Mount Kenya University (MKU) has been ranked among the top five universities in Kenya in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, marking its first inclusion on the influential global list.
The rankings, released on June 18, assess how universities contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on areas such as research, teaching, community outreach, and environmental stewardship.
This year’s evaluation included 2,526 universities from 130 countries and territories.
The institution earned recognition for its work in promoting good health and well-being, quality education, reduced inequalities, and international partnerships.
It also serves as the UN Academic Impact hub for SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
“This recognition affirms the value of the work we are doing, not just in academic spaces, but in the communities around us. It reflects our broader commitment to sustainable development,” said Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, Vice Chancellor of MKU.
Prof. Jaganyi pointed to initiatives such as free medical camps, support for classroom construction in underserved areas, and participation in international academic exchange programmes as examples of the university’s social impact.
“Our partnerships with both local and international institutions have allowed us to expand our reach. Recently, 15 representatives from MKU participated in the Erasmus+ exchange programme in Slovakia, fostering knowledge sharing and cultural learning,” he added.
Other Kenyan universities featured in the 2025 Impact Rankings include the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Moi University, Egerton University, Strathmore University, and Maseno University.
Rongo University was ranked 25th in the Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings.
The Impact Rankings are based on performance indicators aligned with each of the 17 SDGs.
They are the only global performance tables that assess universities’ societal contributions in this way.
According to THE, there was an 18 percent increase in participation compared to 2024, with notable growth in representation from African and Asian institutions.
At the global level, the University of Oxford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, and Princeton University led the overall rankings.
Meanwhile, Asian institutions continue to rise with ten of the 17 SDG-specific rankings now being led by Asian universities — up from five last year.
South Korea and Indonesia each had universities in the global top 10.
Western Sydney University in Australia retained its position as the top-ranked institution for sustainability for the fourth consecutive year.
Indonesia’s Universitas Airlangga, ranked joint ninth, was the highest-placed university from an emerging economy.
“We welcome this growing diversity in global rankings. The increasing representation of universities from Africa and Southeast Asia signals a shift in how global impact in higher education is being recognized,” said Phil Baty, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Times Higher Education.
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