Abstract
At the heart of Agenda 2030 are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Some of the SDGs are directly linked to the operations of a higher education institution. Other SDGs are often topics of teaching and research, for example, responsible consumption. As such, there is a variety of possibilities to address the SDGs in a higher education institution context.
The Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (OVGU) established a Sustainability Office to initiate and support sustainable transformation of the institution’s teaching, research, and operations. Over the last few years various projects, such as a sustainability strategy, a networking forum for scientists, and a sustainability certificate for students, were developed. This chapter provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities met in those projects in the context higher education institutions in Germany. Furthermore, it describes the cooperation of the sustainability office with teaching staff, researchers, students, and operational staff of the university as well as civil and municipal actors.
At the OVGU the first step for sustainability transformation was the creation of an alliance with different sustainability stakeholders. This was supported using external coaches. After the creation of a strong intrinsically motivated group, the university at large was informed about the group and the overall aim. The next step was the participatory process in which all university members had the possibility to speak out, argue, und ask questions. After this intense process, the development for a tailored solution to address sustainable transformation at the university resulted in the adaptation of its governance structures.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Adenle Y, Alshuwaikhat H (2017) Spatial estimation and visualization of CO2 emissions for campus sustainability: the case of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia. Sustainability 9(11):2124. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9112124
Barth M, Godemann J, Rieckmann M, Stoltenberg U (2007) Developing key competencies for sustainable development in higher education. Int J Sustain High Educ 8(4):416–430. https://doi.org/10.1108/14676370710823582
Bormann I, Rieckmann M, Bauer M, Kummer B, Niedlich S, Doneliene M, Jaeger L (2020) Gelingensbedingungen hochschulischer Nachhaltigkeit. In: Technische Universität Dresden, Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz (ed.) Nachhaltigkeitsgovernance an Hochschulen. BMBF-Projekt „Nachhaltigkeit an Hochschulen: entwickeln – vernetzen – berichten (HOCHN)“, pp 26–45
Brinken J (2016) Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung und Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung an deutschen Universitäten. Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, Magdeburg
Brinken J (2018) Die Rolle von Informationen bei Transformationsprozessen an Hochschulen. In: Arndt H-K, Marx Gómez J, Wohlgemuth V, Lehmann S, & Pleshkanovska R (eds) Nachhaltige Betriebliche Umweltinformationssysteme, pp 165–172. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden
Brinken J, Schell K, Witter J, Baumann B (2019) Green office – ein tool zur umsetzung der nachhaltigkeitsziele an hochschulen. In Leal Filho W (ed) Aktuelle Ansätze zur Umsetzung der UN-Nachhaltigkeitsziele, pp 201–225. Springer Spektrum, Berlin, Heidelberg
Brinken J, Rühmland S (2020) Ein partizipativer Nachhaltigkeitsprozess – Von der Entwicklung einer Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie bis zu ihrer Umsetzung. In: Körner F, Haase H (eds) Bildung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung in der universitären Lehre – Best Practice Beispiele der Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, pp 115–134
Buckler C, Creech H (2014) Shaping the future we want: UN decade of education for sustainable development (2005–2014). Final Report. DESD Monitoring and Evaluation
Bundes-Klimaschutzgesetz. BGBl. I S. 2513 (Bundestag 2019)
Dagiliūtė R, Liobikienė G, Minelgaitė A (2018) Sustainability at universities: students’ perceptions from green and non-green universities. J Clean Prod 181:473–482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.01.213
Dale A, Newman L (2005) Sustainable development, education and literacy. Int J Sustain High Educ 6(4):351–362. https://doi.org/10.1108/14676370510623847
Findler F, Schönherr N, Lozano R, Reider D, Martinuzzi A (2019) The impacts of higher education institutions on sustainable development. Int J Sustain High Educ 20(1):23–38. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-07-2017-0114
Günther E, Hüske A-K, Roos N (2018) Bedeutung und Bezug der Nachhaltigkeit im Hochschulbetrieb. In Technische Universität Dresden, Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz (ed) Nachhaltigkeit im Hochschulbetrieb (Beta-Version). BMBF-Projekt „Nachhaltigkeit an Hochschulen: entwickeln – vernetzen – berichten (HOCHN)“, pp 20–23
Haase H (2018) Wissen anwenden und Handlungskompetenz erfahren – Mastermodul „Nachhaltigkeit & Mobilität“. In Leal Filho W (ed) Theorie und Praxis der Nachhaltigkeit. Nachhaltigkeit in der Lehre. Eine herausforderung für hochschulen. Springer Spektrum, Berlin, pp 243–255
Helmers E, Chang CC, Dauwels J (2021) Carbon footprinting of universities worldwide: Part I – objective comparison by standardized metrics. Environ Sci Eur 33(1):164. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-021-00454-6
Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (2018) Empfehlungen der 25. Mitgliederversammlung der HRK am 06. November 2018 in Lüneburg: Für eine Kultur der Nachhaltigkeit. Retrieved from https://www.hrk.de/fileadmin/redaktion/hrk/02-Dokumente/02-01-Beschluesse/HRK_MV_Empfehlung_Nachhaltigkeit_06112018.pdf
Holst J, von Seggern J (2020) Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (BNE) an Hochschulen: Strukturelle Verankerung in Gesetzen, Zielvereinbarungen und Dokumenten der Selbstverwaltung. Retrieved from https://www.ewi-psy.fu-berlin.de/einrichtungen/weitere/institut-futur/Projekte/Dateien/2020_BNE_Dokumentenanalyse_Hochschule.pdf
International Association of Universities (1993) Kyoto Declaration on Sustainable Development. Retrieved from https://www.iau-aiu.net/IMG/pdf/sustainable_development_policy_statement.pdf
Körner F, Haase H (eds) (2020) Bildung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung in der universitären Lehre – Best Practice Beispiele der Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg. Retrieved from https://opendata.uni-halle.de/bitstream/1981185920/35694/1/Bildung%20f%C3%BCr%20Nachhaltige%20Entwicklung%20in%20der%20universit%C3%A4ren%20Lehre_2020.pdf
Leal Filho W, Wu Y-CJ, Brandli LL, Avila LV, Azeiteiro UM, Caeiro S, Madruga LR, da Rosa Gama. (2017) Identifying and overcoming obstacles to the implementation of sustainable development at universities. J Integr Environ Sci 14(1):93–108. https://doi.org/10.1080/1943815X.2017.1362007
Leventhal, Gerald S (1980) What sould be done with Equity Theory?: New Approaches to the Study of Fairness in Social Relationships. In: Gergen K, Greenberg, M, Willis R (eds) Social exchange. Advances in theory and research, pp 27–55. New York: Plenum Press
Lozano R (2010) Diffusion of sustainable development in universities’ curricula: an empirical example from Cardiff University. J Clean Prod 18(7):637–644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2009.07.005
Lozano R (2011) The state of sustainability reporting in universities. Int J Sustain High Educ 12(1):67–78. https://doi.org/10.1108/14676371111098311
Lozano R, Lukman R, Lozano FJ, Huisingh D, Lambrechts W (2013) Declarations for sustainability in higher education: becoming better leaders, through addressing the university system. J Clean Prod 48:10–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.10.006
McCowan T, Leal Filho W, Brandli LL (2021) Universities facing climate change and sustainability. Retrieved from https://www.koerber-stiftung.de/fileadmin/user_upload/koerber-stiftung/redaktion/gulch/pdf/2021/GUC_Study_Universities_facing_Climate_Change_and_Sustainability.pdf
Nationale Plattform Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (2017) Nationaler Aktionsplan Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung: Der deutsche Beitrag zum UNESCO-Weltaktionsprogramm. Retrieved from https://www.bne-portal.de/files/Nationaler_Aktionsplan_Bildung_f%c3%bcr_nachhaltige_Entwicklung_neu.pdf
netzwerk n e.V. (n.d.) Wandercoaching – Mit diesem Projekt unterstützen wir Eure Nachhaltigkeitsinitiative. Retrieved from https://www.netzwerk-n.org/angebote/formate/wandercoaching/
rootAbility (2015) 6 Green Office Principles. Retrieved from https://www.sustainabilityexchange.ac.uk/files/green_office_model_-_six_green_office_principles.pdf
Rühmland S, Dalowar S (2020) Bericht 7.ÖkosozialeHochschultage–[re]thinkingsystems und 5.ProgressiveEinführungswochenund5.Progressive Einführungswochen. Magdeburg. Retrieved from Otto-von-Guericke-Universität website: https://www.ovgu.de/unimagdeburg_media/Organisation/Nachhaltigkeitsb%C3%BCro/%C3%96SHT/%C3%96SHT+Berichte/Bericht%C3%96SHT_PEW2020-p-88976.pdf
Scharmer O (2018) The essentials of theory U: core principles and applications (First edition)
Schweizer-Ries P (2008) Energy sustainable communities: Environmental psychological investigations. Energ Policy 36(11):4126–4135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2008.06.021
Technische Universität Dresden, Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz (ed) (2018) Nachhaltigkeit im Hochschulbetrieb (Beta-Version): BMBF-Projekt „Nachhaltigkeit an Hochschulen: entwickeln – vernetzen – berichten (HOCHN)“
Technische Universität Dresden, Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz (ed) (2020) Nachhaltigkeitsgovernance an Hochschulen: BMBF-Projekt „Nachhaltigkeit an Hochschulen: entwickeln – vernetzen – berichten (HOCHN)“
Tyler TR, Folger R (2010) Distributional and procedural aspects of satisfaction with citizen-police encounters. Basic Appl Soc Psych 1(4):281–292. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324834basp0104_1
UNESCO (2015) UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development: conference report by the General Rapporteur. Retrieved from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000232888
United Nation (1972) Report of the United Nations Conference on human environment. Stockholm. Retrieved from https://undocs.org/en/A/CONF.48/14/Rev.1
United Nation (1992) United Nations Conference on Environment & Development: AGENDA 21. Retrieved from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/Agenda21.pdf
United Nation (2015) Paris Agreement. Retrieved from United Nation website: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/english_paris_agreement.pdf
United Nation General Assembly (2015) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015: 70/1. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (1990) Report and Declaration of the Presidents Conference. Retrieved from http://ulsf.org/report-and-declaration-of-the-presidents-conference-1990/
Yañez P, Sinha A, Vásquez M (2020) Carbon footprint estimation in a university campus: evaluation and insights. Sustainability 12(1):181. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010181
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Rühmland, S., Brinken, J., Haase, H. (2022). Challenging Transformation for Universities. In: Leal Filho, W., Azul, A.M., Doni, F., Salvia, A.L. (eds) Handbook of Sustainability Science in the Future. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68074-9_95-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68074-9_95-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-68074-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-68074-9
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences