The University of Stuttgart takes responsibility for sustainable development
„Being actively committed to sustainable development“ - this is the seventh strategic goal of the University of Stuttgart. It describes a common path that the university will follow with its members to make important contributions to the future sustainability of our environment and our society.
Here at the University of Stuttgart, sustainability is addressed at all levels, from research and teaching to our own business operations and our structures. As a university, it is our aspiration to become climate-neutral.
Prof. Wolfram Ressel, Rector of the University of Stuttgart
Shaping sustainability together
Together we make an impact. With the first strategy dialog on the topic of sustainability, a strategy process was initiated to strengthen the sustainable development of our university in terms of visibility, networking, and impact. The Green Office will strengthen the network of all sustainability players, and invites all university members to work with Sustainability, Mobility, and Energy Management to put ideas for greater sustainability into practice. As it is very student-oriented, the Green Office is characterized by a special liveliness and dynamism. Here, students have the opportunity to get actively involved in projects and drive them forward.
Each and everyone can contribute something:
[Photos: o.A., o.A., Christina König, University of Stuttgart, Institute for Photovoltaics]
A selection of other activities and institutions relating to sustainable development
At the institute level, faculty-wide, and in interdisciplinary networks, research is being conducted on topics of sustainability that enrich the sustainable development of the University of Stuttgart: topics such as sustainable construction, sustainable mobility, environmental protection, efficient energy systems, and climate impact research.
A selection of large ongoing research projekts and joint research:
- ARENA 2036
- ERC Synergy Grant Urbisphere
- Cluster of Excellence Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture (IntCDC)
- Center for Transportation Research (FOVUS)
- Collaborative Research Centre 1244 Adaptive skins and structures for the built environment of tomorrow
- Stuttgart Research Center for Architecture (ArchIDA)
- Stuttgart Research Focus Interchange Forum for Reflecting on Intelligent Systems (IRIS)
- Stuttgart Research Initiative CHEMAmpere
- Stuttgart Research Initiative on Integrated Systems Analysis for Energy (STRise) [de]
- Stuttgart Research Initiative Valorisation of Bioresources
- Wind Energy Research Cluster WindForS
The university offers a wide range of sustainability-related study programs. This includes a total of 15 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs from the fields of architecture, energy technology and energy supply, transport and mobility, and environmental engineering.
- The Campus Bees Working Group is a service offered by stuvus (Student Council of the University of Stuttgart) to learn beekeeping and manage bee colonies on the campus in Stuttgart-Vaihingen.
- The Green Canteen Working Group is concerned with sustainability in the Studierendenwerk and with raising student awareness of sustainable nutrition.
- The Campus for Future is committed to more climate protection at the University of Stuttgart and on campus.
- Crossing Borders Stuttgart e.V. is an association involved in various educational projects with schoolchildren to disseminate knowledge about renewable energies. It originated from the “Renewable Energies” study program at the University of Stuttgart.
- frei[raum] Co-Working and Makerspace is a co-working and makerspace on the Vaihingen Campus that provides rooms and support for start-up projects of the University of Stuttgart.
- The Green University Group promotes green issues within the framework of higher education policies.
- Infinity Stuttgart supports its members in finding solutions to the most pressing ecological issues at the local level, for example by means of presentations, workshops, panel discussions, project days, and projects.
- MitMachGarten is a student-run garden on the Vaihingen Campus.
- Sustainability in the Student Council - The Student Council (stuvus) wants to become more sustainable in its own actions. For this purpose, a sustainability guideline was created, as well as a web page that presents the topic of sustainability from the perspective of stuvus.
- Sustainability Weeks @ Higher Education Institutions in Baden-Wuerttemberg is an event series that is organized by students of various disciplines and from different higher education institutions and offers a varied, interdisciplinary program.
- reason[Ing.] is a university group that organizes events related to issues at the intersection of ethics and technology.
- The stuvus Sustainability Office has the goal and mission to raise awareness of sustainability at the university and within the student body.
The Campus Vaihingen is an agile testing ground for initiatives and innovations that are tested under real conditions and carried into the world. In addition, it features institutions and infrastructure that contribute to sustainable development.
The university’s sustainability governance is characterized by a culture of participation, advisory committees, and systematic management:
- Sustainability Officer Prof. Dr. Manfred Bischoff, Vice Rector for Research and Early Career Researchers
- Green Office
- Mobility and Sustainability Management
- Energy Manager
- Occupational safety and environmental protection
- Equal opportunities and diversity
- Energy and Climate Protection Working Group: Under the leadership of Rector Wolfram Ressel, this working group is developing an energy and climate protection concept for the university.
- Sustainability Roundtable: The Sustainability Roundtable advises the Rectorate on sustainability-related issues.
Contact persons: Prof. Dr. Manfred Bischoff, Vice Rector for Research and Early Career Researchers and Sustainability Officer and Dr. Charlotte Toulouse, Scientific Assistant to the Rector
Events and news
- Dialog series on the livable space of tomorrow
Building a climate positive future together - Sustainability in all areas
The University of Stuttgart launches the research initiative “Valorization of Bioresources” - Housing as a force for integration
Publication presentation within the series “Publish!”
Sustainability success stories
[Photos: Future City Lab, ICD/ITKE University of Stuttgart, o.A.]
Kontakt

Felix Hebeler
Dr.Head of Green Office und Sustainability Manager

Brigitte Lorenz
Dr.Sustainability manager

Harald Hentze
Energy Manager