Central Asian University strengthens its position in global RUR and THE Impact Rankings 2025

Central Asian University (CAU) has made significant strides over the past year in enhancing its academic and institutional strength. This progress is confirmed by two major milestones: the university was ranked among the world’s top universities in the prestigious Round University Ranking (RUR) 2025 and made its debut in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025, which evaluate universities’ contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In June 2025, the latest edition of the Round University Ranking (RUR) was released. Established in 2010, RUR is one of the leading global university rankings, covering institutions across more than 100 countries. It assesses universities across 20 indicators grouped into four key dimensions:

• teaching quality,
• research performance,
• international diversity,
• and financial sustainability.

According to the 2025 results, Central Asian University entered the global TOP-1000 for the first time, securing the 975th position overall. The university also achieved:

• 936th place in teaching quality,
• 669th in international diversity, highlighting its extensive collaborations with foreign universities, international faculty and students, and active participation in academic mobility programs.

Notably, CAU ranked 1st in Uzbekistan for international diversity, ahead of all other universities in the country. In financial sustainability, it secured the 257th spot globally, placing it in the so-called Silver League, an important indicator of long-term institutional stability. This category measures investments in campus development, the ability to generate revenue to support educational initiatives, and efforts toward sustainable and “green” growth.

These results demonstrate that CAU is consistently raising its academic standards, developing its research infrastructure, and building a robust management model.

Equally important was CAU’s first participation in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025, one of the few global rankings that assesses universities not only by academic metrics but also by how they contribute to achieving the UN SDGs.

In 2025, the ranking included over 2,500 universities from 130 countries. It evaluates contributions to areas such as quality education, decent work and economic growth, sustainable cities, environmental protection, and building just institutions.

CAU debuted in the overall 1501+ category but demonstrated measurable results across key SDGs:

• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) — ranked 601+,
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) — ranked 1001+,
• SDG 4 (Quality Education) — ranked 1501+,
• and contributed to SDGs 7, 10, 11, 12, and 16 (affordable clean energy, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, peace and justice), all in the 801+ range.

Both rankings serve as important tools for universities aiming for international recognition.

• RUR benchmarks institutions against global leaders in teaching, research, and international engagement, offering valuable reference points for investors, partners, and prospective students.
• THE Impact Rankings shifts the focus to the social and environmental contributions of universities, showcasing how institutions are helping address humanity’s biggest challenges.

For CAU, participating and succeeding in these rankings is a clear indicator that the university is aligning its educational and research activities with international standards, actively embedding ESG (environmental, social, and governance) principles, and contributing to the global sustainable development agenda.

Commenting on these achievements, Kamran Gulamov, Rector of Central Asian University, emphasized that these are more than just statistics:

These results confirm that Central Asian University is already an important player among universities in Central Asia, establishing a reputation as a reliable and forward-looking institution. For Uzbekistan’s higher education system, this also highlights the growing global relevance of national universities and their integration into international initiatives.