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Walailak University has made great strides in its contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), being ranked 101-200 worldwide according to Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2024. Nationally, the university is placed joint fifth out of 77 Thai universities that are ranked.

This achievement reflects the university’s significant progress in advancing SDGs, adopted by the United Nations since 2015, aiming to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all people by the year 2030.

The latest ranking shows the best performance of Walailak University to date since receiving its first ranking in 2021. It is a leap from 2023 when the university was ranked 401-600 worldwide, joint eighth in Thailand.

The 2024 Impact Rankings, released on the THE website on June 12^th, include 2,152 universities from over 125 countries and regions. The table assessed universities in four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching.

For this year, Walailak University participated in eight SDGs, out of all 17. The university excelled in six, ranked among the world’s top 100 universities. These include SDG6 Clean Water and Sanitation at 55^th worldwide (1^st in Thailand), SDG14 Life Below Water at 31^st worldwide (2^nd in Thailand), SDG11 Sustainable Cities and Communities at 63^rd worldwide (2^nd in Thailand), SDG17 Partnership for the Goals at 81^st worldwide (4^th in Thailand), SDG4 Quality Education at 85^th worldwide (4^th in Thailand) and SDG2 Zero Hunger at 91^st worldwide (5^th in Thailand)

Two other SDGs, SDG3 Good Health and Well-being, and SDG12 Responsible Consumption and Production, were ranked 101-200 worldwide (joint 3^rd in Thailand) and 201-300 worldwide (joint 9^th in Thailand), respectively.

Professor Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, President of Walailak University, said, "Walailak University not only emphasizes providing quality education and cultivating quality graduates but also supports Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The university has encouraged faculty members to conduct research in their fields of expertise that contributes to advancing the SDGs.

"We have the Center for Academic Services which serves communities and supports sustainable development. In the teaching and learning of every subject and program, our faculty members also integrate sustainable development principles. The significant improvement in the university's ranking this year is a result from our hard work."

"We will continue to align our efforts to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. And we believe that in the future, our Impact Rankings can improve even further," said Professor Dr. Sombat.

For SDG2 Zero Hunger, Walailak University organizes training programs that empower local farmers with knowledge of food security and technology, along with policies to support local food producers and sustainable communities. The university collaborates with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation to work with organizations in developing sustainable economic practices, agriculture, and livelihoods.

For SDG3 Good Health and Well-being, Walailak University collaborates with local, national, and international institutions to share knowledge, organize training programs, and promote student exchange programs in the health and medical field. The university partners with Sub District Health Promotion Hospital to care for the elderly with long-term health issues and provide rehabilitation services to them, as well as give advice to family caregivers. Additionally, Walailak University’s Smile and Smart Center, in collaboration with Walailak University Hospital and the schools and colleges, provides mental health services to students to promote a happy university life.

To advance SDG4 Quality Education, Walailak University’s collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation has led to the creation of the WU Massive Open Online Course (WUMOOC) Platform, where a variety of courses are available for all to access for personal development and career advancement. The university collaborates with surrounding schools to develop a curriculum instilling the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, and cultivate entrepreneurial skills for students, as well as ensure quality educational management, instructional materials, and a nutritious school lunch program.

To support SDG6 Clean Water and Sanitation, Walailak University’s Monkey Cheek project’s reservoir can store up to 2,400,000 cubic meters of water, providing support for water needs within the university and surrounding areas. The university’s wastewater treatment system can treat 4,000 cubic meters of wastewater daily and convert Biochemical Oxygen Demand from 150 mg/L to 20 mg/L.

For SDG11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, Walialak University’s various organizations have installed solar panels as a source of green energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The university provides an electric shuttle bus service for students to commute within the campus. Additionally, the university’s smart farm utilizes waste from food and animals to produce biogas as an alternative energy source, resulting in reduced costs of agricultural products from the farm.

For SDG12 Responsible Consumption and Production, Walailak University has campaigned to raise awareness among the university community to reduce food waste and participate in segregating waste into distinct categories for recycling. As a result, waste sent to landfills decreased by 27.28 percent, and recycled waste increased by up to 37.28 percent from 2021 to 2022.

For SDG14 Life Below Water, Walailak University's blue swimming crab project, implemented in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani provinces, has led to an increase in the blue crab population in their natural habitats. Local fishery communities have been educated about crab restoration techniques and ecological methods. The project's findings also support policymakers' decision to establish fishery refugia areas to conserve blue crab stocks and support sustainable fisheries management.

To advance SDG17 Partnership for the Goals, Walailak University partners with private, governmental, and non-governmental organizations to find innovative solutions that help tackle the problems hindering the advancement of SDGs. The university's memorandum of understanding with the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, National Research Council of Thailand, National Science and Technology Development Agency, and 14 other educational institutions helps facilitate the utilization of shared resources and enhance the skills of the workforce and entrepreneurs in science, technology, and innovation.

Assistant Professor Dr. Amonsak Sawusdee, Director of the Center for Academic Services, said, "This year's Impact Rankings demonstrate that Walailak University has elevated its development to be globally recognized as a leading institution, particularly in sustainable academic services addressing ongoing development challenges. The university has embraced its vision: to unfailingly address community needs, and to strive for international recognition for excellence in an exemplary manner. Additionally, this achievement also corresponds with receiving the Global Good Governance Awards 2024 for Advocacy of Social Responsibility in Higher Education and Excellence Award for Green Campus earlier in Apil."

In the THE Impact Rankings this year, Western Sydney University from Australia tops the chart, while University of Manchester from the United Kingdom and University of Tasmania from Australia share the second spot worldwide. In Thailand, Mahidol University is ranked first, followed by Chulalongkorn University in second place, and Chiang Mai University in third place.