence is measured not only by the knowledge an institution creates, but by the difference that knowledge makes,” he said.
“For UCT, this means advancing a more sustainable, equitable and prosperous future for South Africa, the African continent and the world.”
He said the achievement reflected the collective efforts of researchers, academics, professional staff, innovators and community partners, whose work continued to position UCT as a globally connected African university delivering locally relevant solutions with international impact.
Moshabela congratulated the UCT community on achieving the milestone.
“Together, we continue to demonstrate that the true measure of a university lies not only in the knowledge it creates, but in the positive difference that knowledge makes – for our communities, our continent and the world,” he said.
UCT is preparing to host the Times Higher Education World Academic Summit 2026 in Cape Town from 29 September to 1 October.
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