Sustainability in working life at HSBI

Everybody is talking about sustainable lifestyles and actions. But how can both be implemented in practice? At HSBI, we have anchored sustainability in our everyday actions with our Act2Sustain initiative. We even received the German Employer Award for Education for our activities. What does that mean for our employees’ day-to-day work? On this page, we have collected everything you need to know.

What do we understand by sustainability

At HSBI, we have a holistic understanding of sustainability and sustainable action, which includes integrating the three sustainability dimensions social sustainability, environmental sustainability and economical sustainability into our actions as a university. This is how we assume responsibility for the lives of today’s and tomorrow’s generations. It is our conviction that we all have many different options of how we can contribute to sustainable development within our own possibilities.

• Our sustainability policy

What is Act2Sustain?

That is why we want to take specific action together instead of just speaking of sustainability. We thus started Act2Sustain in 2022. The approach of our sustainability programme is participatory: It brings together teaching staff, students and employees with external experts and company representatives in working groups and sub-teams. All participants can propose topics and projects and get involved. What’s important to us is that everyone can participate and contribute their own ideas.

Which measures have been taken or planned?

Both small projects and university-wide projects have already been realised in the working groups, starting with an idea and ending in specific actions. In addition, our climate protection officer has started working with us in October 2023.

Sustainability in research and teaching

• First teaching units on the significance of climate change for care were developed at the Faculty of Health.
• At Bielefeld School of Business, students can focus on topics such as corporate ethics, environmentally conscious manufacturing or sustainable finance. In 2024, the faculty plans to start a new master’s degree programme with a focus on sustainability.
• At the Faculty of Social Sciences, there is already a master’s degree programme Social Sustainability and Transformation Studies.
• For many years now, the Faculty of Engineering and Mathematics has been realising sustainability-related projects. This is a focus area that the faculty intends to further expand.
• At the Faculty of Design and Art, sustainability is a frequent topic for students’ works. In the Fashion course, it is critically questioned with regard to the textile and fashion industries.
• And at the Faculty of Minden Campus, topics such as intelligent building technologies are addressed across disciplines, also with a focus on sustainability.

Sustainable lifestyle on campus

• Fruit-and-veg boxes and vegan bags to reduce food waste: Students and employees regularly have the opportunity to buy “rescued” food at low prices. Since the start of the winter semester 2021/2022, they have thus been able to “rescue” a total of 9 tonnes of food per semester campus-wide.
• Act2Sustain flea market: In October 2023, our first sustainability flea market took place in HSBI’s main building. At 30 stalls, students and employees sold clothes, books and other used items at fair prices.

Events and congresses

• Sustainability Transfer Day: In April 2023, we hosted our first Sustainability Transfer Day. During the event, university employees and company representatives presented best practices for collaboration in sustainability projects.
• University-wide Intensive Week: At the Intensive Week planned for 2024, students and employees will be able to familiarise themselves with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and to enhance their knowledge in fireside chats with experts.

Please find more events in our event calendar.

We are winners of the German Employer Award for Education  

In October 2023, the Act2Sustain initiative at HSBI received the German Employer Award for Education 2023. In particular, the jurors highlighted the extensive implementation of sustainability projects in all of the university’s core areas: Studies & Teaching, Research & Transfer, Governance, Campus and Buildings.

• Press release of HSBI on German Employer Award

How can employees participate in Act2Sustain? 

More than 50 university members are already actively involved in Act2Sustain. They are part of our working groups or sub-teams.

Would you like to be a part of the initiative? Please just send an e-mail to: nachhaltigkeit@hsbi.de. We look forward to your contribution!