Accra:Sunway University Universities should focus on their societal impact alongside their performance in global academic rankings, according to Sunway University President Prof Sibrandes Poppema. He emphasized the importance of addressing pressing challenges such as climate change and planetary health.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Prof Poppema suggests a shift towards a 'mission-driven, fifth-generation university' model, where societal impact is prioritized and supported by education and research efforts. He highlighted that this approach could enhance both citation counts and global recognition for research.

Prof Poppema shared these insights during an interview at the Global Tipping Points Conference 2026. He noted that Sunway University's strong global ranking performance demonstrates that research excellence and societal impact can be pursued simultaneously.

The conference, taking place from October 12 to 15, is organized by the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health in partnership with the Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. It is the first global gathering of its kind in Asia, focusing on interventions that could lead to rapid and lasting shifts towards sustainability, such as the use of clean energy to address challenges like clean water access.