Kyung Hee has reached a major milestone in global higher education, ranking No. 1 among private universities and 19^th overall in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings—its highest placement since the rankings were first introduced.

The THE Impact Rankings evaluate universities on how effectively they advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s edition, released in June, assessed 2,318 universities from 125 countries. Since the launch of the rankings in 2019, Kyung Hee has consistently demonstrated strong performance—earning the No. 1 national ranking in the inaugural year—and this year’s results mark its most significant global achievement to date.

Leading Across the SDGs
Kyung Hee placed in the global top 50 in 11 of the 17 SDG categories, with standout results in:
6th in Zero Hunger (SDG 2)
8th in Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)
13th in Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)
15th in No Poverty (SDG 1)
18th in Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16)
19th in Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9)
30th in Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6)
34th in Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
37th in Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3)
47th in Life on Land (SDG 15)
50th in Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)
The University also maintained a strong presence across the remaining five SDGs, with a notable 51st-place ranking in Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7).

The THE Impact Rankings require all participating universities to be evaluated in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), reflecting the importance of global and public cooperation in achieving the SDGs. In addition to SDG 17, the final score is calculated based on a university’s top three SDG scores, adjusted through a normalization process. The final ranking is based on the average of the composite scores from the current year and the year before.

Advancing Sustainability Through Innovation and Community Engagement
Kyung Hee delivered standout performances in Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure (SDG 9), Sustainable Cities & Communities (SDG 11), and Zero Hunger (SDG 2). The University has developed a strong innovation ecosystem centered on its Industrial and Academic Cooperation Foundation, Campus Town Program, and Department for Future Innovation. More than 90 startup teams are currently active at the Hongneung Center for Biomedical Startups and the Samuiwon Startup Center, supported by a wide range of entrepreneurship programs for faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates. Four ventures founded by Kyung Hee faculty and students participated in CES 2025 earlier this year.

We are also building a sustainable urban environment by strengthening our ties to the local community. Kyung Hee runs an open-campus model that includes AI and software experience programs for K-12 students and co-working spaces for residents. In 2024, we launched a new collaboration initiative under the Learn+Vacation program, which combines local engagement with immersive learning. In May, students and faculty organized a Jeju Beach Cleanup as part of the Learn+Vacation Project. That same month, the University hosted All That Classic: Toward a Sustainable Future, a concert marking the College of Music’s 70^th anniversary, inviting local residents, low-income families, multicultural households, and individuals with disabilities.

Leading Future-Oriented Agricultural Education
Agriculture, once regarded primarily as a productive industry, now lies at the intersection of climate change, food security, and regional resilience. Kyung Hee is spearheading next-generation agricultural education by integrating smart farming with ICT, while also strengthening cooperation with rural communities. Professors Dae-Hyun Jung and Choon-Tak Kwon from the Department of Smart Farm Science led a team of graduate students to win the top prize—the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ Award—at the 2024 Smart Agriculture AI Competition.

Kyung Hee has long recognized the public mission of higher education. To that end, the University has promoted education and research aimed at solving global challenges. In 2019, it became the first university in Korea to introduce global citizenship education as a required course for all undergraduates (via the “World and Citizen” curriculum at Humanitas College). In 2022, Kyung Hee launched the Miwon Peace Institute and the Global Academy for Future Civilizations to strengthen global and civic engagement. The University also organized the annual Peace BAR Festival in observance of the UN International Day of Peace, and operates public lecture series such as the Miwon Lectures, Distinguished Scholars Lectures, and the Global Collaborative program.

Honoring Founding Philosophy and Looking Ahead
In 2024, Kyung Hee established the Miwon Peace Prize to commemorate the legacy of its founder, Dr. Miwon Young-Seek Choue (1921–2012). The award recognizes individuals or organizations that have made exceptional contributions to advancing the conditions for a better human existence and promoting the future of civilization and peace. The inaugural Miwon Peace Prize was awarded to The Elders, an independent group of global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, in recognition of their efforts to promote ethical leadership and global cooperation. From its founding, Kyung Hee has cultivated strong relationships with leading educational and academic institutions, international organizations, NGOs, and government bodies around the world.

President Jinsang Kim emphasized that sustainability is no longer a matter of choice, but a fundamental responsibility entrusted to higher education institutions. “Under Kyung Hee’s founding philosophy of Academe and Peace, we have pursued education, research, and praxis for the past 76 years—rooted in global citizenship, a commitment to the public good, and socially engaged practice,” he said. “This recognition reflects the international validation of our collective efforts for a sustainable future. Kyung Hee will continue to fulfill its role in meeting the responsibilities entrusted to higher education in today’s world.”