Sustainable university
Here you shape the future!
We teach sustainability
For us, sustainable development is not a subject that can be studied in isolation from other areas of life and work. This is why Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is an integral part of all our degree programmes.
Impulse Award "Education for Sustainable Development"
Every year, we honour innovative teaching formats that make sustainable development tangible with the "Education for Sustainable Development" impulse award.
In a simulation game, for example, students took on the role of hotel managers and developed ideas on how to reduce emissions, discussed the promotion of green technologies in Africa with development workers from the German Red Cross and developed products that protect older people from heatwaves.
Looking beyond disciplinary boundaries
The specialisation "Sustainability and Transformation" is a central component of the Studium fundamentale.
Here you will discuss the consequences of the climate crisis with fellow students from various disciplines, explore the opportunities and challenges of sustainable management in practice on excursions and take on new perspectives in artistic expression.
For a new understanding of ourselves and the world
With our movement for planetary education, we bring together people who want to bring about a rethink in schools, universities and society.
Because we cannot solve the social, ecological and economic crises on our planet with the same thinking that caused them.
For responsible managers of tomorrow
Our Faculty of Management, Economics and Society has been following the Principles for Responsible Management (PRME) since 2009.
We prepare you to create sustainable value for the economy and society as a future leader. Gain the knowledge, attitude and skills you need to initiate positive change.
Learn more
An interdisciplinary approach to health
The lecture series "Digital Medicine goes Planetary Health" is organised in cooperation with the Health for Future association.
It was honoured with the Humboldtⁿ Award for Sustainability. It is now an integral part of the curriculum for our medical students. It examines the opportunities and problems of digitalisation and its impact on the climate crisis from various perspectives.
Learn more
Fresh from the field - onto your plate!
Together with the Hochschulwerk and the Entwicklungsgesellschaft für ganzheitliche Bildung e. V., we have launched an innovative project for the urban food transition in Witten with the "field trial".
Students can get to know the principles of sustainable agriculture in the field near the campus and critically question their nutritional behaviour in courses.
Learn more
Impulse Award "Education for Sustainable Development"
Every year, we honour innovative teaching formats that make sustainable development tangible with the "Education for Sustainable Development" impulse award.
In a simulation game, for example, students took on the role of hotel managers and developed ideas on how to reduce emissions, discussed the promotion of green technologies in Africa with development workers from the German Red Cross and developed products that protect older people from heatwaves.
Looking beyond disciplinary boundaries
The specialisation "Sustainability and Transformation" is a central component of the Studium fundamentale.
Here you will discuss the consequences of the climate crisis with fellow students from various disciplines, explore the opportunities and challenges of sustainable management in practice on excursions and take on new perspectives in artistic expression.
For a new understanding of ourselves and the world
With our movement for planetary education, we bring together people who want to bring about a rethink in schools, universities and society.
Because we cannot solve the social, ecological and economic crises on our planet with the same thinking that caused them.
For responsible managers of tomorrow
Our Faculty of Management, Economics and Society has been following the Principles for Responsible Management (PRME) since 2009.
We prepare you to create sustainable value for the economy and society as a future leader. Gain the knowledge, attitude and skills you need to initiate positive change.
Learn more
An interdisciplinary approach to health
The lecture series "Digital Medicine goes Planetary Health" is organised in cooperation with the Health for Future association.
It was honoured with the Humboldtⁿ Award for Sustainability. It is now an integral part of the curriculum for our medical students. It examines the opportunities and problems of digitalisation and its impact on the climate crisis from various perspectives.
Learn more
Fresh from the field - onto your plate!
Together with the Hochschulwerk and the Entwicklungsgesellschaft für ganzheitliche Bildung e. V., we have launched an innovative project for the urban food transition in Witten with the "field trial".
Students can get to know the principles of sustainable agriculture in the field near the campus and critically question their nutritional behaviour in courses.
Learn more
If you come to the university by bike, you will find a safe, dry parking space as well as showers and lockers in the bike car park. If you don't have a bike with you, you can hire one from metropolradruhr at a reduced rate.
A discounted Germany ticket, bike leasing offers and e-car hire for employees and students support environmentally friendly mobility.
Students and employees can borrow the university's own cargo bike free of charge at any time to transport materials and purchases in a climate-neutral way.
Do you want to get socially involved? Choose the right initiative for you from over 50 - or set up your own! The student-organised Initiativlabor is there to help you.
An educational field adjacent to the campus provides fresh vegetables for the university cafeteria and offers students, staff and lecturers the opportunity to participate in the value creation of food.
Charging facilities for electric cars are available in the multi-storey car park for people with a longer journey.
Our campus building is one of the most sustainable university buildings in Germany and produces its own electricity from solar panels.
We offer Fairtrade and organic products in our cafeteria and pay attention to sustainable procurement and disposal.
In regular sustainability workshops, seminars and at events, you can network and develop solutions together for the sustainable transformation of our society.
Our dental clinic, which has been recognised as a "green practice", focuses on waste avoidance, biocompatible products and digital X-rays.
Our contribution to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H) is committed to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Our sustainability activities are orientated towards all goals, in particular
- the university contributes to climate protection in its operational activities (Goal 13)
- the degree programmes at UW/H are characterised by excellent teaching, individual support and practical relevance (Goal 4).
- we are particularly committed to the health and well-being of staff and students (Goal 3).
The detailed goals, measures and the degree to which the UW/H's sustainability development goals have been achieved are presented in the sustainability report.
Witten/Herdecke University is the first university in Germany to be successfully certified according to the "ZNU Standard for Sustainable Management" in 2025.
