Alliance

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (Boku), Center for Global Change and Sustainability

BOKU, the only Austrian university in the area of Natural Resources Management and Life Sciences, with 12.000 students (20% of which are international) has vast experience in networks, focusing on sustainability topics in education and research, like ICA and its subgroups SILVA, IROICA, ISEKI, AGRINATURA and CASEE. In 2001 BOKU was one of the founders of the „EUROLEAGUE“, a network of 7 EU-universities working closely together in the field of education and curricula development in the applied life sciences. In the last 4 years, BOKU developed its first 3 joint degree master programs, 8 double/multiple degree master programs, 3 doctoral schools.

BOKU’s Centre for Global Change and Sustainability (gWN) was established to transfer knowledge of sustainability and to provide valuable information to the public, private companies and decision-makers. gWN is collaborating intensively with private companies, e.g. logistic firms are financing a full time position with the aim to research on and promote sustainable transportation. Together with Vienna University of Economics (WU) the gWN is coordinating the working group on sustainable entrepreneurship at Austria’s Alliance of Sustainable Universities. Besides offering own courses in the educational field of sustainability and entrepreneurship the gWN is serving as “coordination point” for a number of teaching initiatives both at the own university, in Austria and in Europe e.g. Sustainicum project.

For more information please visit www.boku.ac.at

Wiener Stadtwerke Group

The Wiener Stadtwerke Group is a modern infrastructure provider and one of the largest conglomerates, investors and employers in Austria. Its commercial activities can be broken down into the following segments: energy, transport, funerals and cemeteries, and car parks.

The energy segment covers the areas of production, network operation and sales, where the main focus is on ensuring reliable supplies of electricity, gas and district heating. Wiener Stadtwerke also provides a comprehensive range of services in the area of public transport (transport segment: Wiener Linien and Wiener Lokalbahnen), funerals and cemetery administration, as well as car parking facilities. Our 16,000 employees make a decisive contribution to the high quality of life in Vienna by providing services which are recognised well beyond the boundaries of the city. Vienna was recently awarded the status of the city with the highest quality of life worldwide for the fourth time in succession in the renowned Mercer study; in addition to which Vienna was also declared to be the ‘smartest’ city in the world.

For more information please visit www.wienerstadtwerke.at

For more information please visit www.wienerstadtwerke.at.

Free University Bozen

The Free University of Bozen/Bolzano was founded 1997 as a multilingual, internationally-oriented institution. It promotes free exchange of ideas and scientific knowledge, linking itself to the European humanities tradition and laying the foundations for its society by promoting respect for democratic principles. Its international orientation is further emphasised by its commitment to multilingualism and its international academic staff and student body.
The University is determined to ensure that mutual trust and respect are valued above all else in relations between students and academic staff. Taking the region’s historical context into consideration, it aims to provide multilingual, international education and actively promotes contact between the cultures and languages of the area; Italian, German and Latin, as well as encourages intercultural dialogue at every level. It has a strong focus on regional development and sustainability in several faculties.

The Free University of Bozen/Bolzano has currently about 3.000 students, studying in 5 faculties: Education, Computer Science, Economics & Management, Design & Art, Science & Technology. The faculties are well interlinked in common study and research programs.

For more information please visit http://www.unibz.it

Terra Institute GmbH

Terra Institute is an international acting firm and centre of competence for innovation and future viability of companies and society. 2012 Terra Institute was acknowledged as Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development by the United Nations`University UNU – IAS to RCE “Euregio Tyrol”. The head-office is located in Brixen/Bressanone, Italy with six employees.

During the last years local branches and a network of offices were set up in Milano, Graz, Gothenburg, Stockholm, York, Munich and Stuttgart. 22 experts work in the network, holding strong skills and competences in various fields of sustainable business. Terra Institute is specialised on organisational development based on systemic thinking and sustainable strategies. Based on best practices the company has developed a sustainability model, covering all relevant business areas: strategy, human resources, research & development, marketing, sustainability controlling and reporting.

Terra Institute has the experience of dozens of successful guided transformation-processes towards more sustainability in enterprises of each scale and sector. Customers are companies out of the producing sector as well as of the service sector. It is the leading organisational partner of “Think more about” –congress for sustainable economy which takes place since four years, linking international and regional experts of science and economy. Terra Research is engaged in several, also European projects like wwwforEurope – Welfare, Wealth and Work for Europe together with the Free University Bolzano.

For more information please visit www.terra-institute.eu

University of Vechta

The University of Vechta is the most important educational establishment in the Oldenburg Münsterland area. The University, with more than 4,000 students and 12 different study programs, is a young campus university in Lower Saxony. Since becoming independent in 1995, it has developed dynamically. The University of Vechta equates to experiencing science in modern structures and shaping student life in a familiar atmosphere.

Attractive study programs, individual mentoring and worldwide exchange programs create excellent conditions for studying. The University of Vechta consciously focuses on issues for the future that are relevant to society: education, ageing, social and cultural change and rural areas open up prospects for research and teaching. The University is dedicated to the development of innovative teaching and learning settings. The current project “Strengthening the integration and transmission of competence development in teaching and learning at the University of Vechta” generally facilitates competence-based teaching and learning, and in particular promotes service and project learning with companies in the Oldenburg Münsterland area. In different study programs, the University offers courses which deal with (education for) sustainable development. For instance, at Bachelor level students can study a major in “economics and ethics: social business”. The University of Vechta is part of the Regional Centre of Expertise – Oldenburger Münsterland.

For more information please visit www.uni-vechta.de

Masaryk University, Brno

The Masaryk University (MU) as second biggest Czech university has internationally respected research program, state-of-the-art infrastructure and 38 000 research results visible on European scale. The faculty of Social Studies is continuously getting top rating among social sciences faculties. Research activities grant a budget of about 14 million Euros to the Faculty with 160+ academic publications per year. The Department of Environmental Studies, with background in environmental sociology and environmental evaluation, takes as its starting point the historic and cultural causes of the environmental crisis and looks for possible solutions in the areas of social, economic, legal and political studies and their interactions, considering also natural sciences approach.

For more information please visit humenv.fss.muni.cz

Environment Center Kapraluv, Brno

Organization Junák – svaz skautů a skautek ČR, founded in 1907, has in Czech Republic more than 48 000 members and a central office with 21 employees, who may be contacted for support in financial and managerial issues of the project. The organization operates 250+ national and international projects run by more than 2108 groups of young people. Even though the overall aim on the organization focuses on environmental and civic education of youth, the focus of project partner, Junák branch Středistko ekologické výchovy Kaprálův mlýn (SEV KM) has slightly different goals: it is focused on corporate education on innovations in renewable technologies, environmental standards and eco-friendly industry.

For more information please visit www.kapraluvmlyn.cz

University of Gothenburg

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 37 000 students and 6 000 employees make the University a large and inspiring place to work and study, with a continuous flow of new knowledge and ideas.

Strong research and attractive study programs attract scientists and students from around the world. The University of Gothenburg is environmentally certified and works actively for sustainable development. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

Our vision 2020: Quality-driven research, education and cooperation in an inspiring environment, strong social responsibility and global engagement enable the University of Gothenburg to contribute to a better future.

For more information please visit www.gu.se

Ekocentrum Foundation, Gothenburg

Ekocentrum was founded in 1993 as a non-profit foundation with a goal to accelerate the transition to a sustainable society. Ekocentrum does not receive regular operating grants and is independent of shareholders influence. The institution is self-financed by providing education (50%) and by exhibitor display fees (50%).

Ekocentrum have 12 staff located in Gothenburg (Göteborg), Sweden and receive 20,000 visitors a year – 80% attend courses and 20% attend other activities.

For more information please visit www.ekocentrum.se