Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has made a landmark entry into the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, which were released in 18 June 2025, marking a major turning point in its global profile as a health sciences institution committed to sustainable development and social impact.
For the first time, SMU participated in the global THE Impact Rankings, which assess how universities contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SMU was ranked in the 1001–1500 global band out of 2,318 institutions worldwide, with a commendable overall score of 56.4. This places SMU 10th among 13 ranked South African universities.
“Our debut in the global sustainability rankings is a strategic signal of intent,” says Benjamin Ntshabele, Institutional Researcher. “It shows that SMU is not only a national asset but an emerging global contributor to health, education and social transformation.”
Delivering impact in health and education
SMU entered four SDG categories aligned with its academic mission and institutional strengths:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The university’s strongest performance was in SDG 3 and SDG 4, where it ranked in the 301–400 band globally — a competitive position that reflects the institution’s growing relevance on the world stage. In fact, SMU’s scores in both categories were above the global 75th percentile, confirming that SMU is delivering measurable impact in training healthcare professionals and improving educational access.
Standout metrics include:
- A 96.6% score in the number of students graduating in health professions (SDG 3)
- An 82.1% score for first-generation student participation (SDG 4)
- A 96.1% score in the proportion of students taking work placements (SDG 8)
While SMU’s performance in SDG 3 and 4 underscores its core strengths, results in SDG 8 (38.4%) and SDG 17 (51.0%) reveal areas for growth, particularly in economic research, sustainable employment practices, and SDG reporting.
To address these, SMU is taking deliberate steps to strengthen:
- Investment in workforce development and research outputs
- Integration of SDG themes into the curriculum
- Strategic partnerships that advance global development goals
- Institutional transparency in sustainability metrics
“Our next frontier is to broaden our SDG participation and deepen our institutional systems around impact reporting and global collaboration,” Ntshabele adds.
A university on the rise
SMU’s participation in the 2025 THE Impact Rankings is more than symbolic. It’s a bold affirmation of its growing stature as a university that is not only academically focused but socially accountable.
As the global higher education sector increasingly values real-world impact, SMU is laying the foundation to become a leading African health sciences university with a global conscience.
“This is just the beginning. The rankings validate our contribution to national development, and we are ready to take our place among globally impactful universities,” Ntshabele concludes.
