Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham continues its remarkable trajectory of success, maintaining its position as the No.1 institution in India for the fourth consecutive year in the latest higher education impact rankings that celebrate universities excelling in various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The university also finds itself among the top 100 educational institutions worldwide, underscoring its global impact.
In 2024, a total of 2,152 higher education institutions from 125 countries/ regions participated in a comprehensive assessment of their contributions to the United Nations' SDGs, evaluating their achievements in research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching. The results, announced during THE’s global sustainable development congress held in Bangkok from June 10 to 13, highlight Amrita's consistent leadership in sustainability.
Dr Maneesha V Ramesh, Provost for Strategic Initiatives, Research & Innovation at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, was a distinguished speaker at the event, emphasising the university's visionary leadership and dedication to sustainable development and innovation. "This is a testament to the vision of world-renowned humanitarian leader and Chancellor, Amma, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi in setting the dual goals of education for life and compassion-driven research. The recognition would not have been possible for the tiring efforts put in by the students and staff, and I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Times Higher Education in bestowing this honour. I am happy with the consistency in recognition of the academic excellence, outstanding faculty, and world-class infrastructure that the university is known for,” she said.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s success extends across multiple SDG categories, reflecting its holistic approach to sustainability:
Notably, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham was recently honoured with the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia Award 2024 for its Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership, a testament to its innovative approach to sustainability education. Central to this achievement is the Live-in-Labs® programme, an internship initiative that immerses students in rural India to address local challenges with sustainable solutions. Inspired by Chancellor Amma's vision, which she articulated at the United Nations Academic Impact Conference on Technology for Sustainable Development in New York in 2015, Live-in-Labs® has impacted over 1 million beneficiaries across 25 states since its inception in 2013.
This groundbreaking programme has seen participation from students from more than 30 institutions worldwide, contributing over 400,000 hours in the field. This collective effort showcases the university's commitment to using academic research to serve society's most vulnerable, aligning with Amma's belief that true education should uplift the lowest strata of society.
By leading in both national and international rankings and pioneering impactful initiatives like Live-in-Labs®, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham exemplifies the critical role of academia in driving sustainable change and fostering a better future for all.