Massey continues to shine in Sustainability Rankings in 2024

Massey prides itself on its commitment to sustainability and has risen to second in Aotearoa New Zealand and 75th equal in the world in the recently released Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. These measure global universities’ successes in delivering the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Massey now has 11 SDGs ranked in the top 100 worldwide including a top 5 worldwide ranking for SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, 12th equal for SDG 15 Life on Land and 13th equal for Zero Hunger.

Massey’s commitment to sustainability initiatives have contributed to our excellent results, including commuting initiatives that provide free buses to the Manawatū campus, our commitment to sustainable agriculture through both teaching and research, and conservation initiatives including through the Te Whakahaumanu Wildbase Centre and New Zealand Indigenous Flora Seed Bank. More information about these initiatives and others can be found here.

Our sustainability initiatives are further complemented by our research excellence in many fields including geoheritage, disaster management and community resilience for SDG11, work on endangered species, and conservation management and biodiversity for SDG15, and research on food security and sustainable agriculture for SDG2.

Massey’s achievements in both the 2023 QS Sustainability Rankings (81st globally) and the 2024 THE Impact Ranking (75th equal globally) reflects its dedication to deliver positive change on a global scale around the SDGs.

Massey to host Sustainability Development Goals Summit in 2024/2025
Massey was recently named as the lead host of the 2024/2025 Aotearoa National Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit.

The Aotearoa New Zealand Sustainable Development Goals Summits were inspired by people wanting to collaborate across sectors to drive meaningful change for the SDGs.

The first event will take place on the Te Rau Karamu Marae on Pukeahu campus in Wellington on 6th September. This event will focus on indigenous approaches to and engagement with the SDGs agenda, using the concept of 'Let's ask nature' that foregrounds Mātauranga Māori. With Professor Jason Mika from Waikato University confirmed to be the keynote speaker, this hui seeks to build and strengthen connections and relationships across those parties in Aotearoa actively working on various aspects of the SDG agenda.

Keynotes and plenary panels will be livestreamed and recorded, and more information will be made available in due course.
In 2025, Massey will host the two-day Summit, a gathering that aims to impart both a sense of achievement and a sense of urgency for the ‘finish line’ of 2030.

Massey’s new Climate Action major in its Master of Sustainable Development Goals qualification

In 2024, Massey launched a new specialisation in climate action, to its Master of Sustainable Development Goals (MSDG) qualification that was initially launched in 2020.

The new specialisation joins the existing six specialisations of business and sustainability, disaster management, environmental sustainability, global development, economics for sustainability, and peace and security.

The MSDG is a transdisciplinary qualification that was created to respond to the increasing need for graduates to work in the field of sustainability. The MSDG qualification empowers graduates to tackle some of the most urgent issues facing humanity by providing them with a common core understanding of sustainability and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Further, this qualification has since been contributing positively to Massey’s success in the QS Sustainability Rankings.

Massey retains its QS World University Ranking and shines in the THE Impact rankings

Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University’s global recognition has been highlighted once again as Massey is ranked in the top 250 universities in the 2025 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings. Massey has also risen 11 places to be ranked 75th equal globally in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, that measures universities’ successes in delivering on the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

It is the second year in a row that Massey has ranked in the top 250 universities worldwide. In the sustainability indicator that was first introduced in 2023, Massey has again performed well, moving up one position from last year to now be ranked third in Aotearoa New Zealand.

For this ranking round, QS considered 5663 universities, which was 2700 more than last year. Indicators assessed included academic and employer reputation, citations, international faculty and students, sustainability, international research network and employment outcomes.

Get in touch
For more information about Rankings, please email Massey International Research Rankings Advisor Dr Anita Muthukaruppan. You can find more on Massey’s Rankings here. Read more about Massey’s work towards achieving the SDGs here.