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

    Exploring the Corporate Reality of Sustainability Accounting Practice

    Bennett, M., Schaltegger, S. & Zvezdov, D., 2012, Sustainable Economy: Abstracts: 15th EMAN Conference on Environmental and Sustainability Management Accounting in collaboration with the CSEAR International Congress on Social and Environmental Accounting Research : Environmental Management Accounting for a Sustainable Economy, Helsinki, 24-26 September 2012. Helsinki: Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences , 3 p.

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

  2. Published

    Epilog - Und wo sind wir? Reflexionen auf den Ort der/des Forschenden in der raumbezogenen qualitativen Sozialforschung

    Vilsmaier, U., 2013, Raumbezogene qualitative Sozialforschung. Dörfler, T. & Rothfuß, E. (eds.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 287-307 21 p.

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

  3. Published

    Transdisziplinäre Forschung

    Vilsmaier, U. & Lang, D., 2014, Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Heinrichs, H. & Michelsen, G. (eds.). Berlin: Springer Spektrum, p. 87-113 27 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Marktorientiertes Nachhaltigkeitscontrolling

    Schaltegger, S., 2014, Sustainable Marketing Management: Grundlagen und Cases. Meffert, H., Kenning, P. & Kirchgeorg, M. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Gabler Verlag, p. 271-287 17 p.

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

  5. Published

    Von sozialer Verantwortung zu unternehmerischer Nachhaltigkeit: Bedeutung und Ausgestaltung von „Business Cases for Sustainability“

    Schaltegger, S. & Lüdeke-Freund, F., 2013, Sustainability Management: Nachhaltige und Stakeholder-orientierte Wertsteigerung . Keuper, F. & Neumann, F. (eds.). Berlin: Logos Verlag, p. 51-68 17 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Industry Transformation through Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Examples in the Apparel and Energy Industries

    Schaltegger, S. & Hansen, E. G., 2013, The Necessary Transition: The Journey towards the Sustainable Enterprise Economy. McIntosh, M. (ed.). London: Greenleaf Publishing, p. 182–197 16 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement als Treiber von Unternehmenserfolg und Strukturwandel in Regionen

    Schaltegger, S. & Petersen, H., 2013, Unternehmensverantwortung wirkt!: Geteilte Wertschöpfung durch Corporate Responsibility - mit Praxisbeispielen aus der Metropolregion Hamburg. Taubken, N., Schindler, D. & Prigge, S. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 44-49 6 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Sustainability Accounting for the Industrial Use of Biomass

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor) & Burritt, R. (Editor), 2012, Emerald Publishing Limited. 169 p. (Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal; vol. 3, no. 2)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  9. Published

    Transdisciplinarity in Corporate Sustainability

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor), Beckmann, M. (Editor) & Hansen, E. G. (Editor), 2013, John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 66 p. (Business Strategy and the Environment; vol. 22, no. 4)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  10. Published