The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has been confirmed as the leading university in South Africa and on the African continent in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings, released on 24 June 2026. Ranked 39th globally, UJ secured a place among the world’s top 40 universities for sustainability impact and emerged as South Africa’s top performer in eight of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing its position as one of Africa’s leading institutions advancing sustainability and societal impact.
The latest achievement builds on UJ’s strong performance across major international rankings and further strengthens its reputation as one of Africa’s leading universities.
Earlier this month, UJ entered the global Top 300 of the QS World University Rankings for the first time, rising 16 places to 292nd globally and becoming the second-highest ranked university in South Africa and on the African continent. Days earlier, the University climbed 38 places in the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings to a record-high 281st position globally. Together, these achievements reflect the growing international recognition of UJ’s excellence, relevance and impact.
Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, Vice Chancellor and Principal of UJ, said, “This recognition is particularly meaningful because it reflects who we are as an institution and what we stand for. Retaining our position as the leading university in South Africa and Africa in the THE Sustainability Impact Ratings is not simply about achieving another ranking milestone. It is about demonstrating that the work we do every day is making a real difference in the lives of people and communities.
“We have made a conscious commitment to place sustainability, societal impact, innovation and inclusive development at the centre of everything we do. This recognition affirms that we are making meaningful progress towards the aspirations of our Strategy 2035 and our vision of contributing solutions to some of society’s most pressing challenges. We do not aspire to be the best university in the world. We aspire to be the best university for the world. For us, success is measured not only by academic excellence, but by the positive impact we create through our teaching, research, innovation and partnerships.”
The achievement is underpinned by UJ’s research excellence. In June 2026, the University retained its position as South Africa’s leading producer of accredited research outputs for a fourth consecutive year, according to the Department of Higher Education and Training’s Sector Report on the Evaluation of the 2024 Universities’ Research Outputs. With 3,513 accredited research output units, representing 13.52% of the country’s total accredited research output, UJ continues to generate knowledge and innovation that address pressing challenges such as poverty, inequality, unemployment, economic inclusion and environmental sustainability.
The THE Sustainability Impact Ratings, previously known as the THE Impact Rankings, assess universities against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, measuring their contribution through research, stewardship, outreach and teaching. This year, Times Higher Education evaluated 1,646 universities from 116 countries and territories across the 17 SDG tables, with 1,603 institutions meeting the criteria to be included in the overall ranking.
UJ delivered an exceptional performance across the individual SDG rankings, securing nine top 100 global positions, including two top 20 global rankings. The University was ranked seventh in the world for SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 11th globally for SDG 1: No Poverty, while retaining the number one position in both South Africa and Africa for these goals.
Demonstrating the breadth of its sustainability leadership, UJ was ranked number one in South Africa across eight SDGs: No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Quality Education, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and Production, and Climate Action.
The University also secured top 100 global positions for SDG 5: Gender Equality (26th), SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities (34th), SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy (40th), SDG 4: Quality Education (45th), SDG 2: Zero Hunger (48th), SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (56th) and SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (74th). Several of these rankings recorded significant year-on-year improvements, reflecting UJ’s expanding contribution to sustainable development.
The results align strongly with UJ’s Strategy 2035 and reflect an institution-wide approach that integrates sustainability across teaching and learning, research, innovation, community engagement and global partnerships. Through this approach, UJ continues to extend its impact beyond its campuses and contribute to sustainable development at local, continental and global levels.
Prof Mpedi concluded: “This achievement reflects the collective efforts of our staff, students, researchers, alumni and partners, whose commitment continues to strengthen UJ’s standing as a university of relevance and impact.
“While we celebrate this milestone, we remain focused on the work that lies ahead. We will continue to pursue excellence with purpose, deepen our contribution to society and build on the partnerships and innovations that enable us to create lasting value for South Africa, Africa and the world.”
