The institution is one of the most sustainable in Paraná, and its best indicators are linked to SDG2, 8 and 17
The State University of Maringá (UEM-Universidade Estadual de Maringá) was ranked among educational institutions worldwide in the University Impact Rankings 2025, organized by the British magazine Times Higher Education (THE). The ranking is responsible for assessing the socio-economic environmental impact based on the university's commitment to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations (UN).
The methodology used considers the data from the three SDGs with the highest scores (with a weight of 26% each) plus the data from SDG 17 - Partnerships and means of implementation (with a weight of 22%). The State University of Maringá has greater relevance in SDG 17 (with a score between 70.0 and 77.3); 8 - Decent work and economic growth (with a score between 62.1 and 65.3); and 2 - Zero hunger and sustainable agriculture (with a score between 54.5 and 62.9).
For rector Leandro Vanalli, "this year's result only proves the excellence of UEM, which has an intrinsic commitment to sustainability and social development. Our research, extension programs and the training of our students are guided by the search for solutions to global challenges, in line with the SDGs. We are committed to the UN's 2030 Agenda and we will continue to work to ensure that the excellence of our university actively contributes to a fairer, more equitable and sustainable future for all."
The Board of Plans and Information (DPO/LNI-Divisão de Planos e informações) of the Office of Institutional Planning and Development (PLD-Pró-Reitoria de Planejamento e Desenvolvimento Institucional) is responsible for systematizing and forwarding UEM's data to the rankings' organizers. According to the head of DPO/LNI, Paulo Cesar Ossani, these rankings are important for putting UEM on the world's radar. “Our university is well known locally, but the rankings raise our visibility, which is extremely important for our external recognition,” he said.
The SDGs represent a global action plan made up of 17 goals and 169 targets to be achieved by 2030 for poverty eradication, promotion of quality education, environmental protection, energy, water and sanitation, climate change, sustainable cities, protection and sustainable use of oceans and terrestrial ecosystems, among others.
Ranking
First in the University Impact Rankings 2025 is the University of Western Sydney in Australia, followed by the University of Manchester in the UK and Kyungpook National University in South Korea. The best rated Brazilian institution is the University of São Paulo (USP-Universidade de São Paulo). The full ranking is available on the magazine's website.
The Alper-Doger Scientific Index (AD) 2025 listed UEM as the first among public higher education institutions in Paraná, 16th in Brazil and 20th in Latin America. In the global ranking, it placed 503rd.
In April, UEM was considered the 34th best university in the country by the SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR). The survey, carried out by a research laboratory linked to Spain's Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC-Conselho Superior de Pesquisas Cientificas), ranks higher education institutions based on their performance in research, innovation and social impact.
The ranking placed UEM as the best evaluated university in Paraná in the area of Chemistry, occupying eighth place nationally. In addition, the university was among the 20 best in Brazil in several areas, such as agriculture and biological sciences, computer science, energy, physics and astronomy, mathematics and veterinary medicine.
Translation team:
Felipe Piva Amorim
Julia Pedriali Rosa