UoN maintains Top Position in the QS Sustainability Ranking 2026
The University of Nairobi has achieved a major milestone, emerging as the leading university in Kenya in the just released QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026. This national recognition underscores the University’s commitment to advancing environmental education, social transformation, and good governance, while preparing graduates to tackle pressing global challenges. The QS Sustainability Rankings are globally recognized for measuring universities’ contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For UoN, this achievement is more than a ranking; it is a validation of its mission to be a globally competitive, socially responsive, and environmentally conscious university.
The University of Nairobi achieved an overall global rank of 1081–1090. This places UoN firmly among the world’s universities making significant strides in sustainability. Within Africa, UoN ranked 35th out of 83 institutions, and in Sub-Saharan Africa, it secured 13th place. These results highlight UoN’s growing influence as a regional leader in sustainability-focused education and research. Most notably, UoN is ranked position 1 in Kenya, ahead of Kenyatta University and Moi University.
In the 2026 edition, 2,002 institutions worldwide were assessed. The ranking evaluates performance across three pillars: Environmental Impact, Social Impact, and Governance. The Environmental Impact category assesses institutional strategy and operations toward an environmentally sustainable future. The Social Impact category assesses efforts in equality, health & wellbeing, graduate outcomes, and knowledge exchange (including research partnerships between developed and developing regions), and the Governance category assesses open decision-making, ethical organizational culture, and financial transparency.
UoN’s strongest performance came in the Environmental Impact category, where it ranked 890 globally and 26th in Africa. Within this category, UoN excelled in Environmental Education, achieving a global rank of 527 and placing 10th in Africa. This reflects the University’s emphasis on climate literacy, environmental sciences, and equipping students with the knowledge to drive sustainable change.
In the Social Impact category, UoN performed well in Impact of Education (ranked 820 globally) and Knowledge Exchange (ranked 1059 globally), demonstrating its role in shaping graduates who contribute meaningfully to society and in fostering collaborations across regions.
Although the University’s governance ranking (ranked 1251+ globally) remains an area for growth, UoN continues to strengthen transparency, student representation, and ethical leadership as part of its long-term sustainability vision.
This ranking is a testament to the dedication of our students, faculty, and staff. As we move forward, we are committed to leveraging this success to further enhance our global competitiveness and reinforce UoN's leadership in transforming society through sustainable practices.
