Governance: Interconnecting and Shaping Sustainability
We at the University of Freiburg see it as our core task to generate and impart solid knowledge on environmental issues and societal challenges, to propose and exemplify solutions, thus acting as a catalyst for a sustainable society.
As a means of strategically shaping these ambitious goals, the university established a corresponding vice rectorate in April 2021. It is currently headed by Prof. Dr. Melanie Arndt.
‘The University of Freiburg wants – indeed must! – make its contribution to shaping the foundations for a society worth living in today, but also tomorrow and the day after. That is why it has anchored the topic of sustainability in all its dimensions – ecological, social, and economic – at the level of the rectorate. Together with all members and employees of the university, we want to search for solutions to make not only our research, teaching, and operations more sustainable, but also our everyday life. There are many opportunities to get involved and engage with the various facets of sustainability, for example in the Certificate Sustainability program, the Sustainability Council, the Sustainability Innovation Campus, or the Student Sustainability Office. Let’s work together towards a sustainable future!’
Prof. Dr. Melanie Arndt
Vice Rector for Internationalization and Sustainability
Sustainability Council
The Sustainability Council is one of ten working groups in which members of the university are discussing questions of the future in an open, participatory think tank format. In its first phase of work the Sustainability Council developed the Sustainability Compass, among other measures. The Sustainability Council stands in a tradition that is already well established in Freiburg: An initial “sustainable university” working group was established as early as 2005.
Sustainability Compass
The University of Freiburg’s Sustainability Compass encompasses the university’s understanding of sustainability as well as strategic guidelines in the fields of governance, research and transfer, studying and teaching, and operations.
It serves as the basis for joint, goal-orientated action for all university institutions. The compass is orientated towards the values anchored in the university’s mission statement, which are to be practised in all areas of the university within the framework of social sustainability: Quality, responsibility and openness.
The Sustainability Compass was developed in 2023 in an iterative process, discussed by the Senate, University Council, Sustainability Council and Deans’ Councils and finally adopted by the Rectorate.
The Compass is to be understood as a dynamic process that is continuously developed and adapted to the practical context of the University of Freiburg through dialogue.
Sustainability Report
The University of Freiburg’s sustainability report provides information on the university’s sustainability activities and efforts in the areas of governance, teaching, research, transfer, social responsibility, student engagement and operations. It also documents the progress made in implementing and achieving the goals formulated in the Sustainability Compass.
The sustainability report is intended to reach as many students, employees and people outside the university as possible in order to raise their awareness of and enthusiasm for the topic. The sustainability report thus plays a decisive role in creating a culture of sustainability at the university. The sustainability report of the University of Freiburg follows the university-specific DNK indicators (HS-DNK) developed by the German Council for Sustainable Development.
The first sustainability report of the university is published as ePaper and also available as pdf.
Student Sustainability Office
The Student Sustainability Office is the central point of contact for all students and interested parties who want to help shape a sustainable future at the University of Freiburg. In particular, it acts as an interface between the student body and the committees of the university concerned with sustainability. The Student Sustainability Office was established at the university in June 2023 on the initiative of students. It is located at the Vice-Rectorate for Internationalization and Sustainability and is managed by the university’s Sustainability Manager.
