SEEU Confirmed as the Highest-Ranked University from North Macedonia in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025
The South East European University (SEEU) continues to strengthen its international profile by ranking as the highest-rated university from North Macedonia in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025. This is one of the most prominent global rankings evaluating university contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SEEU’s most significant achievement in this ranking was reached in the SDG 4 category – Quality Education, where the university placed in the 401–600 bracket of the world’s best universities. In this category, Times Higher Education assesses access to quality education, social inclusion, student support, lifelong learning, and the university’s impact on the education system. This positioning makes SEEU the highest-rated university from North Macedonia and the highest-ranking Albanian-language university in the region within this category. SEEU also recorded significant results in other sustainable development categories, including gender equality, reduced inequalities, climate action, peace, justice, and strong institutions. These results are part of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings methodology, which evaluates universities not only through scientific publications but also through their community impact, student support, inclusivity, and contributions to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. In this context, SEEU’s positioning demonstrates the university’s ongoing commitment to quality education, social responsibility, and sustainable development, confirming its role as an institution that connects its academic mission with real-world impact on society and the community. The importance of this result is amplified by growing global competition. The 2025 edition of this ranking featured 2,526 universities from 130 countries and territories, compared to 2,152 universities from 125 countries in 2024. SEEU’s commitment to Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals is further evidenced by its inclusion in the SustainED University Coalition. This initiative is promoted by the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in North Macedonia. The coalition aims to strengthen the role of universities in implementing sustainable development goals through education, scientific research, innovation, student engagement, and community collaboration. SEEU’s participation in this platform, along with the results achieved in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025, confirms the university’s strategic orientation toward quality education, sustainable development, and building a more inclusive society. Link:timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/south-east-european-university
UWM Researchers Secure Prestigious National Science Centre Grants
Researchers from the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn have been awarded funding in Poland’s highly competitive National Science Centre (NCN) grant programmes OPUS 30 and SONATA 21. Six UWM scientists secured support for ambitious research projects spanning plant biology, medicine, environmental science, biotechnology and veterinary research, reinforcing the University’s strong position in interdisciplinary scientific excellence. Four projects received funding through the OPUS 30 programme. Prof. Jakub Sawicki will investigate the evolution of chemical communication in liverworts, exploring how these ancient plants use signalling mechanisms during reproduction. Dr Beata Plitta-Michalak will study DNA repair processes in short-lived seeds, aiming to develop innovative methods for preserving plant genetic resources and protecting biodiversity. Dr Kamil Dobrzyń will examine the role of metabolic hormones in the earliest stages of pregnancy, while Prof. Monika Harnisz will lead research on removing emerging contaminants and antibiotic-resistant bacteria from wastewater, supporting public health and the implementation of new European environmental regulations. Two additional UWM researchers were successful in the SONATA 21 competition. Dr Karol Mierzejewski will investigate how nano- and microplastics affect the cardiovascular system, addressing one of today’s most pressing environmental and health challenges. Dr Dominika Gołubczyk will focus on the inflammatory mechanisms involved in ischaemic stroke, using advanced translational research models to identify new therapeutic targets that could improve treatment outcomes for patients. The funded projects demonstrate the breadth of research conducted at UWM and its commitment to addressing global challenges through innovative science. From biodiversity conservation and sustainable environmental management to reproductive biology, cardiovascular health and neuroscience, these grants will strengthen international collaboration and contribute to scientific advances with real-world impact.
