O UI GreenMetric World University Ranking como instrumento para medição da Sustentabilidade nas IES: o desempenho das instituições brasileiras

Abstract

Concern for socio-environmental impacts has driven the adoption of sustainable practices in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). In this context, studies highlight the relevance of universities in promoting sustainable development; however, there is still a need to expand updated analyses on the positioning of Brazilian universities in sustainability rankings. Therefore, the general objective of this study is to analyze the performance of Brazilian universities in the UI GreenMetric. To this end, the theoretical framework is based on discussions regarding organizational sustainability, sustainability in HEIs, and assessment metrics for university sustainability. Methodologically, this is an applied research with a mixed-method approach, exploratory-descriptive objectives, and a documentary procedure, based on secondary data from 60 Brazilian HEIs evaluated in the 2025 edition of the ranking. The results revealed a predominance of public institutions and a concentration in the South, Southeast, and Midwest regions. It is noteworthy that, although Brazil has universities among the top 100 in the world, such as USP in 5th place, there is a regional asymmetry, with low representation from the North and Northeast regions. Thus, the findings broaden the understanding of sustainability in Brazilian higher education by systematizing HEI data in the UI GreenMetric in an unprecedented and integrated way, revealing patterns and differences between categories. As a theoretical contribution, the study helps fill gaps in the literature regarding the ranking, especially concerning the comparative analysis between Brazilian universities, assessment by performance categories, and the identification of recurrence patterns among institutions, in addition to providing insights for the development of future research.