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I. Hemmer and A.-K. Lindau
of such concepts at higher education institutions (see Sect. 2; Gräsel and Parchmann
2004; Fig. 1).
3.4.2 Work for the Network of Bavarian Higher Education Institutions
In 2012, the KU and the University of Applied Sciences Munich founded “The
Bavarian Network for Sustainability in Higher Education” (http://www.nachhalti
gehochschule.de) which emerged from the national working group “University and
Sustainability” (“Hochschule und Nachhaltigkeit”), an initiative of the UN Decade
“Education for Sustainable Development”. The aim of the network is to expand
and tighten the network of Bavarian universities and higher education institutions
in the field of education for sustainable development. Since its year of foundation,
the network hosts meetings two times a year and welcomes representatives from
university managements, researchers, students from all disciplines and administrative
staff from almost all Bavarian universities. Representatives from ministries, politics,
the industry and civil society are also invited to attend the conferences. These biannual
network meetings are held at different universities in Bavaria and address different
sustainability topics that are relevant in a higher educational context, such as ESD,
digitalization or university teaching methodology.
The network was already successful in reaching some political objectives, for
example the anchoring of the topic of sustainability in the higher education act and
the examination regulations for teaching degree programs. All Bavarian universities
benefit from the project KriNaHoBay (see Sect. 2) that was supported financially by
the Ministry for the Environment. Universities that have already gained experience
in the implementation of sustainability measures assist other universities that have
just started out on their paths towards becoming more sustainable. Since 2018, the
Ministry for the Environment has been subsidizing a project that concentrates on
training university lecturers with a particular focus on teacher training programs
(‘teach the teacher’). The effects of the project are monitored scientifically. Just over
50% of Bavarian universities have concluded a memorandum of understanding in
2019 in which they declared their willingness to increase their focus on sustainability.
The above development clearly shows that German, and in particular also
Bavarian, higher education institutions are making enormous progress when it comes
to sustainable development at universities. Universities have a special responsibility
in connection with transformation processes leading to a more sustainable society.
The example of the KU encourages other universities to persistently follow their path
towards more sustainability.
4 Conclusion
Due to their great social significance as educational institutions, universities play
an important pioneering role in the implementation of sustainability. Drawing on
I. Hemmer and A.-K. Lindau
of such concepts at higher education institutions (see Sect. 2; Gräsel and Parchmann
2004; Fig. 1).
3.4.2 Work for the Network of Bavarian Higher Education Institutions
In 2012, the KU and the University of Applied Sciences Munich founded “The
Bavarian Network for Sustainability in Higher Education” (http://www.nachhalti
gehochschule.de) which emerged from the national working group “University and
Sustainability” (“Hochschule und Nachhaltigkeit”), an initiative of the UN Decade
“Education for Sustainable Development”. The aim of the network is to expand
and tighten the network of Bavarian universities and higher education institutions
in the field of education for sustainable development. Since its year of foundation,
the network hosts meetings two times a year and welcomes representatives from
university managements, researchers, students from all disciplines and administrative
staff from almost all Bavarian universities. Representatives from ministries, politics,
the industry and civil society are also invited to attend the conferences. These biannual
network meetings are held at different universities in Bavaria and address different
sustainability topics that are relevant in a higher educational context, such as ESD,
digitalization or university teaching methodology.
The network was already successful in reaching some political objectives, for
example the anchoring of the topic of sustainability in the higher education act and
the examination regulations for teaching degree programs. All Bavarian universities
benefit from the project KriNaHoBay (see Sect. 2) that was supported financially by
the Ministry for the Environment. Universities that have already gained experience
in the implementation of sustainability measures assist other universities that have
just started out on their paths towards becoming more sustainable. Since 2018, the
Ministry for the Environment has been subsidizing a project that concentrates on
training university lecturers with a particular focus on teacher training programs
(‘teach the teacher’). The effects of the project are monitored scientifically. Just over
50% of Bavarian universities have concluded a memorandum of understanding in
2019 in which they declared their willingness to increase their focus on sustainability.
The above development clearly shows that German, and in particular also
Bavarian, higher education institutions are making enormous progress when it comes
to sustainable development at universities. Universities have a special responsibility
in connection with transformation processes leading to a more sustainable society.
The example of the KU encourages other universities to persistently follow their path
towards more sustainability.
4 Conclusion
Due to their great social significance as educational institutions, universities play
an important pioneering role in the implementation of sustainability. Drawing on