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  • Environmentally friendly, socially just, sustainable, holistic

The sustainability strategy of HSWT

Our goal: We teach, research and live sustainability - this includes an optimal interaction of environmental management, ethical organisational action and social and individual responsibility.

The HSWT's understanding of sustainability

Porträt von Eric Veulliet, Präsident an der HSWT.

„Our sustainability strategy is deeply rooted in the values and goals that characterise us as a University of applied sciences. The combination of ecological responsibility and social commitment is the key to finding long-term and sustainable solutions to the challenges of the 21st century. Our degree programmes and research projects are geared towards developing solutions to global sustainability problems and enabling our graduates to act as responsible stakeholders in society.“

Dr Eric Veulliet
President of the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf

Organisational structure, university culture (governance)

Das Gebäude F am Campus Triesdorf

We strive to play a leading role as a University of applied sciences in the area of sustainability by consistently setting up our organisation and structures in line with a whole-institution approach. The
governance plays a particularly important role here.

We are guided by our understanding of sustainability in all areas of work and decisions and integrate future-relevant topics of sustainable development into the entire University of applied sciences. We see sustainability as a comprehensive compass for all areas of the University of applied sciences.

Sustainability is a broad cross-cutting issue that affects all organisational units, subject areas and members of our University of applied sciences. Governance provides the overall organisational framework for all aspects of sustainability.

The university management and the members of the university formulate goals, create the organisational framework with adequate governance and define concrete measures to implement the sustainability strategy of the university in daily activities in the sense of a living culture of sustainability. Governance includes not only the sustainable organisation of the University of applied sciences, but also the
guidelines, specifications and management systems developed for this purpose. This is closely linked to appropriate communication and documentation.

We know that an in-depth sustainability process must be supported by a broad majority. For this reason, targeted training courses serve to strengthen the individual motivation and personal commitment
of our university members. As an appreciative, equal-opportunity and family-friendly University of applied sciences, HSWT promotes gender equality and protects and includes minorities.

Teaching

Ein Professor steht mit Studierenden auf einem Versuchsfeld

Our aim is for our graduates to become highly qualified specialists and managers who are guided by the principles of sustainable development in their professional fields of activity.

Our understanding of sustainability in teaching encompasses, on the one hand, the teaching of sustainability-related content in all subject areas. On the other hand, students learn sustainability skills through various teaching/learning formats and methods, which enable them to help shape the social transformation as well as the present and future in a sustainable way.

For us, studying and teaching are the central means of promoting sustainable development. The degree programmes at the HSWT are closely related to the various forms of land and resource use, food, nutrition and renewable energies as well as the protection of the natural foundations of life on our planet. In view of this range of subjects, the HSWT feels particularly committed to the challenges of dealing with climate change and the general management of limited natural resources.

Our aim is to provide our students with collaborative and ethical qualifications in addition to practice-orientated scientific qualifications. This includes, in particular, an in-depth understanding of the concept of sustainability in all three dimensions. Our teaching is research-based in order to guarantee topicality and future viability - also with regard to sustainability aspects. Sustainability is a central and interdisciplinary topic in our courses. Our specific study programme is constantly being developed and expanded accordingly. In addition, our students acquire in-depth sustainability skills as part of their degree programme.

The teaching of sustainability topics and skills is based on the global action programme „Education for Sustainable Development“ (ESD) and thus makes an active contribution to a whole series of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Through suitable content and formats, our students - regardless of their degree programme or previous knowledge - acquire sustainability skills such as the ability to recognise, analyse and evaluate ecological, social, cultural, economic and political challenges. They should be motivated and empowered to take responsibility for sustainable development, to consistently pursue corresponding goals and to participate in achieving them at all levels.

Research & Transfer

Studierende entnehmen eine Bodenprobe

for a sustainable world - practical, innovative, future-orientated.

For us as HAW - University of Applied Sciences, sustainability in research and transfer means developing and disseminating practical, systemic solutions for current and future challenges and sustainability issues. We promote the use of digital technologies to accelerate sustainable innovation. Respectful treatment of the natural foundations of life is of central importance to us. We foster regional, national and international cooperation with scientific communities and practitioners in order to promote the transfer of knowledge and technology and work together on interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary solutions. Together, we build a bridge between knowledge and action by linking research, education, practice and communication to the general public. Transparent and exchange-based scientific communication and compliance with ethical principles are a matter of course for us (see statutes on good scientific practice). We train our young scientists to become responsible researchers in line with our understanding of sustainability and not only provide our students with the necessary knowledge and skills to shape our future in a fair, resource-efficient and sustainable way.

Our aim is to play a pioneering role in applied sustainability-orientated research in the German-speaking world. We strive to become the point of contact for other research institutions, business, politics and the media in our key research areas of applied life sciences and green engineering.

This is directly linked to the transfer of the latest research findings to the scientific communities, the economy, politics and society. As a green lighthouse in the field of knowledge and technology transfer, we want to raise collective awareness of the drivers of transformation processes such as climate change, the availability of resources (e.g. water) or changing eating habits and provide guidance as a communicator with a high level of credibility. By combining research and teaching, we help to ensure that future generations will be able to master the complex challenges of their time.

In order to achieve these goals, we create optimal framework conditions at the HSWT: We make successful and sustainability-oriented research and transfer possible, from the initial idea, through the successful application for third-party funding, to implementation and the utilisation and exploitation of the results obtained (see „Research value creation system“ in the ZFW Research and Transfer Strategy for further details). In order to further improve our resource base, we will systematically expand our fundraising activities in the coming years.

Our University of applied sciences is taking an active role in the current processes of change. We are already organising numerous formats and activities in which scientific findings from university operations are communicated to interested parties. However, our repertoire also includes projects in which the public can actively participate, in which impulses from external parties are taken up and co-creation takes place.

Student commitment

Mitglieder des Studierendenparlaments sitzen zusammen

As a university of applied sciences, it is very important for us to promote an active and committed student body and encourage them to actively engage in sustainable development during their studies.

By getting involved in sustainability, students can not only raise their awareness of environmental issues, but also develop specific skills for sustainable action.

By making sustainability programmes, groups and contact persons as well as opportunities for student involvement and student initiatives better known, more visible and clearer, students can gain easier access to resources and support opportunities. This strengthens and promotes their commitment and interest.

It is also important to show appreciation for student engagement, create incentives and offer concrete support in order to motivate students to get involved in the long term. This can be done, for example, through certificates of recognition, administrative support for sustainable projects or the integration of engagement activities into the course of study.

By recognising and supporting student commitment to sustainability in the Student Council, the Green Office and student initiatives and projects in this way, the HSWT promotes a dynamic and active sustainability community and a lively and inspiring campus culture in which students can implement their ideas for sustainable development.

Campus management (operations & infrastructure)

Studierende auf einem Flachdach mit Solarpanelen

The effects of campus operations on the environment are the effects that are best measurable and observable. HSWT has been monitoring its environmental impact since 2014 with the help of its EMAS-certified environmental management system, enabling it to continuously improve its environmental performance. At the same time, this systematic approach to operational environmental protection helps to recognise and prevent risks to university staff and the environment at an early stage.

In its sustainability strategy, HSWT therefore bases its campus management activities on the core indicators prescribed by EMAS - energy efficiency, material efficiency, water, waste, biodiversity and emissions - and aligns its goals and the associated measures with these. The targets and measures, including their implementation status, can be found in detail in the annually updated sustainability programme.

With these goals and measures, HSWT is aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2035 - even earlier if possible. However, achieving this goal depends to a large extent on the provision of sufficient financial resources, as investments in the corresponding infrastructure are required.

Das B.Life Centre der HSWT arbeitet aktiv an den Themen Klimawandel und klimaneutrale Landnutzung.

Contact us

Dr Eric Veulliet
President of the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf
Am Hofgarten 4
85354 Freising

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