Tallinn University Recognised in International Sustainability Rankings

Tallinn University is ranked among the world’s leading universities for sustainability in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026. The international ranking assesses universities based on their contribution to environmental protection, social well-being, and responsible governance.

The QS Sustainability Rankings are based on the understanding that sustainability extends beyond environmental issues alone. The assessment covers three core areas: environmental impact, social impact, and governance.

Each area is measured through a set of indicators that take into account the impact of teaching and research, day-to-day operations, engagement with society, and values-based leadership. Tallinn University’s results highlight particular strengths in people-centred and socially oriented activities.

Tallinn University received an especially high score in the equality indicator, where it ranks first among Estonian universities. This reflects the university’s strong commitment to equal opportunities, an inclusive learning environment, and social justice.

The university also performs strongly in the impact of education indicator, which measures how teaching and research contribute to societal development. In addition, Tallinn University is recognised for its role in knowledge transfer—working with communities, partners, and international networks to ensure that knowledge is applied in practice and creates broader societal value.

In the governance category, QS evaluates, among other aspects, the transparency of decision-making processes, ethical organisational culture, student engagement, and financial transparency. The results confirm that Tallinn University has a trustworthy governance culture that supports sustainable development. Particularly notable is the university’s performance in environmental sustainability, where Tallinn University ranks first in Estonia. This reflects strategic and practical measures such as more efficient use of resources, environmentally conscious management, and sustainable working practices.

The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026 confirm Tallinn University’s role as a people-centred, responsible, and socially impactful university. But how do the university’s staff themselves view sustainability and related indicators?

As part of Tallinn University’s goal to be an open, caring, and forward-looking institution, employees were asked what they consider important in relation to sustainability. A staff satisfaction survey conducted in 2025 revealed that nearly one quarter of respondents believe they already contribute sufficiently and do not see a need for additional action. At the same time, the majority of the university community felt that more effort is needed in this area. The most frequently mentioned priority was more efficient energy use (39%). Respondents also highlighted the importance of further reducing waste (32%) and transitioning to digital solutions to reduce paper use (31%).

According to the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026, Tallinn University is ranked:

• 890th globally among 2,002 universities,

• 335th in Europe among 621 universities,

• 2nd in Estonia among four participating universities.

These results show that Tallinn University ranks above the global average and is one of the leading universities in Estonia in the field of sustainability. The continued importance of sustainability is also reflected in the upcoming environment week "Rohenädal" at the end of March, an initiative supported by all major universities in Estonia.