When it comes to sustainability, Fachhochschule Dortmund is well ahead in the university landscape. This was the result of the inspection as part of the pilot audit "Sustainability at universities" by the German Rectors' Conference ( HRK(Opens in a new tab) ).
After their three-day visit in May - a so-called "audit" - the auditors (assessors) attested to the Fachhochschule Dortmund's "outstanding activities in all areas of performance". They praised the institutionalization of the sustainability concept in the form of the "CSR Office" ("Corporate Social Responsibility") and an internal structure that enables uHRK(Opens in a new tab) ).
After their three-day visit in May - a so-called "audit" - the auditors (assessors) attested to the Fachhochschule Dortmund's "outstanding activities in all areas of performance". They praised the institutionalization of the sustainability concept in the form of the "CSR Office" ("Corporate Social Responsibility") and an internal structure that enables university-wide implementation. They emphasized "social sustainability" as a core identity of Fachhochschule Dortmund.
In intensive discussions on the topics of "Studies and Teaching", "Research and Transfer", "Operations and Infrastructure", "Campus Life" and "Governance", the auditors examined the sustainable development of the UAS to date and formulated recommendations for the way forward, such as linking sustainability with the university's other strategic goals and an ever more intensive branching out into individual areas such as system accreditation, new appointments and the internal funding architecture.
"Fachhochschule Dortmund is on a promising path," summarizes CSR Director Sebastian Kreimer, "with good prerequisites for further anchoring sustainability in the university structure, profession and everyday life and making it visible."
The sustainability audit is part of a pilot project of the HRK, for which Fachhochschule Dortmund is the only university of applied sciences together with three universities - Chemnitz University of Technology, University of Hamburg and Philipps University Marburg - to be selected from 60 candidate universities and will be supported in the further development of its sustainability strategy for one year from fall 2024.
The auditors:
- Prof. Dr. Ute von Lojewski, Department of Business Administration, former President of Münster University of Applied Sciences, awarded "University Manager of the Year 2013" by the Centre for Higher Education Development, focus: cooperative working, transparency and participation in leadership
- Dr. Jennifer Krah, Head of the Sustainability Coordination Office at Brandenburg's universities, focus areas: Sustainability transfer, teaching, campus life
- Dr. Thomas Flower, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science at HAW Hamburg, initiator of "One World Engineering", focus on Research and operations
- Prof. Dr. Ing. Nicole Saenger, Vice President for Research, Transfer and Sustainable Development at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, focus areas: Research, sustainability transfer, campus life
The German Rectors' Conference (HRK ) is the voluntary association of state and state-recognized universities in Germany. It currently has 271 member universities, at which around 90 percent of all students in Germany are enrolled. The HRK sees itself as the voice of the universities vis-à-vis politics and the public and the central forum for the joint formation of opinion and will in the higher education system. Its main tasks also include developing basic principles and standards in the education system and providing services for universities and the public.