New rankings are evidence of Southern Cross commitment to tackle climate emergency and create a more sustainable world

Southern Cross University’s commitment to addressing the climate emergency, creating a more sustainable world, has been highlighted in new global rankings released today.

The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024 includes more than 1400 institutions worldwide – putting Southern Cross University among or near the top 200 across several key criteria.

That includes environmental research (203), health and wellbeing (177), impact of education (202), equality (216) and governance (161).

Southern Cross University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Academic Capability) Professor Mary Spongberg said staff and students were bonded around the need to address the threat facing global societies and ecosystems.

She said the University’s newly-established Research Impact Clusters – formed to amplify existing research strengths – had sustainability at their heart, addressing issues such as climate change, land and water management, waste minimisation and sustainable food production.

“Our researchers are doing genuinely heroic, world-leading research on issues as broad as the health of the Great Barrier Reef, regenerative agriculture and growing the circular economy,” Professor Spongberg said. “We share their frustration that more hasn’t been done earlier - that we are now dealing with a fully blown climate emergency.

“At Southern Cross University, our values commit us to be bold and we have put sustainability both at the heart of our research strategy and how we operate as an institution.

“Equally, our students and intending students are clear they want us working to create a better world. We owe them that and – through the way we teach and what we teach - need to equip them to do their part too.”

Overall, Southern Cross University ranked 328 – in the top 25% of the field.

Professor Spongberg said the ranking results highlighted Southern Cross University’s teaching and research strengths in key disciplines including the sciences, health and education.

She said the strong sustainability focus in the operation of the University included about $1.4 million invested in solar across campuses, a process to move the vehicle fleet increasingly to electric and hybrid, and enhanced recycling programs, including fabrics.

The QS Sustainability results follow the University rising 51 places in the broader QS World University Rankings and 80 places in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.