University’s pioneering work in India’s water security and women empowerment earns global acclaim in THE Impact Rankings 2025
New Delhi, June 19: Western Sydney University has once again clinched the world’s number one spot for community impact in the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, marking an unprecedented fourth consecutive year of global leadership. Surpassing over 2,300 universities worldwide, the University’s sustained efforts in driving positive change through community partnerships have been recognised on the world stage.
A standout initiative that earned high praise is the University’s partnership in India’s MARVI (Managing Aquifer Recharge and Sustaining Groundwater Use through Village-level Intervention) project. This transformative program focuses on improving irrigation water security and enhancing rural livelihoods. To date, MARVI has positively impacted over 300,000 households across 20,000 villages in seven Indian states, empowering communities with sustainable groundwater management.
In Rajasthan’s Dharta watershed, the Village Groundwater Cooperative—a MARVI innovation—enables farmers to collaboratively manage groundwater using the “4S” model: Scrutiny, Store, Share, Sustain. The success of this model has sparked interest for wider implementation across India and Southeast Asia.
“Western Sydney University is showing the world the way,” said Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO. “These rankings recognise our mission to deliver public good and build stronger communities, both locally and globally.”
Highlighting MARVI’s impact, Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AC noted, “By training local women as Bhujal Jaankars—groundwater-informed volunteers—we are fostering female leadership in water governance and helping farmers make informed crop choices based on water availability.”
In addition to the overall world number one ranking, Western Sydney University secured top spots in several SDG categories:
4th globally for SDG 15 Life on Land
7th globally for SDG 5 Gender Equality
8th globally for SDG 13 Climate Action and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
9th globally for SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
10th globally for SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 14 Life Below Water
The THE Impact Rankings recognise universities making tangible contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—from climate action and gender equality to sustainable communities and innovation.