Minister: Kassel Sustainability Institute exemplary

Here the press release of the HMWK from 23. 3. 2023.

From the perspective of the Hessian Ministry of Science, outstanding research initiatives such as the new Kassel Institute for Sustainability demonstrate the importance of the Hessian University Strategy. "With this institute, the University of Kassel wants to contribute to addressing some of the most important challenges facing our world," explained Science Minister Angela Dorn in a special state parliament hour requested by the Alliance 90/The Greens parliamentary group. "The impulse to found the institute, which deals with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, came solely from the university - that is university autonomy in action. We are strengthening it with our Hessian Higher Education Strategy according to the guidelines of reliability, equal opportunities and courage: we are giving universities reliability so that they can develop courageous profiles and create equal opportunities."

Sustainability in focus at the University of Kassel

"One of the strengths of our universities lies in their diversity, complementarity with each other and cooperation with each other," Minister Dorn explained. "To sharpen these profiles, we set up a strategy process with the universities in which they analyzed their strengths and weaknesses. The University of Kassel focuses on sustainability as an overarching theme running through all departments. The evaluation by an independent commission of experts confirmed that the topic of sustainability can play a central role in developing a unique selling point for the University of Kassel. The new institute is the next, logical step." Up to 17 professors - one for each UN Sustainable Development Goal - will be appointed to the Institute for Sustainability by 2025. They will research the sustainable transformation of society, the environment, the economy, culture and education in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary alliances. A transfer laboratory will develop concrete solutions for the North Hesse region.

Foundations laid for bold projects

"With the Hessian Higher Education Strategy, we have laid the foundations for such bold projects to succeed," said Minister Dorn. "We have improved the basic funding of universities with the reliable increase in the base budget and are at the forefront of this nationwide. And with the 300 Professorships Program and the LOEWE research funding program, we have created the opportunities to fill the new profiles of the universities with life - as in the case of the Kassel Institute for Sustainability. It will further strengthen the region of North Hesse, where more than 20,000 people already work in the field of sustainable business and research, and train the urgently needed next generation. Kassel exemplifies how new opportunities arise in necessary change."