QS Insights Magazine
Issue 24 December 2024
THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE
Contents
Rising Stars: Non-Traditional Study Destinations Reshaping Global Student Mobility
Are international students turning their back on destinations, or is the pie just getting bigger?
Shaping the Future of Entrepreneurship
How are business schools helping the next generation of entrepreneurs evolve?
Word of the Week: SKILLS
Highlights from the QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2024.
A Cradle of Talent in the Indo-Pacific
Wen-Chang Chen, the President of National Taiwan University, speaks to QS Insights Magazine.
Research and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the 21st century
Demand for TCM is growing. New insights into the scale, breadth, quality and contemporary aspects of TCM research.
Regional to Global: Satbayev University
Demand for TCM is growing. New insights into the scale, breadth, quality and contemporary aspects of TCM research.
Championing Employability
Embedding Sustainability in Business Education
The Attention Crisis and its Impact on Education in a Digital World
How can universities ensure their students aren't being overwhelmed in the digital world?
Discussing Interdisciplinary Strategies for Reducing Violence Against Women
Universities are working to tackle the rise in violence against women.
Embedding Sustainability in Business Education
Why sustainability in business schools matters.
Building the Safety Net
Are higher education institutions truly creating a culture of safety on and off campus?
Universities Collaborating for Climate Impact
IUCA on how university collaboration and partnerships are important for addressing global challenges.
Revitalising the SDGs: What do Experts in Higher Ed Think We Should Do?
The deadline for the SDGs is sooner than we might think, and things aren't on track.
Marimekko and its Sustainable Growth
Aalto Business School graduate and Marimekko CEO & President Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko chats with QSIM.
Sustainability is Powering the Future of Rankings
As rankings evolve to reflect the growing importance of sustainability, their value to schools and students is becoming clearer.
QS Impact: Global Day of Action 2024
Celebrating the Top Youth Ambassadors.
QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025
The latest results from this year's Sustainability rankings.
Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud
There are a number of uncomfortable realities that the SDGs try to address. We shouldn't ignore them.
One of my colleagues inside QS is always interested in understanding the philosophy behind the conference agendas my team and I put together. What’s the point? What idea are we trying to communicate or what different way of thinking are we promoting to the audience?
I bring this up, partly because I’m writing this during the 2024 Reimagine Education Conference and Awards, where, aside from releasing this edition of the magazine, we will be challenging the thinking of delegates and Reimaginers. But, I also bring it up because sometimes, we might be a little too clever for our good when it comes to the titles of these magazines.
This edition of QS Insights Magazine we have simply called “The Sustainability Issue”. There is no cover story in the same way as most of our other issues; this is simply a thematic idea. Inside, you’ll find a number of stories on sustainability as well as a handful of pieces on our usual topics.
But, I think it’s important to point out that we didn’t call this “The Sustainability Edition”. We very intentionally used the term “issue”. Plainly, we see sustainability in all its forms as a challenge to the way in which we currently operate as a sector and society. And while we don’t wish to be negative, and do acknowledge that sustainability is an inherently good and positive concept that has made significant progress, we feel that we shouldn’t forget that the SDGs aim to address and rectify some very bad realities. There is a reason they exist.
And so, the December 2024 edition of QSIM is perhaps a little more sobering read compared to last year, when we challenged universities to go beyond carbon neutrality with “Less Than Net Zero”, or the year prior, when we sent out a rally call with “We Can. We Must”. Instead, however, I’d encourage you to read the articles as their own reminder of why we continue to working in this area and why will need to continue working.
On behalf of the team and QS, I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful festive season and we look forward to sharing with you more stories on global higher education in the new year.
Anton John Crace
Anton is Editor in Chief of QS Insights Magazine. He also curates the Higher Ed Summits, EDS and Reimagine Education conference at QS Quacquarelli Symonds. He has been writing on the international higher ed sector for over a decade. His recognitions include the Universities Australia Higher Education Journalist of the Year at the National Press Club of Australia, and the International Education Association of Australia award for Excellence in Professional Commentary.
Contributors
Editor in Chief Anton John Crace
Clients Service Specialist Khushboo Singh
Contributing Writers Tsharna Daniel Nick Harland Julie Hoeflinger Gauri Kohli Chloë Lane Laura Lightfinch Niamh Ollerton
Guest Writers Kate Dobson Deborah McAllister Dr Mu Jingwen Borja Santos Porras Gordon Scott Dr Zhou Yingying
Events Technology Manager Loh Lu Han
Marketing and PR Serena Ricci Mak Leeson
Cover Adobe Firefly, with additional modifications
Magazine contact Publications @qs.com
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The QS Insights Magazine is a monthly, online and print publication that highlights trends within the international education sector.
The online edition is emailed to our network of academics and university leaders worldwide. A limited number of selected copies of the print edition are also sent to university leaders around the world and distributed at QS events.
The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of QS Quacquarelli Symonds.