With stakeholders from science, city administration and voluntary work, the third Transfer Day explored the question of how science and civil society can work together to promote sustainability.
"It is precisely here, in the middle of the Ruhr region, that the universities of applied sciences see themselves as committed agents of change," said Prof. Dr. Franz Vogler from Fachhochschule Dortmund welcomed the 60 or so participants in the factory hall of the Union-Gewerbehof - and the beautiful old steel hall not only lent the overarching theme of sustainability a thoroughly appropriate gravitas, but also served as a trenchant example of the aforementioned change with its picturesque ambivalence of lavish steel-age architecture and contemporary use with high-tech video and vegan snacks.
"Sustainability," emphasized Vogler, Vice-Rector for Sustainability, "is a task that affects us all." That is why this Transfer Day is so important as a platform for exchange between science and civil society.
The output is multiplied thanks to the joint commitment of many universities from NRW. "We want to join forces where sustainability takes place in teaching," said Prof. Dr. Nathalie Bartholomäus, Vice President for Transfer and Social Impact at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, emphasizing the purpose of the alliance.
The other perspective
After these two flawless scientific perspectives, Hannah Fischer, promoter for international cooperation at "Eine Welt Netz NRW", introduced the other perspective. As a civil society association of actors in the fields of development aid, international solidarity, nutrition and education, the One World Network NRW stands for the practical implementation of scientifically based convictions. It defines the term civil society, which requires clarification, as "the totality of the commitment of all citizens of a country", such as clubs, associations and trade unions.
Dr. Jessica Nuske from the Research Institute for Social Cohesion at the University of Bremen ("How joint research can change society and where it reaches its limits"), Christine Meissler from Bread for the World ("Atlas of civil society"), Prof. Dr. Michael Boecker from Fachhochschule Dortmund ("A critical look at the UN's Sustainable Development Goals"), Jörg Miller, Head of the Centre for Social Learning and Social Responsibility Uniaktiv at the University of Duisburg/Essen ("Transforming together: Shaping transformation through campus-community partnerships") and FH PhD student Friederike Asche ("Transdisciplinary project teaching as part of sustainable participatory and transformative research on inclusive urban design") opened the day.
A good bit further
One World Network promoter Hannah Fischer and organizer Sebastian Kreimer (Fachhochschule Dortmund) moderated a panel discussion with Dr. Jennifer Nuske, Angela Märten (Science Officer of the City of Dortmund), Svenja Noltemeyer (netzNRW Verbund für Ökologie und Soziales Business Studies e.V.) and Dietmar Stahlschmidt (Coordination Office "nordwärts" of the City of Dortmund) and addressed the question: "What does civil society need from science?"
The organizer's assessment is positive: "This day has brought us a good deal further in the debate on the best interpretation and implementation of the 'third mission' of universities." This third Transfer Day has significantly expanded the format and increased its visibility with regard to the upcoming Transfer Days 2026 at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences NRW and 2027 at Bochum University of Applied Sciences.
The Transfer Day takes place annually in cooperation with the Sustainability Alliance for Applied Sciences in NRW (NAW.NRW). It is hosted by a different university each year.