To assess the performance of Latin American HEIs, this study focuses on their results in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability, a multidimensional framework comprising 3 categories, 9 lenses, and 53 indicators that evaluate social and environmental impact, governance. The methodology considers universities not only as centres of education and research but also as major employers facing operational sustainability challenges similar to those of large organisations.

Within Latin America and the Caribbean region, Brazil accounts for the largest number of ranked institutions, with 37 out of the region’s total 142, followed by Chile and Mexico, each with 20. However, notable disparities persist: eight Latin American and Caribbean countries have only one institution ranked in the 2026 QS World University Rankings: Sustainability.

In terms of performance, Brazilian HEIs achieved an average score of 54.2, Chilean HEIs 52.7, and Mexican HEIs 48.0, figures that remain below the leading global average, exemplified by New Zealand’s 85.8.

Although the region has improved compared to the previous year, significant challenges remain when viewed in a global context. Identifying best practices from different institutions offers valuable insights into regional innovation and progress toward sustainability.

The Universidade de São Paulo (USP) stands out as the best-performing institution in the region, ranked joint 90 globally with a score of 90.7. It is the only Latin American institution in the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026, and also the region’s top performer in several lenses, including Knowledge Exchange, Health and Well-being, Environmental Education, Environmental Research, and Governance.

Achieving this performance has been the culmination of several decades’ work. Since 2004, the university has advanced sustainability efforts, beginning with the creation of the Graduate Programme of the School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities (EACH). The programme promotes interdisciplinary approaches that address the country’s socioeconomic needs and respond to labour market demands. The unit is also located near the Tietê Ecological Park, providing an ideal setting for research and community engagement.

Environmental Impact: Environmental Research

USP’s excellence in the Environmental Research lens (ranked 280, score 89.6) reflects its interdisciplinary approach to addressing complex sustainability issues through fields such as Environmental Science and Technology and Environmental Management.

According to USP’s Sustainability Census, more than 200 active projects involving around 2,500 researchers focus on education, water, infrastructure, energy, climate change, and transportation. USP also hosts five Research Centres focused on climate and environmental topics, Centre for Sustainable Amazon Studies (Ceas), Carbon in Tropical Agriculture, Sustainable Tropical Agriculture, Greenhouse Gases, and Climate & Sustainability, in addition to the Climate & Sustainability Chair.

Social Impact: Knowledge Exchange

In the Knowledge Exchange lens, USP ranked 39 with a score of 98.3. This commitment to share knowledge and spur educational growth started with its Sustainable USP program, launched in March 2005, promotes communication, engagement, and collaboration across the university community, reinforcing the institution’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and expanding opportunities for student, faculty, and staff participation.

Chile and Mexico

Chile and Mexico are also well represented in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026, reflecting the strong commitment their institutions have made toward education, employability and opportunities, and governance.

Building on this performance, let’s explore some of the notable best practices emerging from these two countries, particularly those that illustrate how universities are approaching sustainability in ways that are both contextually relevant and internationally significant. Social Impact: Impact of Education

Everything begins with education. To progress as a society, drive technological innovation, reduce discrimination, and unlock the potential of every individual, comprehensive and accessible education is essential. The United Nations has explicitly recognized this as a cornerstone of our collective sustainable development, the focus of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile is the top Chilean University in the ranking and 3 in the region overall, ranked joint 151 globally with a score of 89.8. It excels in the Impact of Education lens where it ranked 112 with a score of 90.2, the best Latin American institution in this lens.

QS assesses this dimension through research output classified under SDG 4 (Quality Education). The university’s strength stems from three interdisciplinary centres dedicated to research on Education: Centro de Desarrollo Local, Educación e Interculturalidad, CEDEL UC, Centro de Estudios de Políticas y Prácticas en Educación, CEPPE UC, Centro UC para la Transformación Educativa, CENTRE.

Social Impact: Employability and Opportunities

This lens evaluates an institution’s ability to foster successful graduate careers and its connections with employers. It incorporates alumni surveys on career preparedness, measures the impact of research related to relevant SDGs, and includes national employment statistics.

Tecnológico de Monterrey is the number 2 Mexican institution in the ranking and 8th in the region overall, ranked joint 232 overall with a score of 86.6. It excels in the Employability and Opportunities lens where it ranked 121 with a score of 95, the best Latin American institution in this lens.

Its Center for Liaison and Professional Development runs initiatives such as the Job Exchange Program (linking 1300 companies), the EmpleaTec national job fairs (featuring over 250 national and international employers and 100 foreign universities), and the Launching Pad, a platform supporting employability through mentoring, entrepreneurship, and collaborative networks.

Governance: Good Governance

Good governance is fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It requires accountable leadership, transparent and evidence-based decision-making, democratic principles and the devolution of authority to local levels.

The same principles apply within universities. Effective institutional governance depends on transparent leadership selection, participatory decisionmaking, and equitable power distribution that includes students as key stakeholders. The good governance lens evaluates these practices through indicators such as ethical standards, fair hiring, transparent processes, and the presence of representative student bodies, which together form the overall governance score.

USP performed exceptionally well here, rising 205 positions from the previous year to rank 3 with a score of 98.8.

Conclusion

Sustainability is increasingly prioritised across universities in Latin America and the Caribbean, yet disparities in engagement and outcomes remain. Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and Tecnológico de Monterrey exemplify best practices that could drive broader interregional knowledge exchange.

The region’s comparatively low Environmental Impact scores indicate that institutional efforts often remain superficial, lacking the systemic commitment needed to drive measurable progress. To close this gap, universities must move beyond rhetoric and embed sustainability into their curricula, research agendas, governance structures, and operations.

The strong performance of institutions in Brazil, Chile and Mexico demonstrates that meaningful progress is achievable, but it also exposes unequal capacities across the region. Strengthening inter-regional collaboration and knowledge sharing is therefore essential to ensure balanced advancement and to prevent sustainability from becoming the privilege of a few well-resourced HEIs.