What is changing at the university?
The University of Jena has taken these steps already
Two people enjoying the fresh air on a bench outdoors.
The University of Jena is the largest educational institution and one of the major employers in Thuringia. With this position, it bears far-reaching responsibility – also when it comes to sustainability. The University of Jena has already taken these measures:
- Since 2014, the university has been supplied with 100% green energy.
- In 2018, the Diversity Office was established. It is committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN.
- The Senate Working Group on Sustainability established in 2020, is dedicated to climate protection and sustainability at the University. In 2021, this committee drafted a sustainability policy paperpdf, 140 kb · de (available in German only) in which the university commits itself to responsible action in all sectors.
- Since 2020, the University of Jena has organised its delivery in a climate-neutral way by offsetting greenhouse gas emissions through climate protection projects de (Website available in German only).
- In 2021, the sustainability website was launched. It aggregates information on sustainable development at the University of Jena.
- Since 2021, free menstrual hygiene products are available in some public bathrooms.
- In 2022, Ecosia was employed as the default search engine in the administrative structures of the university. By using this search engine, more than 14,000 trees have been planted (as of March 2023).
- Each semester, numerous courses related to sustainability are offered in the curriculum.
- Research programmes generate knowledge about the drivers and impacts of climate change and explore future technologies and sustainable practices to tackle the crisis.
- The Studierendenwerk Thüringen is dedicated to the topic of sustainability and nutritionExternal link, for example in the increasing purchase of Fairtrade and organic products for cafeterias and dining halls.
- Students take action in initiatives such as the UmweltreferatExternal link (available in German only) to make everyday life at the university and the city of Jena more sustainable.
- One of the results of the student's commitment is the establishment of the Green Office in 2021. This institution is the central coordination unit for sustainability at the University of Jena. An overview of past and current projects can be found on the website of the Green Office.
- In May 2022, the Zukunftswerkstatt was launched – a participatory process to create a sustainability strategy for the University.
- The University of Jena's sustainability strategy de was adopted in December 2023.
Clearly, there is still lots to do to fulfill the idea of a green university. The Sustainable Campus Guide helps you to contribute to this goal every day.