THE Impact Rankings 2026: 5 HK Universities in Global Top 100, CityU and LU Top the World in Two SDG Categories

The Times Higher Education (THE) released its Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 (formerly known as the Impact Rankings) on Wednesday (24 June), with five Hong Kong universities securing places in the global top 100. Among them, City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and Lingnan University (LU) each claimed the top spot worldwide in two individual SDG categories: "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure" and "Quality Education" respectively.

City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK)

The rankings assess universities' contributions to the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year's edition evaluated 1,646 universities from 116 countries and territories, with the University of Manchester in the UK claiming the top spot overall, breaking the four‑year dominance of Australia's University of Sydney. Asian institutions performed strongly, accounting for more than half of the institutions listed.

Among Hong Kong institutions, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) led the pack, ranking 20th globally. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) followed in 52nd place, while Lingnan University (LU) secured 63rd position. Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) ranked 68th, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) rounded out the city's top performers at 91st place.

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

CityU participated in the Sustainability Impact Ratings for the first time and ranked first globally in SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). It achieved this distinction together with seven other universities worldwide, and is the only university in Hong Kong to have done so.

Professor Lee Chun Sing, Acting President of CityU, said: "This outstanding ranking reaffirms CityU’s strong capabilities in innovation, infrastructure, and industry–academia collaboration. Moving forward, CityU will continue to promote sustainable development, actively nurture young entrepreneurs, support deep‑tech startups, and leverage research outcomes to advance social welfare, thereby maintaining its leading position in innovative education and talent development."

Lingnan University made a significant leap in the overall rankings, rising from the 101‑200 band last year to 63rd place, its first time breaking into the global top 100.

Lingnan University (LU)

In SDG 4 (Quality Education), one of the most competitive SDG categories, with 1,335 universities participating, LU retained its global top spot for the second consecutive year. The University also ranked first in Hong Kong in six other individual SDG indicators, including "No Poverty" and "Zero Hunger."

Professor Qin Si Zhao, President of Lingnan University, said that to promote the sustainable development of higher education in the digital age, LU has become one of the first universities worldwide to provide free generative AI tools to all faculty and students, making it a compulsory component of the curriculum. The university has also taken the lead in developing the IDEAL-Gen.AI bilingual teaching platform and, in collaboration with the United Nations University, has established Asia's first UNU‑LU Hub for Humanitarian Innovation and Technology to address societal needs through interdisciplinary research.

Professor Qin noted that while rankings serve as an important reference for measuring university development, what matters more is advancing innovation and fostering inclusivity through quality education, making long‑term contributions to the sustainable development of Hong Kong, the nation, and the world.

Hong Kong Baptist University had seven SDG indicators ranked among the global top 100, with four of them entering the global top 50, which is a record high for the University. HKBU said the results reflect its distinctive strengths in interdisciplinary teaching and research, and its success in nurturing talent, promoting innovation, and generating positive social impact. The school will leverage the ranking results to inform and strengthen its ongoing efforts to elevate teaching and research standards.

About the Ranking

THE Sustainability Impact Ratings are the world's most comprehensive framework for evaluating the social and economic impact of universities through their contributions to the UN's 17 SDGs.

Phil Batty, THE's Chief Global Affairs Officer, said the framework provides a comprehensive evaluation of how universities contribute to each SDG through teaching, research, collaboration with industry and communities, and the management of their own resources, including campuses and staff.

Hong Kong Universities in the Global Top 100 of THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026:

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) =20th

Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) =52nd

Lingnan University (LU) = 63rd

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)  = 68th

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) = 91st

No. 1 Miami was the only team to hold its spot in The Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday and idle Ohio State moved up to No. 2 as the poll went through another major reordering in the wake of BYU's loss at UCF and subsequent six-spot fall to No. 8.

A week after five of the top seven teams lost, three more top-10 teams went down Saturday to make it 10 in the last three weeks. Three teams ranked either No. 1 or 2 have lost to an unranked opponent over that span in what is shaping up to be the most topsy-turvy season since 2007.

Miami, Utah and UCLA are the only remaining unbeaten Bowl Subdivision teams, the fewest at this point in a season since there were three left in 1977, according to Sportradar.

Georgia moved up a spot to No. 3 after its open date, Indiana jumped two rungs to No. 4 after winning at Michigan in overtime and Notre Dame slipped a spot to No. 5 after being idle. Utah, UCLA, BYU, Kentucky and Alabama rounded out the top 10.

Miami routed Pitt 52-23 at home in its first game as the No. 1 team since 2002. The Hurricanes received 59 of the 70 first-place votes from the media voting panel, 19 more than a week ago. Ohio State got 10 first-place votes and Utah got one.

No. 6 Utah, which took sole possession of first place in the Big 12 Conference with its win over Houston, has its highest ranking in seven years and No. 7 UCLA has its highest in 11. No. 9 Kentucky has won six in a row and is in the top 10 for the first time since 2022. No. 10 Alabama avoided its first three-game losing streak since 2007 by beating Texas A&M and returned to the top 10.

In: No. 24 Oklahoma State bounced back from a close loss to Houston with a 57-24 win over Colorado and returned after a one-week absence.

In: No. 25 Wisconsin used a dominant defensive performance to beat Southern California 24-7 for its second ranked win of the season and first poll appearance since 2023.

Out: Iowa's 13-10 loss at Minnesota was the Hawkeyes' second in three games and left them unranked for the first time this season.

Out: Southern California, which against Wisconsin had its fewest yards and points in Lincoln Riley's five seasons, hadn't been out of the poll since Oct. 19, 2025.

— The Big 12 matched its record with six ranked teams for the first time since Sept. 23, 2012. The Big 12 hadn't had more ranked teams than the Big Ten, which has five, since 2023.

— The 10 losses by top-10 teams over the last three weeks tie 2007 and 1959 as the most over a three-week span in poll history.

— UCLA and Kentucky are the biggest movers in recent weeks. The Bruins have jumped 19 spots over the last five polls and the Wildcats have moved up 17 in the last three.

SEC (9 ranked teams): No. 3 Georgia, No. 9 Kentucky, No. 10 Alabama, No. 11 Texas, No. 12 Mississippi, No. 15 LSU, No. 16 Tennessee, No. 17 Florida, No. 23 Missouri.

Big 12 (6): No. 6 Utah, No. 8 BYU, No. 13 Texas Tech, No. 18 Houston, No. 22 Arizona, No. 24 Oklahoma State.

Big Ten (5): No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Indiana, No. 7 UCLA, No. 20 (tie) Northwestern, No. 25 Wisconsin.

ACC (3): No. 1 Miami, No. 14 Wake Forest, No. 19 SMU.

Pac-12 (1): No. 20 (tie) Boise State.

Independent (1): No. 5 Notre Dame.

No. 17 Florida vs. No. 3 Georgia, at Atlanta: Georgia has won five straight and eight of the last nine games in the series. Gators are going for a third win over a top-10 opponent.

No. 22 Arizona at No. 13 Texas Tech: Wildcats take a five-game winning streak and College Football Playoff hopes to Lubbock, where they haven't won since 1935.

This story has been corrected to show that Lincoln Riley, not Lane Kiffin, coaches Southern California.

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A Miami fan stands in the stands during the second half of an NCAA college football game between Miami and Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Pittsburgh quarterback Holden Geriner (15) gets tackled while scrambling by Miami defensive lineman DeAnthony Lafayette (88), defensive back Isaiah Taylor (28), defensive tackle Jarquez Carter (91), and defensive lineman Isaac Chukwurah (52) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

UCLA defensive back Malik Hartford, right, celebrates with defensive back Scooter Jackson after intercepting a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)