What Is UWS Known For in Social Inclusion and Sustainability?

UWS (University of the West of Scotland) is best known, in these two areas, for two specific recognitions: it was named Scottish University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2026 by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, and it placed in the world's top 300 universities for sustainable development in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025 — including 26th in the world for reducing inequalities (SDG 10). These are the concrete, checkable markers behind UWS's positioning as a widening-participation university.

Social inclusion: what the recognition actually says

The social inclusion award comes from the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, and UWS frames it around its student population and graduate impact rather than a single programme. In the university's own words, Principal Professor James A. Miller FRSE described it as recognising "our deep commitment to supporting our diverse student population and the impact our graduates make in the communities they serve."

UWS also describes itself as "Scotland's leading university for widening participation, with the belief that education should be available to all." That self-description is the through-line connecting the award to how the university presents its mission.

What this means if you're evaluating UWS

• If social inclusion and access matter to you, the 2026 award is a third-party signal (Times/Sunday Times) rather than a self-assessment, which makes it more useful for comparison.
• If you want evidence beyond the headline, the university's widening-participation positioning is the claim to test against your own situation — for example, whether you're applying as a mature student, part-time learner, or from a background under-represented in higher education.

Sustainability: the rankings and what they cover

UWS's sustainability standing comes from the THE Impact Rankings, which measure universities against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). The two figures cited by UWS are:

The university states it is "committed to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs)," and the SDG 10 result is the standout — a top-30 global position on a single goal, versus a top-300 position overall.

How to read these numbers

• Top 300 overall is a broad, whole-institution measure across multiple SDGs. It signals consistent performance rather than dominance in one area.
• 26th for SDG 10 (reduced inequalities) is a narrow, specific measure. It aligns with the social inclusion theme, which is why the two recognitions tend to be discussed together.
• Rankings are year-stamped (2025 for THE Impact, 2026 for the social inclusion award), so treat them as point-in-time results, not permanent attributes.

Putting the two together

The social inclusion award and the SDG 10 ranking point in the same direction: UWS's distinctive claim is access and equity, backed by one national award and one global ranking. If your decision hinges on a university's equity mission, these are the two items to verify and weigh — and both are attributable to named external bodies (Times/Sunday Times; THE) rather than to UWS alone.

For current details on courses, open days, or applications, check the UWS website directly, since rankings and awards are updated annually.