Sustainability in focus: Potsdam sets new standards in higher education!

Sustainability in focus: Potsdam sets new standards in higher education!

On July 8, 2025, European universities will demonstrate with various initiatives how they can make progress in the area of ​​sustainability. Universities develop new knowledge and strive for a fairer approach to economic, teaching and research aspects. A central goal is to implement comprehensive sustainability at various points within the universities. To achieve this goal, necessary measures such as modernizing infrastructure and convincing people are taken.

Particularly noteworthy is the Staff Week, which took place at the University of Potsdam at the beginning of May 2025. It was organized by the International Office and the Potsdam team of the European Digital UniverCity (EDUC), supported by the Green Office of the University of Potsdam and the Sustainability Team of the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN). The aim of this event was to develop strategies and tools for individual sustainability goals.

International exchange about sustainability

Staff Week brought together 17 participants from partner universities, including delegations from Denmark, France, Ireland, Israel, Norway, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Ukraine and Hungary. The diversity of the participants showed that the topic of sustainability is still in its infancy at many universities. The program, designed by Christoph Rasche from the University of Potsdam and three USN lecturers, included discussions about best practices and practical exercises.

Participants reported on the different starting positions of their universities with regard to sustainability. They also had the opportunity to explore the University of Potsdam campus in the Sanssouci World Heritage Park and the city of Potsdam. This experience contributed to promoting intercultural exchange and networking between universities.

Cooperation opportunities within INGENIUM

Europe also plays a central role at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (HKA), where employees were active at Högskolan i Skövde in Sweden in May 2025. The INGENIUM European University is working on establishing a double degree program in the field of Mechatronic Engineering. Dr. Kajori Lahiri and Annette Knödler from HKA reported on their experiences and the exchange of work processes between European partners.

The employees explored the modern facilities at Högskolan i Skövde, including the library, laboratories and the “ASSAR Industrial Innovation Arena” meeting space. In order to promote intercultural exchange, a cultural trip to Varnhem Monastery was organized, during which participants observed the migration of 9,000 cranes at Hornborgasjön. Dr. Kajori Lahiri describes this experience as valuable for rethinking challenges.

Resources and support

The networking and promotion of universities is also supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). According to the DAAD, the topics of research and internationalization as well as university networks are of great importance. The speaker Birgit Siebe-Herbig emphasizes the importance of such programs for the development of cooperation and exchange among universities in Europe.

The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degrees in Mechatronic Engineering is an example of ongoing collaboration between European institutions. For those interested in staff mobility, the HKA offers relevant contacts to receive further information and options.

Overall, these initiatives show that European universities are committed to a more sustainable future and promote intercultural exchange. Innovative programs and an open dialogue about sustainability are crucial to successfully meeting today's challenges.