The rating agency awarded the Presidential Academy an AA sustainability responsibility rating – the highest – as part of a pilot project involving seven Russian universities. This award confirms the Academy's exceptionally high level of performance in minimizing environmental, social, and governance risks to the national economy.
The new sustainability university ranking is based on a comprehensive assessment of universities' performance. Based on the university's scientific, educational, and outreach missions, the ranking considers the effectiveness of environmental, social, and governance practices.
In the Academy's educational and research activities related to sustainable development, the agency noted the presence of seven comprehensive master's and bachelor's programs in ESG. The number of students studying in these programs has been steadily increasing over the past three years. The Academy is also implementing the "World-Class Business School" project, which includes activities to disseminate and popularize ESG practices. A significant contributing factor was the high publication activity on UN SDG topics and the strong performance of students in the Public and Municipal Administration track of the «New Age of Public Administration» Olympiad.
«The Presidential Academy makes a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the entire Russian Federation as the country's largest university, with over 270,000 students and trainees annually. Furthermore, the Academy enjoys a unique status as the leading center for training personnel for public administration at the federal, regional, and municipal levels, and is also a world-class business school and a scientific and educational center of excellence focused on addressing the most important challenges facing the country,» commented Vice Rector Artur Azarov.
In terms of the university's compliance with sustainable development principles, the rating was influenced by the Academy's educational and resource-saving activities, including the use of renewable energy sources for street lighting. The Academy also provides social support for staff and students, a medical center equipped with cutting-edge equipment, and a children's center for the comfortable stay of preschoolers. The Academy's active work in educating and popularizing knowledge in the field of sustainable development also had a positive impact on the rating. Numerous textbooks and teaching aids have been prepared on this topic. The Academy's thematic educational courses are regularly posted on publicly accessible online platforms. Academy representatives participate in public events on ESG issues, covered by national media.
