Global Recognition: University of Mostar Ranked Among the Top 3 Percent of the World's Best and Most Prestigious Universities

The University of Mostar has been positioned between the 201st and 300th place among 2031 institutions on the latest Times Higher Education world ranking in the most important 17th goal, achieving the most significant success of the University of Mostar since its inception and placing it among the top 3 percent of the world's best universities. The University of Mostar (SUM) is the only publicly positioned university in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Times Higher Education world ranking list and is among the leading institutions in the region.

Times Higher Education, a reputable international organization specializing in higher education, positioned the University of Mostar between 601st and 800th place in the overall ranking out of a total of 1963 ranked institutions on its THE Impact Rankings list, which evaluates the impact of universities in accordance with the United Nations' sustainable development goals. This is the highest achievement for this institution since its founding. The University of Mostar applied for ten UN sustainable development goals and was ranked in all ten that it applied for. SUM achieved its best results in the most important goal, 17 Partnerships for the Goals, where it ranked between the 201st and 300th place globally out of 2031 institutions ranked for this goal, and in goal 16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, where it also ranked between the 201st and 300th place globally out of 1086 ranked institutions. Significant results were also achieved in the goals No Poverty, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, Reduced Inequalities, and Sustainable Cities and Communities.

The University of Mostar made another historic step by applying for the THE Impact Rankings list in November 2023, following a months-long intensive and comprehensive application process. The Office for International Ranking meticulously guided the University through 17 goals, 169 sub-goals, and 232 indicators before the final submission of the application. Positioning among the most significant and prestigious universities in the world is a testament to the efforts invested in the development and visibility of the University in the global educational space.

THE (Times Higher Education) is involved in creating various university rankings, such as THE World University Rankings and THE Impact Rankings, through which they evaluate the performance of universities in various areas such as research, teaching, international collaboration, sustainable development, and social contribution and responsibility. THE Impact Rankings, first published in 2019, is the only global ranking that assesses universities according to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. In addition to the overall ranking, individual rankings are published for each of the 17 goals, tracking universities' progress in achieving each specific sustainability goal. The scoring for each goal is divided into four categories: research, university management, teaching/learning process, and outreach/social contribution and impact. It is also important to note that 7-15% of the scoring for each goal includes research and scientific papers in the specific field according to the SCOPUS citation database, while the remaining percentage is distributed among the other three categories, which are evaluated according to relevant indicators set by THE rankings. Universities must provide evidence for each category that corresponds to the indicators within each category, and the evidence is strictly and officially verified and assessed. The overall ranking is determined by summing the percentages of the three goals in which the university is best ranked, plus the 17th goal, which is mandatory and accounts for 22% of the total score. The three best goals in which the university is ranked highest each carry a maximum of 26% of the total percentage, and in the overall ranking, the University of Mostar is placed between 601st and 800th in the world.

Among the institutions from the Republic of Croatia that have also achieved success and positioned themselves on the THE list are the University of Split, ranked between 201st and 300th, the University of Rijeka, ranked between 301st and 400th, the University of Zagreb, ranked between 801st and 1000th, and the University of Dubrovnik, ranked between 1001st and 1500th. From Bosnia and Herzegovina, the University of Mostar is the only public university that has managed to be ranked on the THE list.

Ranking universities, especially on the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) ranking, is extremely important as it penetrates academic and scientific research activities, teaching activities, digitalization, university contribution to the community, and many other aspects of university work. This achievement provides a foundation for progress and comparison with universities in the region, as well as institutions at the European and global levels, confirming its competitiveness and quality. THE rankings serve as a kind of reference tool that helps identify areas for improvement, provides feedback on areas that require additional attention, and allows for the exchange of practices and experiences with other universities participating in the ranking.

An excellent result on the THE ranking reflects the efforts of the University of Mostar to valorize past achievements, improve its educational and research capacities, and contribute to global sustainable development goals.