Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has earned global recognition for its contribution to advancing health and education after being ranked among the world’s Top 200 universities for Good Health and Well-being and Quality Education in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Rankings.
Released on 24 June 2026, the latest rankings mark SMU’s strongest performance to date and affirm its growing global impact in health sciences education and sustainable development. The achievement underscores the university’s rising international reputation for producing healthcare professionals, expanding access to quality education and creating meaningful impact in communities across South Africa and beyond.
SMU also improved its overall global position, advancing from the 1001–1500 band in 2025 to the 801–1000 band in 2026, with every Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) ranked recording an improvement over the previous reporting cycle.
Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Dini Mawela, says the rankings affirm SMU’s commitment to improving lives through health sciences education, research and community impact. “This recognition is an affirmation that our work is making a meaningful difference in society. As a specialised health sciences university, our purpose has always been to educate healthcare professionals, generate knowledge that addresses real-world challenges, and contribute to healthier, more equitable communities.”
Mawela adds: “Being recognised among the world’s Top 200 universities for Good Health and Well-being and Quality Education demonstrates that the impact of our staff, students, researchers, clinicians and partners extends far beyond our campuses. It reflects the collective commitment of the entire SMU community to excellence, innovation and service.”
The THE Sustainability Impact Rankings measure how universities contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through teaching, research, stewardship and community engagement. For a specialised health sciences university established just over a decade ago, SMU’s performance demonstrates that focused excellence can compete on the global stage.
The university’s strongest performance was recorded in SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, recognising its contribution to strengthening healthcare systems through the education of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and allied health professionals. SMU also achieved a Top 200 global ranking for SDG 4: Quality Education, reflecting its commitment to widening educational access, developing future educators within the health professions and promoting lifelong learning.
Beyond these milestone achievements, SMU improved across all four SDGs ranked, including Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17), while increasing its overall score to 59.7 out of 100—its highest Sustainability Impact Rating to date.
Dr Carlien Jooste, Director: Internationalisation, says the rankings provide more than international recognition. “The THE Sustainability Rankings provide SMU with a valuable global benchmark that helps us measure our progress, identify areas for improvement, and strengthen our commitment to academic excellence and growth. The process encourages continuous reflection and innovation, ultimately helping us deliver a better experience for our students, staff and broader community.”
The achievement reflects SMU’s sustained investment in producing highly skilled healthcare professionals, advancing research that addresses national and global health priorities, strengthening partnerships and expanding educational opportunities that improve lives. It also reinforces the university’s vision of becoming a leading African health sciences university distinguished by excellence in teaching, research, innovation and community engagement.
Acting Director: Advancement and Communications, Tshimangadzo Mphaphuli, says the results provide an important opportunity to strengthen the University’s international reputation. “Independent global rankings provide credible evidence of institutional excellence. These results tell a powerful story of improved performance and a university whose impact is increasingly being recognised on the international stage,” she explains.
“For our students, alumni, staff, partners and prospective students, this achievement reinforces confidence that SMU is delivering education and research that matters globally while remaining deeply committed to addressing South Africa’s healthcare priorities. It is a story of purpose, progress and growing international recognition,” adds Mphaphuli.
As the world increasingly looks to universities to address society’s most pressing challenges, SMU’s latest global recognition affirms that its greatest contribution is not simply its ranking, but the lives it changes. From educating the next generation of healthcare professionals to advancing research that transforms communities, SMU continues to demonstrate that purpose-driven excellence can achieve global impact.
