Witten/Herdecke University: Pioneer for sustainable higher education!

Witten/Herdecke University: Pioneer for sustainable higher education!

On July 30, 2025, the University of Witten/Herdecke (UW/H) will be honored for its tireless commitment to sustainability. The university has successfully been certified by TÜV Rheinland according to the “ZNU Standard for Sustainable Management”. This critical award is a significant step at a time when sustainable practices have become essential for organizations and universities. The ZNU standard, developed by the Center for Sustainable Management, aims to make sustainability aspects measurable and to support organizations in sustainable business management. Over 130 organizations from various industries receive this certificate every year, but UW/H is the first university to claim this standard uni-wh.de reported.

The importance of universities in sustainable development is discussed by Dr. Christian Geßner and Dr. Axel Kölle, the head of the ZNU, underlined. The UW/H has made it its mission to identify central issues such as climate protection and sustainable university development. The UW/H employees, teachers and students worked together on goals, measures and indicators to promote the integration of sustainability into teaching and campus life. This includes, among other things, increasing the number of courses on sustainability.

Certification process and upcoming challenges

The UW/H certification process is extensive and is accompanied by internal and external audits. These thorough reviews ensure that the university not only meets current needs, but also initiates a continuous improvement process. University President Prof. Dr. Martin Butzlaff sees the certification not only as a success, but as a contribution to a sustainable society. A re-audit is planned for spring 2026, with extensive audits taking place every three years in order to consistently pursue the sustainability goals.

The UW/H has been committed to sustainability for years: the university has already been recognized as a Fairtrade University three times. A sustainable wooden building was also opened in 2021. In the area of ​​mobility, various offers were introduced for employees, such as a 9 euro job ticket, bike leasing and car sharing. In the cafeteria, emphasis is also placed on regional products by only using regional vegetables. The Bachelor's degree program in Global Sustainability and numerous courses integrate the topic of sustainability into teaching.

Diversity and gender equality at Pronova BKK

In parallel with the progress in higher education, Pronova BKK also shows a strong commitment to social sustainability. The insurance company has made it its mission to reduce injustice and actively take the consequences of its decisions into account. The corporate culture of Pronova BKK in particular is characterized by diversity, equality and equal opportunities. How pronovabkk.de reports that around two thirds of the workforce are female. In 2022, the proportion of female managers was 39% and has increased to 43% by 2024 through various talent development programs and development plans.

Another goal of Pronova BKK is to increase the proportion of female managers to 47% by the end of 2025. In addition, the proportion of women in applications for management positions is to be increased from 45% to 55%, which reflects the urgency and relevance of gender equality in a changing professional environment. These projects not only focus on the workforce of Pronova BKK, but also promote a positive corporate culture and increase the motivation of employees.