KIT starts new sustainability project: Future vision for research and teaching!

KIT starts new sustainability project: Future vision for research and teaching!

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has launched the “Basic Sustainability Project,” a far-reaching initiative dedicated to implementing an ambitious sustainability strategy. This strategy is intended to anchor sustainability as a central cross-sectional topic in research, teaching, innovation and transfer. With the support of around 400 researchers, teachers, employees and students, a broad base was created that was actively involved in workshops, an ideas competition and a comprehensive survey. Over 3,200 people took part in the KIT-wide survey to contribute their ideas and expectations.

KIT's sustainability strategy, adopted in 2022, is based on concrete measures, divided into four work packages. Professor Kora Kristof and project leader Christina Benighaus emphasize the importance of the commitment of the entire KIT community, which is crucial for the success of the project. With around 10,000 employees and 22,800 students, KIT plays a responsible role in education for future social challenges.

Four work packages for a sustainable future

The first “Research” work package focuses on important topics such as the heat and energy transition, sustainable mobility, resource conservation and climate adaptation. For the second component, “teaching”, the focus is on expanding education for sustainable development (ESD) and developing new, future-oriented study programs. The third work package, “Innovation and Transfer”, includes innovative formats such as a transfer hub, crowdfunding initiatives and training courses aimed at promoting knowledge transfer. Finally, the fourth work package “KIT-internal & KIT sustainability performance” focuses on the sustainable design of everyday KIT life, including through intelligent energy and load management systems.

In order to further promote sustainability in KIT's operations, eight follow-up projects are planned. These measures contribute to KIT's vision of acting as one of the leading German scientific institutions for the development of sustainability technologies and solutions.

Education for sustainable development

The importance of education in the context of a more sustainable future is undisputed. Young generations are facing massive challenges that cannot be overcome sustainably with current social developments. The climate and biodiversity crises are progressing inexorably and are having profound negative effects on the economy and society. These crises ultimately threaten the quality of life of future generations.

KIT is actively committed to expanding education for sustainable development (ESD) and cooperates with the Sustainable Transformation Working Group and the Department for Social-Ecological Transformation. In 2023, a comprehensive positioning on ESD at KIT was developed in collaboration with the student council conference. The BMBF definition of ESD as education that enables future-proof thinking and action aims to optimally prepare students for the challenges ahead.

In addition, the “Research for Sustainable Development” (FONA) framework program offers a systems-oriented approach to developing innovative solutions to sustainability issues. This is done by creating a basis for decision-making that is essential for both current and future scope for action. The UNESCO initiative “Education for Sustainable Development” (ESD 2030) acts as a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable education initiatives. At regular intervals, the federal government publishes a report on education for sustainable development, which analyzes current developments and measures.