U of R in top 25 per cent in QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024

It’s nice to be noticed. It’s even better to be recognized for our efforts to tackle the world’s greatest environmental, social, and governance challenges. Every University of Regina faculty, department, unit, and centre is rolling up their sleeves and making sustainability a central part of today and a healthy future. 

Woven throughout our Sustainability Action Plan 2022-2027 is the recognition that sustainability touches every facet of the University’s teaching, research, operations, and engagement activities. — Jocelyn Crivea, Director of the Office of Sustainability

That unified front caught the attention of the QS World University Rankings (QSWUR): Sustainability 2024 - placing the University of Regina in the top 25 per cent in the world. With the QSWUR sustainability rankings designed to measure an institution’s ability to tackle society’s greatest sustainability challenges, it is significant that the U of R received high marks for our efforts in Environmental Research, Health and Wellbeing, Equality, and Governance.  

“Woven throughout our Sustainability Action Plan 2022-2027 is the recognition that sustainability touches every facet of the University’s teaching, research, operations, and engagement activities,” says Jocelyn Crivea, director of the office of sustainability at the U of R. “These ratings recognize our collective efforts in moving towards a more sustainable future.” 

QSWUR looks at how universities’ perform in three categories: Environmental Impact, Social Impact, and Governance. Within each category, a number of subcategories are measured to develop a score on how each institution is addressing issues such as climate change and the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

U of R Sustainability Highlights

• U of R researchers are focusing on issues that have global impacts such as climate change, water, energy, social and environmental justice, equality, education, and health and well-being.
• The U of R is a founding member of the Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Saskatchewan, a network of educational institutions, community groups and non-profits that promote transformative sustainability education in Saskatchewan. The RCE is a United Nations University-Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability global initiative and RCE Saskatchewan is one of over 150 RCEs worldwide.
• The U of R and Luther College co-lead Sustainable Development Goal #12 Cluster on Responsible Consumption and Production. The Cluster is an initiative of the International Association of Universities Global Clusters on Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development.
• As of 2023 the Print Optimization Program led by Information Services has reduced our greenhouse gas emissions associated to printers and printing by 40%, reduced annual printer and copier costs from over $900,000 per year to $350,000 per year and reduced paper consumption by over 30%.
• Working with the campus community and industry partners the Facilities Management team leads the University in reducing our environmental footprint through energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling and other carbon reduction initiatives. Developing a roadmap to a carbon-neutral campus, major LED lighting retrofits, and collaborating on a microgrid project that integrates teaching and research into campus operations are some of the ways that Facilities Management is modeling the way to ensure that the University will reach its sustainability goals. 

Crivea says she is not surprised that the U of R’s highest scores are in the areas of Health and Wellbeing (90.1%), Environmental Research (88.9%), Governance (84%), and Equality (81.3%). 

“Our scores in these areas reflect the commitment of faculty, staff, and students to achieving our 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, All Our Relations: kahkiyaw kiwâhkômâkaninawak five key areas of focus: Discovery, Truth and Reconciliation, Well-Being and Belonging, Environment and Climate Action, and Impact and Identity.” 

Find out more about the actions we are taking – and how you can help - to promote a sustainability society at the U of R’s Office of Sustainability website.

Located in the beautiful Wascana Centre, one of the largest urban parks in North America, the University of Regina is a perfect setting for appreciating our environment and working to advance sustainability.