Sustainability @ CUAS

The topic of sustainability has moved even more into the focus of society in the course of the current challenges. For us as a university, responsible thinking and action combined with goals for sustainable development form an important basis. In addition to its core tasks of teaching and research, a university's third central task is to have a sustainable impact on society. In the past, this "third mission" was regarded as an additional task of higher education institutions, but now it is increasingly developing into a "first mission", to which the study and research activities are also aligned.

From this perspective and development, it follows that the topics of sustainability, the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as environmental management and the associated activities and measures of the university are of central importance to Carinthia University of Applied Sciences and must be continuously strengthened.

In order to ensure that the idea of sustainability reaches all areas of the university, we have created contact points in the form of the Sustainability Officer Eva Stefaner and the Environmental Officer Karl-Heinz Huber. The colleagues are happy to receive ideas and suggestions on these topics.

Climate protests

More than 50 Carinthian scientists support the concerns of the climate protests

More than 50 Carinthian scientists* support in solidarity the concerns of the climate protests in Austria in a statement signed by name.

The climate crisis is dramatically increasing in urgency. The National Council has already declared a climate emergency on 26.09.2019. Yet neither the Austrian federal nor the Carinthian provincial governments are meeting international commitments on climate protection. Not even their own climate protection targets are within reach. The longer we wait, the more expensive and drastic the measures will be. There are much more important debates than those about whether the forms of protest of, for example, the "Last Generation" are justified. Instead of criminalizing those who bring much-needed attention to demands that are as unpleasant as they are scientifically correct through diverse, non-violent forms of protest, the real problem must be addressed. Therefore, the scientists who signed the statement call on all election campaigning parties in particular to face the challenges of the climate crisis and to present concrete plans on how Carinthia can remain livable in the future. It is not the protests that threaten us all, but the political failure in climate protection!

Mag. Dr. Susanne Aigner, Ökologiebüro Aigner e. U.
Ass.-Prof.in Mag.a. Dr.in Tina Bahovec, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Univ.-Ass. Anika Bausch, M.A., Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Sen. Researcher und Lecturer Mag. arch. Stefan Breuer, Fachhochschule Kärnten
Assoc. Prof. Mag. Dr. Claudia Brunner, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Sen. Lecturer Mag. Dr. Gregor Chudoba, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Univ.-Ass. Katja Čičigoj, univ. dipl. fil. in lit. komp., Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Mag. Dr. Nadja Danglmaier, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Veronika Dworzak, BSc, MSc, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Assoc. Prof.in Dr.in Kirsten v. Elverfeldt, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
A.o. Univ. Prof. Dr. Günter Emberger, TU Wien
Univ.-Doz. Mag. Dr. Wilfried R. Franz, Naturwissenschaftlicher Verein für Kärnten, Arge Naturschutz
Prof. Mag. Arch. Wolfgang Grillitsch, Fachhochschule Kärnten
Mag. Dr. Helmut Guggenberger, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Ass. Prof. Dr. Doris Hattenberger, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Martin Hitz, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Mag. Gerhard Hohenwarter, GeoSphere Austria
Dr. Ute Holfelder, Senior Scientist, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Sen. Lecturer und Researcher Dr. Dominik Holzer, BSc MSc, Fachhochschule Kärnten
Sen.Sc.Dr. Renate Hübner, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Postdoc.-Ass. Dr. Alban Knecht, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Mag. Caroline von Korff, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
DI Herbert Kotschnig, MBA, Fachhochschule Kärnten
Sen. Lecturer Markus Kraxner, MSc BSc, Fachhochschule Kärnten
Mag. Dr. Carla Küffner, Fachhochschule Kärnten
Assoc.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Martina Meidl, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Sen. Scientist Mag.a. Dr.in Kirstin Mertlitsch, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Assoc. Prof. Mag. Dr. Hajnalka Nagy, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Univ.-Ass. Roland Wolfgang Peball, BA MA., Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Univ. Prof. Dr. Alice Pechriggl, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Hans Karl Peterlini, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
DI.in Dr.in Christina Pichler-Koban, E.C.O. Institut für Ökologie
Mag. Paul Rainer, GeoSphere Austria
Postdoc.-Ass. Mag. Dr. Viktorija Ratković, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Postdoc-Ass. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Roswitha Rissner, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Dr. Gunhild Sagmeister, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Dr. Janine Schemmer, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Lilia Schmalzl, BSc, MSc, Fachhochschule Kärnten
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Caroline Schmitt, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Univ.Prof. Dr. Klaus Schönberger, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Alexandra Schwell, Alpen-Adria Universität Klagenfurt
Mag. Sabine Seidl, Pädagogische Hochschule Kärnten
Postdoc.-Ass. Mag. Dr. Heidi Siller, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Mag. Christian Stefan, GeoSphere Austria
Sen. Lecturer und Researcher Dipl. Psych. Andrea Stitzel, Fachhochschule Kärnten
FH-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. techn. Daniela Elisabeth Ströckl BSc, Fachhochschule Kärnten
Assoc.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Jürgen Struger, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Wissenschaftfliche Mitarbeiterin Outi Sulopuisto, MHc, Fachhochschule Kärnten
Assoc.Prof. Mag. Dr. Peter Svetina, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Michaela Szölgyenyi, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Sen. Lecturer Mag.a Dr.in Caroline Weberhofer, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Angelika Wiegele, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Mag. Dr. Helmut Zwander, Naturwissenschaftlicher Verein für Kärnten

Student Competition SUSTAINABLE UNIVERSITY

In the summer semester of 2022, the Sustainability Officer of Carinthia University of Applied Sciences and the Sustainability Department of the ÖH held a student competition on the topic of "Sustainable University" for the first time. The following three ideas won:

 

  • 1st place: Expansion of the beverage offer with regional fruit juices in glass bottles (0.33 liters / 1 liter) at the Feldkirchen campus.
  • 2nd place: Concept with measures against bird mortality at the campuses. Unfortunately, birds often fly into glass panes.
  • 3rd Place: Installation of the ecological search engine Ecosia in all EDP rooms of the students.

 

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In September 2015, all United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

By clicking on the graph, you can find out how Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS) contributes to achieving the goals.

EMAS certification

One strategic project, among others, is the certification of our environmental management system in accordance with EMAS (Eco Management and Audit Scheme), which regulates the handling of direct and indirect environmental aspects at our campuses.

The system is a contribution to the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and contributes significantly to the continuous improvement of environmental performance. CUAS has received the certification in December 2021 and is thus officially registered in the EMAS register.

 

Cooperation agreement with the Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA)

As the first university of applied sciences in Austria, FH Kärnten has been able to conclude a cooperation agreement with the renowned Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA) for 2022. The CCCA is a network agent and mouthpiece for Austrian climate & climate impact research as well as a point of contact for climate change issues. Founded in 2011, the CCCA is the contact point for research, politics, media and the public on all issues related to climate research in Austria.

This new partnership is open to all researchers and teachers at Carinthia University of Applied Sciences who are working on the topic of climate change.

Bündnis Nachhaltige Hochschulen

Global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and resource scarcity call for coordinated efforts in all areas of society and for a change in values as a contribution to sustainable development. Together with twelve other universities of applied sciences, the Carinthian University of Applied Sciences has set itself the goal of working together on the topic of sustainability in a holistic manner, taking into account the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and of bundling activities. The founding act of the "Alliance of Sustainable Universities" was sealed on October 7, 2021 with the signing of a charter at the FH Campus Wien. Elisabeth Steiner (FH Campus Wien) was elected chairwoman of the association, her deputy is Regina Rowland (FH Burgenland).

www.nachhaltige-hochschulen.at

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