Sustainability Report

Introduction

„In view of the global climate crisis, the threat to vital resources, and the impending disruptive collapse of economic systems based on fossil fuels, universities see themselves as thought leaders who, through their extensive scientific expertise, can make a significant contribution to sustainable development. Due to the high urgency, efforts must be intensified at all levels […]“

uniko (2020): uniko-Manifest für Nachhaltigkeit

These words begin the manifesto for sustainability issued by the Austrian Universities Conference (uniko). It clearly states how essential it is for universities to make a decisive contribution to a future worth living. The University of Innsbruck understands sustainability as a holistic concept that encompasses various dimensions (ecological, economic, social, cultural).

This is based on the principle of sustainable development, which means aligning one’s own actions in such a way that the needs of future generations can also be met in the long term. It is therefore necessary to manage existing resources without exceeding the limits of ecological, economic, and social sustainability. Sustainability thus requires the creation of socially and economically resilient systems. This basic understanding of sustainability gives rise to a need for action on the part of the University of Innsbruck in various areas of activity.

As shown in Figure 1, the university pursues a holistic, so-called “whole-institution approach” (Quelle: siehe dazu Artikel in DG HochN-Wiki) in the implementation of sustainability. Such a comprehensive and whole-institutional approach focuses on the essential areas, i.e., fields of action, of the university. This also makes it clear that sustainability at universities cannot be viewed in isolation and addressed by individual actors.

Rather, when implementing sustainability in a particular field of action, it is also important to consider cross-connections to other fields and to recognize that cooperation between different university groups and decision-makers is necessary. This is essential not least because sustainability can be understood differently depending on the respective disciplinary background – joint negotiation processes are therefore also an inherent part of implementing sustainability.

In line with the “whole-institution approach,” the University of Innsbruck focuses on the following areas of action:

1. Governance and organizational culture: Anchoring sustainability is a combination of top-down and bottom-up processes and initiatives. It is significantly supported by the management level and the creation of structural framework conditions. This also includes promoting a culture of participation and transparency.
2. Education: Addressing sustainability in teaching and continuing education is an essential component. Equally important is how learning spaces are designed and how courses are implemented in terms of methodology and didactics.
3. Research: In addition to basic research, transdisciplinary and transformative research are particularly important in order to contribute as directly as possible to overcoming global challenges. It is also important to strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation and to make research processes themselves sustainable.
4. Social dialogue: The university promotes exchange and cooperation with society in order to jointly develop sustainable solutions and raise awareness of sustainability.
5. Operations: A sustainable university uses resources efficiently, introduces environmentally friendly practices, and is itself a role model for the promotion of biodiversity.
6. Inter-university cooperation: Cooperation with other universities

The individual areas of action are discussed in more detail in the following sections. Figure 1 also shows that both the 2017 mission statement and the 2020 sustainability strategy of the University of Innsbruck are key starting points for the development of strategic and operational goals. It is crucial that sustainability is not only imposed from the top down, but is shaped collaboratively and participatively.

With this first sustainability report, the University of Innsbruck aims to provide insights into its activities and future aspirations in the field of sustainability. The focus of the report is on a qualitative description of the most relevant background information, developments and other aspects that are important for anchoring sustainability at the University of Innsbruck and is divided into the following three areas:

• Background & developments to date
• Areas of action at the University of Innsbruck in the field of sustainability
• Outlook on areas for action & next steps

Special attention is paid to the presentation of sustainability-related projects, activities, and initiatives that have been or are being implemented by students and staff. These are projects that were presented at the poster exhibition during Sustainability Week 2024. By including these projects in the sustainability report, the university management aims to contribute to making this commitment and work more visible.

The development of the University of Innsbruck’s sustainability strategy is discussed, as is student engagement in sustainability. The latter is relevant insofar as student participation and involvement in shaping sustainability plays an extremely central role, and students provide important impetus by contributing their ideas and perspectives.

The comprehensive implementation of sustainability and the (pre)living of a culture of sustainability presents the University of Innsbruck with various challenges, not only at the institutional level, but also at the level of individual actors. Therefore, the concluding part of the report presents concrete potential and necessary actions. These are based, among other things, on a survey conducted in fall 2024 among all employees and students of the University of Innsbruck.

---

Preface Overview Background & developments to date