In its first time participating, Saint Louis University (SLU) broke ground in being ranked 658th in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2023 released on 5 December 2023.
With a total score of 5,732, affirming the continued prominence and consistent track record of the University in its advocacy towards sustainability as a green campus, SLU was ranked fourth among the private higher education institutions (PHEIs) and 12th among HEIs in the country included in the list. SLU was the only private HEI in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and one of the two HEIs in the Region that made it in the rankings.
The UI GreenMetric World University Rankings is a ranking on green campus and environmental sustainability. Through 39 indicators in 6 criteria, UI GreenMetric World University Rankings prudently determined the rankings by universities’ environmental commitment and initiatives. The six criteria are as follows: Setting and Infrastructure (SI), Energy and Climate Change (EC), Waste (WS), Water (WR), Transportation (TR), and Education (ED).
SLU garnered a score of 725 in SI, 1400 in EC, 750 in WS, 700 in WR, 1035 in TR, and 1125 in ED.
As stated on its website, UI Green Metric considered the following indicators:
- More space for greenery and in safeguarding environment, as well as the campus sustainable development budget for SI;
- Increase the effort in using energy efficiency appliances and develop renewable energy for EC;
- Some programs and waste treatments (i.e. recycling program, toxic waste, organic and inorganic waste, etc) for WS;
- Decrease groundwater usage, increase conservation program, and protect the habitat for WR;
- Transportation policy to limit the number of private vehicles, pedestrian for TR; and
- Courses, research, publication, website, report related to green and sustainability for ED.
Further, the criteria included “baseline information such as the size of the university, both spatially and in terms of population, the campus location and the amount of green space…”
UI GreenMetric based its instruments on a broad philosophy that encompasses the pillar of sustainability: Environmental, Social, and Economic. The accrediting body reviewed about 1,183 formally accredited HEIs in different countries.
Being included in the list of UI GreenMetric World University Qualified universities around the world underscored on the institution’s ecological footprint and sustainable education and research.
