On April 22, 2020, Thames Higher Education (THE) released the second version of THE Impact Rankings".  The rankings, now in their second year, measure how an institution’s research, outreach and stewardship is delivering against the United Nations’Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. China University of Petroleum-Beijing (CUP) took part in this ranking for the first time.  CUP ranks 3rd in China and 57th in the global list for SDG 9, industry, innovation and infrastructure. A total of 494 universities from 71 countries and regions participate in this ranking.

For the first time in the ranking of universities, the 17 SDG indicators of the United Nations are used for assessment, showing the social and economic impact on earth of universities. From developed countries to the lowest-income countries, the ranking clearly shows the joint efforts of higher education institutions in the globe.