University of Kassel to establish center for sustainable development

The center is to pool research and teaching expertise across the entire thematic breadth of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The committee thus followed a proposal made by University President Prof. Dr. Reiner Finkeldey in the fall of 2019, which has since been widely discussed within the university.

"The establishment of this center is part of a comprehensive strategy process of the university, which ties in in the very best way to Kassel's strengths in sustainability research as well as the competence fields of nature, technology, culture and society. With this decision, the university has agreed on the framework. Now we look forward to concretizing and implementing the plans," says Prof. Finkeldey.

The Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (UN) comprise 17 objectives to ensure sustainable development worldwide on an ecological, social and economic level. At the University of Kassel, more than 120 departments are already involved with sustainability issues in various ways. 

For the new foundation of the center, up to 17 new professorships are to be established, which, in addition to internationally visible research, will in particular also comprehensively strengthen sustainability-related teaching. This will not only create new courses of study in German and English for young people interested in sustainable development issues, but also relieve the burden on existing courses of study and further improve their quality.

Initially, a founding committee will prepare the advertisements for the new professorships in cooperation with the departments. The professorships will belong to both a department and the new center. Existing competence centers can also cooperate with the new institution.

Background

University President Prof. Dr. Reiner Finkeldey explained his thoughts in the recently released podcast"Science Managers For Future - Conversations for a Sustainable University System".

Press contact

Beate Hentschel
Head of Communications, Press and Public Relations Department

Phone: +49 561 804-1961
E-mail: presse@uni-kassel.de