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

    Sustainable Finance

    Figge, F., Schaltegger, S. & Hahn, T., 2002, Hagen: FernUniversität in Hagen.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesEducation

  2. Published

    Sustainable forest management augments diversity of vascular plants in German forests

    Oheimb, G., Ellenberg, H., Heuveldop, J. & Kriebitzsch, W.-U., 2001, Assessment, conservation and sustainable use of forest biodiversity. Montreal: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, p. 88-90 3 p. (VBD Technical Series; no. 3).

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

  3. Published

    Sustainable Green Technologies: The Brazilian Indigenous University Student Experience

    Crioni, R., Cássia Sudan, D. & Gomes Zuin, V., 01.01.2022, Handbook of Best Practices in Sustainable Development at University Level . Filho, W. L. & Vasconcelos, C. R. P. D. (eds.). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, p. 469-494 26 p. (World Sustainability Series).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  4. Published

    Sustainable human resource management and job satisfaction—Unlocking the power of organizational identification: A cross-cultural perspective from 54 countries

    CSREM 2024 - Sustainable human resource management and job satisfaction & Wojtczuk-Turek, A., 09.2024, In: Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. 31, 5, p. 4910-4932 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Sustainable lifestyles: towards a relational approach

    Böhme, J., Walsh, Z. & Wamsler, C., 09.2022, In: Sustainability Science. 17, 5, p. 2063-2076 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published
  8. Published

    Sustainable Public Administration, Special Issue in Sustainability

    Heinrichs, H. (Editor) & Laws, N. (Editor), 04.06.2021, Basel: MDPI AG. (Sustainability; vol. 13, no. 11)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueTransfer

  9. Published

    Sustainable Public Procurement: Mainstreaming Sustainability Criteria in Public Procurement in Developing Countries

    Roos, R., 2012, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 95 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  10. Published

    Sustainable Reporting? The Link of Environmental Reports and Environmental Performance

    Wagner, M., 2004, In: Corporate Environmental Strategy. 11, 10, p. 21-28 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review