IMC Krems once again receives international recognition

IMC Krems University of Applied Sciences is continuing its successful path as an internationally recognised, sustainability-focused university: in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2026 and the Positive Impact Rating (PIR) 2026, it has once again achieved excellent results. The assessments confirm the university’s consistent commitment to high-quality education, equality, innovation, sustainable development and societal impact.

“We are very proud of these two international recognitions. Both the THE Impact Rankings and the Positive Impact Rating show that sustainability, social responsibility and future-oriented university development are not just strategic goals for us, but are embedded in our daily activities. It is particularly valuable that these achievements highlight different perspectives: while THE evaluates our activities based on international sustainability indicators, the PIR shows how our students perceive our impact,” emphasises Ulrike Prommer, CEO and Chair of the University Management Board at IMC Krems.

Significant improvements in the THE Impact Rankings 2026

The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings assess universities worldwide based on their contribution to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The assessment considers, among other things, research, teaching, societal engagement, equality, sustainability measures and partnerships.

In the THE Impact Rankings 2026, IMC Krems improved its position in the Overall Ranking compared to the previous year and is ranked in the international group 800–1000.

Particularly positive developments were achieved in several SDG categories:

SDG 4 – Quality Education: improved to the 200–300 group (previous year: 400–600)
SDG 5 – Gender Equality: continues to achieve a strong position in the 300–400 group
SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: improved to 400–600 (previous year: 600–800)
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: stable position in the 400–600 group
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: improved to 800–1000 (previous year: 1000–1200)

This means that IMC Krems improved its position in four categories and confirmed its successful previous-year ranking in two further categories.

“The results of the THE Impact Rankings show that our continuous work in the areas of sustainability, equality and social responsibility is recognised internationally. The improvements in Quality Education, Innovation and Partnerships are particularly strong signals for us. They confirm that our measures are having an impact and that we are embedding sustainability holistically in practice-oriented higher education, applied research and university organisation,” says Victoria Englmaier, Sustainability Coordinator and Project Manager for Gender and Diversity at IMC Krems.

Positive Impact Rating 2026: once again a Level 4 university (“Transforming School”)

IMC Krems also achieved excellent results in the Positive Impact Rating (PIR) 2026 and was once again classified as a “Transforming School” at “Level 4” out of a total of five rating categories. This places IMC Krems among an international group of universities recognised for their positive societal impact and commitment to sustainability.

The seventh edition of the PIR includes universities from 32 countries. More than 20,000 students worldwide participated in the survey; the official rating is based on 19,789 valid student responses from 87 assessed universities.

Level 4 (“Transforming School”) describes universities which, according to the PIR, have established a positive impact culture that is embedded in governance and institutional systems and achieves visible results across numerous impact dimensions. Universities in this category achieve an overall rating between 7.4 and 8.7 points on a scale from 0 to 10.

The PIR evaluates universities from the students’ perspective and examines, among other things, university culture, governance, degree programmes, learning methods, student support, the institution’s role as a positive example and public engagement.

“The renewed classification as a Transforming School shows that our commitment to sustainability, social responsibility and a future-oriented university culture is recognised by our students. This feedback is an important impetus for us to continue developing consistently,” adds Bernhard Dollensky, COO and Head of the Environmental & Sustainability Advisory Board at IMC Krems.

Sustainability as a shared success factor

The results of both assessments underline IMC Krems’ strategic direction: sustainability, diversity, innovation and social responsibility are understood as key components of practice-oriented higher education, applied research and university development.

With its successful rankings in the THE Impact Rankings and the Positive Impact Rating 2026, IMC Krems is strengthening its international position as a university that combines education and innovation with sustainable development.

About the rankings

Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

The THE Impact Rankings assess universities worldwide based on their contribution to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They analyse, among other things, research, teaching, knowledge transfer, societal engagement and institutional sustainability measures.

Positive Impact Rating (PIR)

The Positive Impact Rating was developed by an international alliance of higher education and sustainability experts. It evaluates universities from the students’ perspective and measures their positive contribution towards a more sustainable and inclusive society.