Sustainability in Studies and Teaching
A wide range of degree programs across the faculties at the University of Freiburg bear a direct or indirect relation to sustainability. We are increasing the capacity of the programs in order to meet the high demand for these fields of study. In addition, we are constantly developing new programs.
Sustainability doesn’t only play a role in relevant degree programs – the range of sustainability-related courses has grown across all fields of study in recent years.
As a voluntary and additional course, the Sustainability Certificate, for example, enables students from all fields of study to address the sustainability issues of the twenty-first century in an interdisciplinary context as part of their studies.
The certificate programme was developed on the initiative of the student Sustainability Office together with the Center for Key Qualifications (ZfS) and the Office for Safety, Environment, and Sustainability under the supervision of a program advisory board. It was introduced at the University of Freiburg in the winter semester 2021/22 and consists of a basic, elective and practical section.
In the context of its European university alliances, the University of Freiburg is also promoting sustainability as a core topic of the joint course offerings with its partner universities from the European confederations. Learn more in the section on Cross-Border Sustainability
Student Involvement in Sustainability
University of Freiburg students have been involved for many years in numerous university groups on sustainability issues and several General Student Committee departments, e.g., the Environmental Department.
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.
Once a year, the student Sustainability Office coordinates the University Sustainability Days: Numerous student initiatives collaborate to put together a diverse program of workshops, lectures, panel discussions, and artistic action on the topic of sustainability, aimed at both students and the general public. In the winter semester, the Student Sustainability Office organises the academy “Erstsemesterakademie BaWü Zukunftsfähig” in Freiburg, which is aimed at first-year students from all disciplines.
Spotlight: Public Lecture Series on Sustainability
Within the framework of the ‘Sustainability Certificate’ programme, the university offers an interdisciplinary lecture series that is open not only to participants in the certificate programme, but to all interested individuals. The topics covered in previous semesters range from biodiversity and sustainable pharmacy to the history of sustainability and urban development to the unconditional basic income as a possible instrument of social sustainability.
