Student University: Future visions for sustainable education in Berlin!

Student University: Future visions for sustainable education in Berlin!

The Free University of Berlin invites you to the “Student University Sustainability + Climate Protection” from September 22nd to 25th, 2025. The university announces this on its website. The free program is aimed at students in the 5th and 6th grades and their teachers from all twelve districts of Berlin. A total of 67 school classes are expected, which corresponds to around 1,500 school children. The workshops take place in various locations on the Freie Universität Berlin campus, including laboratory rooms, community gardens and the Botanical Garden.

The program includes 67 workshops on the multifaceted topics of sustainable development. The content covered includes, for example, the future of life, climate-friendly and livable cities, and the promotion of biodiversity in the school garden or on the balcony. During the workshops, participants have the opportunity to discover sustainability and climate protection through practical exercises.

Diverse workshop offerings

The workshops include innovative topics such as “the water cycle”, “making your own bioenergy” and “researching and understanding climate change”. Workshops on the topic of “upcycling” and the design of future living spaces invite students to get creative and contribute their ideas. Seminars and further training for teachers as well as training for trainers are also offered free of charge.

This initiative is supported by the state of Berlin's climate protection partners such as Berliner Wasserbetriebe and Berliner Stadtreinigung and aims to achieve the 17 sustainability goals of the 2030 Agenda. The program runs twice a year, in spring and fall, and has proven successful because it is tailored to the needs of students.

Importance of education for sustainable development

The comprehensive promotion of sustainability in school education is not only important locally, but also nationally. A current study by Greenpeace from August 2023 shows that investments of around 16.3 billion euros will be necessary in Germany by 2035 to make schools fit for the future. The implementation of the 2017 “Education for Sustainable Development” action plan requires massive investments in the training and further education of teachers and the introduction of coordinators.

Despite the supportive measures, there are challenges. A representative survey of school administrators shows that only 7 percent say sustainability is present in all subjects and in everyday school life. Around 72 percent of school principals report a lack of time and staff as the biggest hurdle to promoting education for sustainable development (ESD).

While the Free University of Berlin's program makes an important contribution to strengthening sustainable education, it is clear that there is still a lot to do on a broader level. The need to anchor sustainability more firmly in lessons and everyday life at schools is increasingly recognized, but remains a challenge for everyone involved.

These initiatives are a step in the right direction to sensitize and empower students for the challenges of the future. The Free University of Berlin's program shows how creative approaches and different learning locations can be used to raise awareness of the environment and sustainability.

For more information about the workshops and registration, please visit the official website Free University of Berlin. Information about the training offers can also be found at Talent guide and the challenges of education for sustainable development German school portal.