Blogs

The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The rankings, which started in 2019, have seen growing numbers of universities across the globe participating. Their evaluation criteria explore the research, stewardship, outreach and teaching universities are conducting to support the SDGs.

Returning to full-time student life was the last thing on my mind two years ago. I was in my mid-thirties, I had completed my terminal degree in 2016, and I was (and still am) enjoying my research career as a biologist.

I was a new homeowner and I had just gotten engaged to my partner of 12 years. The last time I had been to Europe was in 2009. I did not look or feel like a good candidate for an international academic adventure.

Last April marked the official end of my master’s studies at the University of Bonn in Germany, after struggling for five years to earn my degree. That’s right, five years!  

I began my programme in the summer term of 2019 and finished once I handed in my thesis at the end of the winter term of 2023-24.  

From a young age, I had been driven by a desire to effect meaningful change within marginalised communities, so I moved to Australia to pursue a BA in psychology initially, and then chose to stay for my master’s degree in social work.

The University of Queensland stood out to me for its prestigious academic environment. The hands-on approach to learning within the course, coupled with the opportunity to engage directly with diverse communities, was the highlight of my degrees.

Why did I choose to study abroad? 

I chose to study in Australia because it was relatively close to my home in Singapore, which meant I was able to embrace a new culture while still feeling connected to my hometown. I was drawn to Australia’s dedication to sustainability and combating climate change, as well as its emphasis on work-life balance. 

Today, few shifts in technological advancement hold as much promise and potential as the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). The rapid and extraordinary advancement we are seeing in this field provides huge opportunities to accelerate human progress, boost scientific discovery and improve the lives of people all around the world.  

Four years, six months and seven days ago I touched down on Canadian soil from the UK for the very first time. Standing in a three-hour queue at immigration after some tough goodbyes and a 13-hour journey alone across the Atlantic, it slowly dawned on me that the hard part may not be entirely over. 

I am presently a tenured professor in the gender, sexuality and women’s studies department at Western University in Canada, where I also hold the Canada research chair in global women’s issues.

I was born in India, educated in India and Canada, and I have had an academic and non-academic career in research and teaching spanning 12 countries on five continents, namely, Asia, Europe, Africa, North America and Latin America and the Caribbean.

I’m originally from rural Limpopo in South Africa where there weren’t many opportunities but there were many challenges.