Van Lang University rises to the world’s Top 401-600 for the contribution to sustainable development

On June 24, 2026, Times Higher Education (THE) released THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 (an international assessment system upgraded from the previous THE Impact Rankings). Van Lang University advanced to the Top 401–600 worldwide, with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ranking among the university’s strongest-performing areas.

In 2026, THE introduced the Sustainability Impact Ratings for the first time through the Sustainability Impact Network, bringing together more than 1,600 higher education institutions worldwide to share data, benchmark performance, and promote best practices in sustainable development. A total of 17 Vietnamese universities participated in the rankings, with Van Lang University making the third consecutive appearance and achieving a steadily improving position each year. The results reflect our university's sustained efforts to pursue sustainable values throughout this development journey.

Through THE Sustainability Impact Ratings, universities are assessed not only on the quality of their education and research, but also on their ability to create positive impacts for society, the environment, and the economy. Van Lang University was comprehensively assessed across the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), achieving an overall ranking in the 401-600 range worldwide, up to 200 places from 2025.

Van Lang University continued to achieve strong results across SDG categories that reflect core strengths: decent work and sustainable economic growth (SDG 8 - Decent Work & Economic Growth: Top 101-200); clean water and sanitation (SDG 6 - Clean Water & Sanitation: Top 201-300); responsible consumption and production (SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption & Production: Top 301-400); student well-being and school nutrition (SDG 2 - Zero Hunger: Top 201-300); and expanding access to quality education for the community (SDG 4 - Quality Education: Top 301-400).

These results reflect Van Lang University’s commitment to sustainable development across the entire institution. Within an interconnected learn-and-work ecosystem, our University prioritizes people by focusing on several key areas: developing individuals capable of creating positive social impact; delivering solutions for real-world needs; expanding international partnerships; advancing digital transformation; and promoting resource efficiency and emissions reduction across the community.

SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) is one of Van Lang University’s top-performing areas, illustrating the people-centered development approach. The University prioritizes building a fair and transparent workplace; invests in staff professional growth; and connects students with the labor market through career guidance, corporate partnerships, and industry expert support. According to a 2025 survey, 92.2% of graduates were employed within one year; and several Engineering and Technology programs achieved a 100% employment rate.

In the environmental category, the results for SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) highlight Van Lang University’s efforts toward sustainable water resource management. These include monitoring and optimizing water use across the campus, extending access to safe drinking water, reusing rainwater and treated water for appropriate purposes, and applying the University’s environmental expertise to wastewater treatment and water resource protection projects for communities and businesses.

For SDG 4 (Quality Education), Van Lang University has been recognized for the commitment to high-quality education, lifelong learning, and equitable knowledge access. Beyond formal education, we promote open resources, digital transformation, short-term training, and experiential learning models to broaden community access to knowledge. Van Lang University is cultivating a flexible, shared learning environment where practical application creates lasting social value.

Notably, SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) recorded a significant improvement for Van Lang University, with the ranking rising from 601–800 to 301–400. This reflects the University’s efforts to build a transparent, safe, and responsible academic environment that champions academic freedom, diversity, and inclusion while encouraging our faculty and students to actively contribute to community and policy development.

The “learning by doing” approach is the cornerstone of Van Lang University’s educational model, reinforcing the University's commitment to educational quality, community engagement, and student career readiness. With more than 100 domestic academic programs and over 30 international joint programs, our University offers a wide range of study paths tailored to various career goals. Each curriculum bridges theory and practice by integrating real-world projects, service learning, and industry collaboration into every program. Students are immersed in an open learning environment connected to professional and social challenges, ensuring education aligned with practical demands. Supported by a network of more than 400 international partners, Van Lang University’s students gain early global exposure and build a strong foundation for their future careers.

After three decades of establishment and development, Van Lang University has educated more than 156,000 engineers, bachelors, architects, pharmacists, and doctors. Our University continues to advance the mission of becoming an Innovation & Impact University, placing learners and society at the center while closely connecting 3 pillars: education - research - community service. Van Lang University remains committed to pursuing sustainable values rather than short-term goals.

As one of Vietnam’s pioneering private universities, Van Lang University’s 30-year journey highlights dynamism and development of higher education in Viet Nam. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, the University is ranked 1001-1200 globally, including 392nd for Academic Reputation, and among the Top 251 universities in Asia in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026. At the subject level, QS ranks Van Lang University 69th worldwide for Art & Design, while Performing Arts and Hospitality & Leisure Management are both placed in the 101-150 range globally in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.

In 2026, Van Lang University participated in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026 for the first time, placing 781st globally and 247th in Asia. The latest achievement, securing a position in the 401-600 range globally in THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026, further demonstrates university's strong institutional capability and consistent strategy in guiding Van Lang University’s community toward a shared vision: advancing sustainable development and creating positive change for a sustainable future. 

News: Bich Phuong