JOHOR BARU: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has been recognised as the top-ran-king institution globally for Sustainable Development Goals 7 (SDG 7) that focuses on affordable and clean energy.

UTM vice-chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail said the university’s leadership in SDG 7 is demonstrated by its initiatives to promote renewable energy infrastructure, such as solar panels on its campuses.

“The university has received prestigious awards such as the National Energy Awards 2022 and the Green Electricity Tariff by Tenaga Nasional Bhd for its commitment to subscribing to 500 blocks of electricity generated from renewable energy sources.

“SDG 7 focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy, and UTM’s dedication to this goal is evident through its various initiatives promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable practices on and off campus,” he said in a statement yesterday, Bernama reported.

In the latest edition of Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking, UTM participated in seven SDGs and retained its overall rank of 101-200 out of 1,591 participating institutions worldwide.It has shown tremendous improvement with four SDGs ranked in the Top 100: SDG 7 (#1), SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (#39), SDG 4: Quality Education (#70) and SDG 16: Promote Just, Peaceful and Inclusive Societies (#96).

Ahmad Fauzi said UTM is also proud to retain its position from 2022 as the leading university in Malaysia for SDG 9 that measures universities’ research on industry and innovation, its number of patents and spin-off companies, and research income.

“To achieve this, UTM has implemented several initiatives. Firstly, it has established industry satellite labs on its campus, allowing companies to set up dedicated research and development facilities within the university premises.

“These labs provide a platform for researchers, students and industry professionals to collaborate on projects, share resources and exchange knowledge.

“The university has also launched innovation incubator programmes to provide support and resources for staff and students as well as start-ups, fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within the university community,” he said.

Ahmad Fauzi also said the UTM Sustainability Blueprint 2030 launched early this year will help the university to thrive further in generating impact through innovative solutions.