UW/H is the first university in the Ruhr region to be awarded the Fairtrade title

Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H) is the first university in the Ruhr region to be awarded the title "Fairtrade University" and is thus committed to offering fair trade products on campus. In addition, various campaigns and events on the subject of fair trade are organised as part of educational and public relations work in order to sensitise the university community and urban society to sustainability. The award for universities and colleges is presented by the non-profit organisation Fairtrade Germany.

"The aim is to sensitise students, staff and the public to issues of global justice, including sustainability, and to take a stand as a university. Students, the Executive Board and the Hochschulwerk have joined forces to achieve this goal. The award is a great testament to our commitment, but we don't want to rest on our laurels - we want to use it as an incentive to do even more," says Domenik Treß from the Sustainability Networking Centre at Witten/Herdecke University. An exhibition and lectures on topics such as globally fair supply chains and global health are planned, for example.

Taking social responsibility seriously

On 30 June, the Vice President of UW/H, Dirk Jakobs, accepted the official certificate at Wittener Unikat: "As a university, we assume social responsibility and have therefore initiated a committed sustainability process. This award shows that we are also thinking globally and focussing on social aspects as well as ecological issues."

Dieter Overath, Managing Director of Fairtrade Germany, and Vera Dwors from the Fair Metropole Ruhr network were also on site. Both institutions are committed to global and regional justice. For example, the Fair Metropolis Ruhr has initiated the Charter Fair Metropolis Ruhr 2030. 53 cities, municipalities and four districts are to commit to a sustainable future for the Ruhr region, fair trade and fair public procurement and follow up with concrete action.

"We are delighted that Witten/Herdecke University is supporting this process and is the first university in the Ruhr metropolis to contribute to achieving the goals of the charter," said Vera Dwors. Dieter Overath was also delighted with the award: "The world will only work in the future if we start to understand it as a community," he said at the award ceremony. "The title award is a step in the right direction, which will hopefully be followed by many more."

More information at: https://www.fairtrade-universities.de/aktuelles