UI GreenMetric World University Rankings

Protecting and sustaining the environment has always constituted one of Birzeit University’s main goals since its inception in 1924. The sprawling pine and cypress trees and the green areas covering 70 percent of the university’s campus were planted by Birzeit University students in the early 1970s as part of their community-engagement graduation requirements.

Due to its efforts in conserving and sustaining the environment, Birzeit University was ranked as the most sustainable university in Palestine, and 305th in the world, in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2018 edition, which ranks universities by their commitment to environmental sustainability.

In 2014, Birzeit University won first place at the 6th Environmental Management Contest, held in Saudi Arabia. The prize was awarded to the university for its efforts to integrate environmental management into its campus design and operations.

Today, the university houses five solar-power stations on campus, which provide 442 kilowatts and cover 22 percent of the university’s energy needs.