Organisation profile

Sustainability has many facets. Inter- and transdisciplinary research and teaching characterize the School of Sustainability. Scientists in our research projects work together in the laboratory, on the heath, in the grassland, in the classroom, with the city administration, with farmers, with non-governmental organizations, with companies, with students in the lecture hall and of course at their desks.

Furthermore, we work with regional and national political actors, e.g. ministries, as well as international organizations, e.g. UNEP, UNESCO, EU. We are part of national and international bodies, e.g. sustainability advisory boards of companies, member of the German Sustainability Award, World Biodiversity Council (IPBES), in order to contribute to social change with scientific findings.

Main research areas

Vision
Sustainability science investigates on a theoretical, conceptual and empirical level how to promote sustainable development and how to find and implement effective solutions for current social and ecological challenges. The aim is to create a more sustainable future.

Sustainability researchers are called upon to take responsibility for their research, which is anchored in existing scientific knowledge and methods and serves to make the world a better place for everyone.

Mission
We promote change towards a sustainable future by developing theories, concepts and practices of inclusive education for sustainability, research, governance and management.

We acknowledge the diversity and dynamics of values, norms and behaviour and contribute with transdisciplinary methods to ensuring that tensions and differences between different disciplines, methods, topics and standards are fruitfully taken up and used with productive compromises and further developments towards sustainable development.

Principles
The School of Sustainability is guided by the normative concepts of ecological system integrity and social and economic justice.

Ecological system integrity refers to the safeguarding of life-support systems, as well as the maintenance of the well-being of life on Earth.

With social and economic justice we strive for a world in which all people can fulfil their potential without endangering system integrity and the well-being of others.

Information about the School
The School of Sustainability includes...
... ca. 25 professors
... ca. 100 research assistants
... ca. 1000 students in Bachelor and Master courses

In various inter- and transdisciplinary projects we are constantly researching and working together on changes and solutions for current challenges.

  1. Published

    Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal: Special Issue on Sustainability Accounting, Auditing and Accountability

    Burritt, R. (Editor) & Schaltegger, S. (Editor), 2010, Emerald Publishing Limited. 126 p. (Accounting, auditing and accountability journal; vol. 23, no. 7)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  2. Published

    Accounting for corporate environmental rebounds. A conceptual approach

    Egan, M. & Schaltegger, S., 20.09.2023, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 419, 8 p., 138175.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Accounting for Eco-Efficiency

    Schaltegger, S., 1998, Environmental Management in Practice: Volume I: Instruments for Environmental Management. Nath, B., Hens, L., Compton, P. & Devuyst, D. (eds.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, Vol. 1. p. 272-287 16 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  4. Published

    Accounting for Sustainability: Asia Pacific Perspectives

    Lee, K.-H. (Editor) & Schaltegger, S. (Editor), 2018, Cham: Springer International Publishing AG. 305 p. (Eco-efficiency in industry and science; vol. 33)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  5. Published

    Accounting for Sustainability in Production and Supply Chains: Editorial

    Burritt, R. & Schaltegger, S., 01.12.2014, In: The British Accounting Review. 46, 4, p. 323-326 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  6. Published

    Accounting for Sustainability in Production and Supply Chains: The British Accounting Review

    Burritt, R. (Editor) & Schaltegger, S. (Editor), 2014, Amsterdam: Elsevier B.V. 93 p. (The British Accounting Review ; vol. 46, no. 4)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  7. Published

    Accounting for Sustainable Aviation

    Burritt, R., Schaltegger, S. & Tingey-Holyoak, J., 2011, In: Charter. 82, September, p. 22-23 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  8. Published

    Accounting for Sustainable Organisations: Where is the Accountant and why it Matters

    Zvezdov, D., 2011, Innovations in Sharing Environmental Observations and Information: Proceedings of the 25th International Conference EnviroInfo : Youth Informatics Prize, Special Tracks and Workshops. Pillmann, W., Schade, S. & Smits, P. (eds.). Shaker Verlag, Vol. 2. p. 601-607 7 p. (ASIM-Mitteilungen aus den Arbeitskreisen).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Accounting for Un-Sustainability or Sustainability Accounting? Notions, Concepts and Consequences for Research. A Debate

    Gray, R. & Schaltegger, S., 2012, Sustainable Economy. Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences , 2 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Accounting for work conditions from modern slavery to decent work

    Christ, K. L., Burritt, R. & Schaltegger, S., 20.10.2020, In: Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal. 33, 7, p. 1481-1504 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review