University

The University of Dundee has been placed in the top 50 in the world in the 2020 edition of the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings.

The rankings recognise that the role of universities extends beyond research and teaching to a third mission revolving around engagement, knowledge exchange and innovation for societal good. These rankings measure the global higher education sector’s success in delivering the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The rankings include more than 800 universities worldwide. Dundee is ranked 44^th overall and 9^th in the world against the Sustainable Development Goal of Good Health & Wellbeing.

On the latter, Times Higher Education said universities need to demonstrate actions to improve local and global health and well-being, and measured performance across a range of factors from publication and impact of research to outreach into local communities and provision of services for staff and students.

Dundee was also ranked inside the top 50 against the SDGs of Climate Action, Responsible Consumption and Production, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Partnership for the Goals.

Professor David Maguire, Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University, said, “These results show the outstanding impact of Dundee’s work and the success in meeting our aim of transforming lives locally and globally.

“This high level of impact is remarkable and testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff and students over many years.

“This is an extraordinary university, doing world-changing research, providing students with an experience that is consistently rated among the very best, and making a real difference to people’s lives.”

Times Higher Education say that inclusion in the University Impact Rankings marks out institutions as global pioneers that can demonstrate commitment not just to supporting SDGs through teaching, research and knowledge exchange activities, but also to embodying the goals in internal practices and policies.

The full THE University Impact Rankings can be seen at https://www.timeshighereducation.com/rankings/impact/2020

The 2019 Festival of the Future will get off to a flying start when Scotland’s leading aerial dance company take to the sky outside the University of Dundee on Wednesday 16 October.

All or Nothing Aerial Dance Theatre will perform their trademark spectacular moves while suspended high above the ground as part of the official opening of this year’s Festival. The dancers will move up and down the University’s Tower Building to a specially created soundtrack, while an original animation created by Dundee alumni Ryan McKnight is projected on to the side of the building.

Guests will then be led to Bonar Hall for a musical performance by children from Claypotts Castle and St Pius primary schools, who are part of the Big Noise Orchestra, a Sistema Scotland initiative.

In addition to opening the Festival, the show will also mark the 60th anniversary of the Tower Building’s foundation stone being laid.

“The Tower is one of the tallest and most recognisable buildings in Dundee as well as being the beating heart of the University,” said Festival programme director Emma Beatt. “The exciting performance by All or Nothing and Ryan’s film lighting up the building is the perfect way to launch the Festival while celebrating a landmark anniversary for this Dundee landmark.

“We are delighted to have put on such a packed programme to suit all tastes with events exploring how science and culture can come together to solve some of the biggest issues we face while educating and entertaining visitors at the same time.”

Festival of the Future, the University’s flagship celebration of art, culture and science will take place from October 16-20. The theme of this year’s Festival is social change, and more than 60 events featuring music, design, dance, theatre, food and comedy will explore this while engaging with audiences of all ages.

High-profile speakers include author Kerry Hudson, who will share the personal stories from her memoir Lowborn: Growing Up, Getting Away and Returning to Britain’s Poorest Towns, an attempt to understand what it means to be poor in Britain today. Meanwhile broadcaster Paul Mason will launch a radical defence of universal rights and human-centric institutions while resisting the insidious influence of algorithms over our lives.

Paul will also take part in a panel considering the question ‘Do editors pander to audiences more than they should?’ as part of an exploration of journalism in an era of clickbait, fake news and social media.

Each day of the programme will feature events aimed at children, young people and adults, debates with academics and external speakers and high-profile events featuring prestigious figures from the worlds of science and culture. Dance, theatre, music and comedy performances will also take place.

More information about Festival of the Future can be found at www.dundee.ac.uk/futurefest.