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

    Towards a Conceptual Framework of Business Models for Sustainability

    Lüdeke-Freund, F., 2010, Knowledge Collaboration & Learning for Sustainable Innovation : Conference Proceedings. Wever, R., Quist, J., Tukker, A., Woudstra, J., Boons, F. & Beute, N. (eds.). Delft: Technische Universiteit Delft, 28 p.

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

  2. Published

    Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement auf dem Vormarsch: Corporate Sustainability Barometer

    Harms, D., Schaltegger, S. & Windolph, S. E., 26.11.2010, In: Ökologisches Wirtschaften. 24, 4, p. 10 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  3. Published

    Das Studienprogramm Nachhaltigkeit als Beispiel interdisziplinärer Lehre: Herausforderung, Chancen und Erfahrungen

    Barth, M. & Godemann, J., 2010, Innovative Lehre - Grundsätze, Konzepte, Beispiele der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg. Cremer-Renz, C. & Jansen-Schulz, B. (eds.). Bielefeld: UniversitätsVerlagWebler, p. 171-184 14 p. (Motivierendes Lehren und Lernen in Hochschulen; vol. 11).

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

  4. Published

    Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement bei deutschen Auslandsinvestitionen

    Schaltegger, S. & Schock, M., 2010, Investitionsgarantien der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Jahresbericht 2009: Direktinvestitionen Ausland. BMWi, PriceWaterhouseCoopers & Euler Hermes (eds.). Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie, p. 48-49 2 p.

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

  5. Published

    Internet-Supported Sustainability Reporting - Expectations and Reality: Empirical Findings from the German DAX30

    Herzig, C. & Godemann, J., 2011, Handbook of Corporate Sustainability: Frameworks, Strategies and Tools. Quaddus, M. A. & Siddique, M. A. D. (eds.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 249-281 33 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  6. Published

    Implementing Environmental Management Accounting in South-East Asian Companies

    Herzig, C., Viere, T., Schaltegger, S. & Burritt, R. L., 2007, Conference Proceedings of the 10th Annual EMAN-EU Conference on "Environmental Management Accounting and Sustainable Supply Chains”. Helsinki University of Technology, 6 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  7. Published

    Meeting the Future: Zehnjahrestagung des Doktoranden-Netzwerks Nachhaltiges Wirtschaften

    Müller, M. & Schaltegger, S., 2008, Corporate Social Responsibility: Trend oder Modeerscheinung?. Müller, M. & Schaltegger, S. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 13-16 4 p.

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

  8. Published

    Managing and Measuring the Business Case for Sustainability: Capturing the Relationship between Sustainability Performance, Business Competitiveness and Economic Performance

    Schaltegger, S. & Wagner, M., 08.09.2017, Managing the Business Case for Sustainability: The Integration of Social, Environmental and Economic Performance. Schaltegger, S. & Wagner, M. (eds.). Sheffield: Greenleaf Publishing, p. 1-27 27 p.

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

  9. Published

    Sustainability Business Cases or Low Hanging Fruit? Environmental Management Accounting Applications in South-East Asia

    Viere, T., Schaltegger, S., Herzig, C. & Burritt, R. L., 2006, Environmental management accounting and cleaner production; abstracts: Environmental Management Accounting Network 9th annual conference ; Graz Austria, 2006. Schnitzer, H. & Jasch, C. (eds.). Verlag Technische Universität Graz, p. 47 1 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearch

  10. Published

    Classifying Entrepreneurship for the Public Good: Empirical Analysis of a Conceptual Framework

    Wagner, M. & Schaltegger, S., 01.01.2010, In: Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. 23, 3, p. 431-443 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review