TU Dublin Ranked 1st in Europe for Sustainability in Higher Education
Technological University Dublin has been awarded the highly prestigious Gold accreditation from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) through its global Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS®).
This places TU Dublin as Europe’s highest-ranked university and 17th globally in a field of nearly 600 participating institutions worldwide. Scoring an impressive 83.66 points in its first-ever STARS® submission, TU Dublin’s accreditation marks a defining moment in the University’s strategic journey, reinforcing its status as a national and international leader in sustainability performance, policy, and education.
STARS® is one of the most comprehensive and respected sustainability benchmarking tools available to higher education institutions. It assesses a university’s impact and leadership across five key domains: Academics, Engagement, Operations, Planning and Administration, and Innovation and Leadership. Beyond internal benefits, the Gold rating also strengthens the University's position in securing sustainability-linked research funding, attracting partnerships with green industries, and offering incoming students' meaningful opportunities to engage in climate leadership.
Dr Deirdre Lillis, President of TU Dublin, welcomed the announcement and said:
This Gold STARS® rating confirms TU Dublin’s global standing as a sustainability leader in higher education. It reflects our distinctive approach, where we don’t just talk about sustainability, we live it. Our students work directly on real-world challenges alongside researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry partners, gaining the skills and mindset needed to drive Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon economy. TU Dublin is a University where sustainability, innovation, and enterprise intersect, making us a truly exciting and future-focused place to study.
The STARS® report outlines exceptional performance in several key categories. TU Dublin achieved a perfect 100% score in sustainability research, and scored over 90% in curriculum development, campus engagement, wellbeing, and governance. The 100% academic score was awarded for ‘Responsible Research and Innovation’, commending TU Dublin’s five research hubs which all address sustainability topics from different perspectives, covering various Sustainable Development Goals. The University’s high score in campus engagement related to its many Green-Campus initiatives such as ‘The ReFridge Project’ which tackles food waste and food insecurity on campus.
These results showcase the University’s commitment to embedding sustainability into its academic mission and institutional culture. By leveraging insights from this process, TU Dublin aims to drive further excellence while offering a transparent, evidence-based model that other Irish and European universities can follow.
Jennifer Boyer, Vice President, Sustainability at TU Dublin said:
TU Dublin has achieved a strategic milestone in achieving STARS® accreditation, surpassing the University’s original goal two years ahead of schedule. Not only is this achievement a tremendous honour, it demonstrates TU Dublin’s commitment and performance on sustainability and climate action leadership. The assessment captured a whole-of-University approach from more than 42 areas of activity within TU Dublin, demonstrating how faculties, researchers, students and professional services are stepping up to the challenge to ‘be a powerhouse for living and breathing sustainability’.
TU Dublin’s work continues through the development of tools to systematically track progress toward three further KPIs: ensuring all students and staff receive sustainability education by 2030, achieving both a 51% reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and increasing energy efficiency by 50% by 2030 - all of which align with Ireland’s national decarbonisation targets.
TU Dublin PhD student and Green-Campus Co-Chair Asfand Bakht Yar said:
This recognition matters because it shows that sustainability isn’t just a top-down process at TU Dublin. Students have a say and a role in shaping how the University responds to the climate crisis. That’s not something to take for granted.
This achievement also brings national relevance, as TU Dublin becomes a cornerstone institution in Ireland’s broader sustainability strategy. The Gold accreditation supports the objectives set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts, Ireland’s National Climate Action Plan, and EU Green Deal directives. Furthermore, it reinforces the university’s commitment to its Strategic Plan 2030, with the Gold rating fulfilling its first major Key Performance Indicator (KPI) under the 'Sustainability Leadership' pillar two years ahead of schedule.