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SFU ranks in the world’s top 40 for innovation and top 10 for entrepreneurial spirit

July 03, 2020

Simon Fraser University has been ranked 34th in the world for innovation and seventh in the world for entrepreneurial spirit in the World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI) ranking.  

The WURI is a new ranking system developed by the Institute for Policy and Strategy on National Competitiveness to evaluate universities based on their “real contributions to society,” rather than on traditional criteria such as volume of research publications and citations.

While SFU consistently fares well in conventional university rankings (such as being named Canada’s top comprehensive university for nine of the past ten years by Maclean's), the WURI system recognizes the impact of SFU’s contributions  to society. As Canada’s Engaged University, SFU has developed a university-wide innovation strategy that has established us as a national leader in delivering entrepreneurship education and in advancing social and economic innovation.

The latest rankings also reflect and add to our growing international reputation. Recently, SFU placed 19th in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which measure universities’ contributions to meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Of the 766 universities rated, SFU placed in the top ten in four categories: ninth for our impact on Climate Action; seventh for our impact on Aquatic Ecosystems; fourth for our impact on Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions; and first for our impact on Sustainable Cities and Communities.

At SFU, we have shown how a major research university can leverage its educational, research and other strengths to maximize its contributions to the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of the communities it serves. These contributions and their impacts flow from our commitment to be an Engaged University, and are gratifying in and of themselves. However it’s wonderful to see that they are now also gaining us international recognition and acclaim.