Sustainability Week in Passau: Impulses for the future!

Sustainability Week in Passau: Impulses for the future!

On July 3, 2025, “Sustainability Day” took place at the University of Passau as part of the Sustainable Weeks from June 23 to July 5. Organized by the University of Passau and the Association of German Scientists (VDW), the celebrations attracted numerous interested parties.

A central highlight of the event was a keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Hubert Weiger, who dealt with the topic of sustainable border crossing. Afterwards, students presented their interdisciplinary study projects in a poster exhibition. The official ceremony was held in the university's auditorium and provided space for in-depth discussions.

Recognition of sustainable achievements

The importance of the event was emphasized by the Vice President, Prof. Dr. Bettina Noltenius, underlined, who praised the participation from both the university and the city. In his speech, Bavarian State Minister Thorsten Glauber emphasized the important role of universities in promoting sustainability.

Individual achievements in the area of ​​sustainability were also particularly recognized. The “Prize for Sustainability-Related Research” was awarded to Philipp Danner for his work in the field of renewable energies. Another prize, which was awarded for sustainable activities on campus, went to the KulturtranspOrt initiative. Maximilian Dederer also received a gift for successfully completing the first voluntary ecological year at the university.

Discussion and critical reflection

As part of a panel discussion, Prof. Dr. Weiger talks to students about the topic of “overcoming boundaries”. Furthermore, Dr. Philipp Blom gave a lecture entitled “Subjugate the Earth – the rise and fall of an idea”. Blom called for a rethink in dealing with nature and pointed out Europe's central role in the sustainable use of resources. Prof. Dr. Werner Gamerith finally thanked the sponsors and the “Team Sustainability” from the University of Passau for their commitment.

In another aspect of sustainable education, Prof. Dr. Anne-Kathrin Lindau and Jolina Ulbricht (MLU Halle-Wittenberg) will discuss non-European visions of sustainability in their lecture on October 7, 2024, particularly using Ecuador as an example. These topics were covered as part of an excursion to Ecuador, which was intended to enable geography teacher training students to explore different climate and vegetation zones and to deal with concepts such as Pachamama (Mother Earth) and Sumak Kawsay (Good Life).

The research questions of the excursion included the contribution to the professionalization of prospective teachers and the influence of non-European approaches on education for sustainable development (ESD). The focus was on value-oriented reflection and the critical understanding of sustainability. Initial results show a positive development of the participants' understanding of sustainability.

The discussion about the role of non-European sustainability visions in teacher training shows how diverse the sustainability discourse is. While the German and European approach is often anthropocentric, the Ecuadorian approach pursues holistic visions that focus on the law of nature and quality of life.

These different perspectives not only offer valuable approaches for teaching, but also contribute to critical reflection on one's own dealings with nature and resources. The findings from the event and the excursion therefore provide a valuable basis for future educational projects in the area of ​​sustainability.

In summary, the path to sustainability is multifaceted and collaboration across borders can significantly influence both understanding and practices in education and beyond. uni-passau.de, zlf.uni-passau.de, fachportal-paedagogik.de report about it.