Alfonso X el Sabio University is recognised as one of Spain’s leading private universities in the field of sustainability. This has been confirmed by the results of the 2026 edition of The Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings (formerly known as the THE Impact Rankings), the leading international ranking that measures academic institutions’ contribution to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In this edition, the ranking assessed 1,646 universities from 116 countries and territories based on their impact in areas such as research, teaching, campus management and engagement with society. UAX has particularly excelled in five of the 17 SDGs analysed and has ranked amongst the top ten private Spanish universities in all of them.
“This international recognition highlights the work we have been carrying out to integrate sustainability across the board into our teaching, research and campus management. Furthermore, it spurs us on to continue training professionals capable of using knowledge and technology purposefully and making a positive impact on society,” said Domingo Mirón, CEO of the UAX Group.
UAX achieved its most notable result in SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities, where it ranks as the second-highest-ranked private Spanish university. Only 13 Spanish universities feature amongst the 865 institutions ranked in this category. This SDG assesses universities’ contribution to creating more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UAX’s ranking reflects a university model that integrates sustainability into education and research, as well as into the management of its campuses and its relationship with the local community. This commitment takes the form of projects such as the Low-Emission Zones Observatory, which analyses the implementation of these zones in the 151 Spanish municipalities required to develop them, and initiatives aimed at improving energy and water efficiency, promoting sustainable mobility and protecting biodiversity.
UAX ranks in the top 10 of Spanish private universities across five SDGs
In addition to its standing in the area of sustainable cities and communities, UAX ranks among the top ten Spanish private universities in five of the 17 categories analysed by Times Higher Education. This is the case, for example, in SDG 3, Good Health and Well-being, where only 15 Spanish universities have been ranked amongst the 1,254 institutions assessed worldwide.
UAX also stands out for its contribution to SDG 5, Gender Equality, a category which assesses, amongst other aspects, access and non-discrimination policies, as well as measures to promote women’s development and their presence in academia. Furthermore, it has been recognised under SDG 4, Quality Education, for its educational research, the training of teaching professionals, lifelong learning and educational outreach activities, and under SDG 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth, an area that analyses labour practices, pay equity, employees’ rights, contractual stability and students’ participation in work placements.
An ESG strategy linked to university activities
These results are underpinned by UAX’s ESG strategy, which incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria into the university’s academic, operational and strategic management. Since 2021, all bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes defined by UAX have included elements related to sustainability in their curricula. In addition, it has a Sustainability and ESG Committee, responsible for driving this strategy forward, monitoring its commitments and identifying new risks and opportunities.
In environmental terms, the Academic Report for the 2024/25 academic year shows that the UAX Group reduced its Scope 1 emissions by 20.5 per cent and its Scope 2 emissions by 19.7 per cent. The upgrade to LED lighting reduced electricity consumption by 27.9 per cent, whilst the proportion of reclaimed or reused water on its campuses reached 14.3 per cent.
The strategy is complemented by social impact projects, volunteering programmes, equality and work-life balance policies, initiatives supporting vulnerable groups, and close collaboration with businesses and institutions – all of which are channelled through the Office for Volunteering and Development Cooperation of the Alfonso X el Sabio University Foundation (FUAX). This approach enables sustainability to be integrated into the academic experience and prepares students to incorporate responsible practices into their future professional careers.
