The German Rectors' Conference is promoting sustainability at German universities with a new project. Fachhochschule Dortmund was selected for the pilot phase along with three other universities.

All of you. Students, lecturers and employees from academia and administration are invited to take part in the one-year project. The project started on 30.10.2024 with a kick-off workshop and will run until September 2025. We communicate all information and dates in the "CSR-AG" team. We also discuss the topics there. Here is the link(Opens in a new tab) 

What is the audit?

The "Sustainability at universities" audit aims to support universities in taking a structured approach to sustainable development. The aim is to develop a sustainability strategy.

What is done in the audit?

In the audit, the status of sustainable development was first determined with the help of a questionnaire. Strengths and weaknesses were then identified, followed by the formulation of objectives and the development of indicators for measurement. At the end, the sustainability strategy and the implementation catalog with corresponding measures are published.

How can I take part in the audit?

Since January 2025, the CSR-AG has been the committee for all topics relating to sustainable development at Fachhochschule Dortmund. All interested HS members are cordially invited to join this committee.

In the six areas,

• Governance,
• teaching,
• research,
• sustainability transfer,
• operations and
• campus life

ideas are put forward and projects and measures are planned. There is room here for all topics relating to social, ecological and economic sustainability. There is a contact person and a deputy for each of these six areas. The committee makes recommendations to the Rectorate.

With the audit, the CSR-AG is pursuing the goal of developing Fachhochschule Dortmund's sustainability strategy. Specifically, this means developing a common understanding of sustainability, the sustainability goals for the six areas mentioned, as well as the indicators and ideas for measures.

Still have questions? Then write to csr-officefh-dortmundde or call 9112-8986

Sustainable development is increasingly becoming the focus of universities' strategic orientation. They are setting up corresponding competence centers, appointing sustainability officers and committing to sustainability in their mission statements.

In this context, the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) is now launching the pilot phase for the "Sustainability at universities" audit. The new advisory service is intended to systematically support universities in the further development of their sustainability strategies, goals and activities. It is based on an overall institutional approach and takes into account the specific profiles, transformation paths and structural and regional characteristics of the individual universities in order to ensure tailor-made, independent and voluntary counseling.

15.01.25 Until mid-January, you were able to support us in answering the audit questions (the result can be viewed in the "CSR-AG" team)
13 - 15.05.2025 In May, we will start working on individual focal points with external counseling.
01.09.25 By September, we will jointly develop sustainability goals, indicators and measures.
01.10.25 October The aim is to finalize the sustainability strategy