For people & the environment: sustainability management at the HSWT
In 2014, the HSWT already demonstrated its focus on environmental and climate protection by introducing an environmental management system. The EMAS-regulated system laid the foundation for the successes in the following years.
Since then, annual reports have been made on the core indicators of energy, water and material consumption, waste generation, CO2 emissions, biodiversity and sustainability in teaching and research. Through the concept of the PDCA cycle, to which the sustainability management of the HSWT is oriented, the HSWT is on its way to more sustainability in a continuous improvement process.
In 2021, the HSWT became the first and so far only state university of applied sciences in Germany to achieve certification according to the EMASplus guideline. That is because it complements its commitment to the ecological dimension of sustainability with social aspects that it promotes in everyday university life.
Sustainability - more than ecology
In addition to ecology, the HSWT is also concerned with the social aspects of sustainability as part of its understanding of sustainability. Further information on the individual topics:
The sustainability programme of the HSWT
EMAS and EMASplus regulate a programme for continuously improving the environmental or sustainability performance. The sustainability programme, revised every three years and updated annually, serves as a roadmap for the goals and associated measures.
Stakeholders
- Environmental Management Team
-
The Environmental Management team is primarily responsible for continuing the certification of the sustainability management system. An environmental officer, two environmental managers and a climate protection manager coordinate the measures.
- EMAS team
-
The EMAS team is a working committee consisting of committed employees and students from all departments and departments of the HSWT in matters of sustainability.
- Internal environmental auditors
-
The internal auditors check the implementation of measures in the areas of environmental protection, health and safety, legal compliance with environmental requirements and other sustainability management activities in annual inspections, the environmental audit. Problems are documented and their rectification tracked. The internal auditors thus make an essential contribution to the continuous improvement process of HSWT's sustainability management system.
- Sustainability Task Force
-
The Sustainability Task Force is a working committee consisting of decision-makers and experts from the various areas of the HSWT. It ensures the implementation of measures in the respective university area.
- Green Office
-
The Green Office students are responsible for implementing sustainable projects on both campuses of the University of applied sciences.
Shaping sustainability: The HSWT is open to suggestions
Only through joint efforts can we continuously improve our sustainability record. The Environmental Management Team, therefore, welcomes input and ideas from the student body, mid-level and teaching staff.
Further education & study programmes in the climate protection area
As a green university in teaching, research and operation, the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf uses synergies between the individual areas. The measures in Environmental Management result directly from the findings of teaching - while students, employees and interested parties can also train to become Climate Protection Managers.
