An-Najah Ranks First in Palestine and Among the Global “Golden Cluster” in the 2025 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings
An-Najah National University continues to strengthen its position as a regional and global leader in sustainability, achieving a remarkable new milestone in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2025. This year, the University secured 1st place in Palestine among 11 participating Palestinian institutions, 108th worldwide out of 1,745 universities representing 105 countries, and 4th in the Arab world. An-Najah also maintained its distinguished position within the prestigious Golden Cluster, which includes the world’s most sustainable universities.
This achievement comes at a time of increasing global competition. The number of participating universities rose from 1,477 institutions in 2024 to 1,745 in 2025, an increase of 268 universities, and the number of participating countries expanded from 95 to 105. Despite these rising standards and heightened competition, An-Najah improved its overall score, approaching 85 out of 100, up from approximately 84.5 last year—reinforcing the University’s consistent progress in sustainability policies and practices.
The UI GreenMetric ranking is widely recognized as a global benchmark for assessing universities’ commitment to sustainability. It evaluates institutions across six key areas: Setting & Infrastructure, Energy & Climate Change, Waste, Water, Transportation, and Education & Research. An-Najah’s performance reflects its status as a pioneering academic institution that actively adopts sustainable solutions and responds to environmental challenges at the local, regional, and international levels.
An-Najah’s advancement this year is driven by its strong commitment to creating an environmentally responsible campus. The University ranked among the highest globally in the Energy & Climate Change category, earning 1,950 out of 2,000 points—a clear indicator of the success of its investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and carbon-emission reduction. The University also performed strongly in sustainable education and research, sustainable transportation, and effective management of water resources and waste, further solidifying its position as a leading institution in sustainable campus development.
Commenting on this achievement, Prof. Abdel Nasser Zeid, President of An-Najah National University, stated:
“Year after year, An-Najah National University proves that investing in sustainability is not a luxury, but a national and academic necessity. Despite the challenges facing Palestine, our University continues to build a model campus that prioritizes environmental stewardship, strengthens community awareness, and embeds sustainability in teaching, research, and societal engagement.”
He emphasized that the University’s dedication to the GreenMetric ranking stems from its commitment to creating a model campus that supports innovation and enhances quality of life. He highlighted the University’s portfolio of major initiatives, including solar-energy generation facilities on rooftops and parking areas, the expansion of green spaces, improved water-management systems, effective waste-sorting and recycling programs, and the provision of advanced research laboratories and open educational resources. Through its Technology Transfer Office, the University continues to transform research outputs into products and services that benefit society locally and globally, while fostering entrepreneurship among faculty and students.
An-Najah’s sustainability achievements extend beyond UI GreenMetric. In the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025, which measure universities’ performance in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), An-Najah ranked 82nd globally, 3rd in the Arab world, and 1st in Palestine. The University also demonstrated strong advancement in key goals such as Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, and Partnerships for the Goals, reaffirming its leadership in harnessing education and research to address global sustainability challenges.
The University further sustained its excellence in the QS Sustainability Rankings, where it claimed 1st place in Palestine, underscoring its commitment to environmentally responsible practices, high-impact research, and its role as a leading academic institution driving sustainable development on the regional and international levels.
Prof. Waleed Sweileh, Dean of Scientific Research and Director of the World Universities Academic Rankings Department, noted that this accomplishment adds to An-Najah’s impressive record of success in international rankings. He emphasized that the achievement reflects the University’s role as a scientific and academic beacon in Palestine—one that contributes to shaping a more sustainable and prosperous future for people and the planet. He added that universities in Palestine are fully capable of competing globally despite challenging circumstances, provided there is a clear vision, effective leadership, and smart investment in human capital, knowledge production, and sustainable infrastructure.
For full details on the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2025 and the performance of participating universities, please visit the official results page.
