From March 30 – April 3, 2020, Freie Universität Berlin will host the fifth Spring Campus Conference of the University Alliance for Sustainability.

Program focus and objectives
In 2019, social movements raised the awareness of climate change and sustainability in public and scientific discourse, urging political leaders, business executives, and public institutions to “act now, not later”. This discourse has also reached Higher Education Institutions around the world. While sustainability has been increasingly rooted in research, teaching, and on the university campus, the current development has brought a new political and social dimension to campus:
-How do universities as public institutions respond to calls for action from their community and stakeholders?
-How do universities shape their governance structures in light of new participatory demands?
-How does the current discourse impact the societal and political role of universities?

The Spring Campus Conference will address those commitment questions in key notes as well as in expert workshops focusing on the core pillars of Higher Education Institutions: research, teaching, campus & management, and transfer & outreach activities. During the conference, we will discuss the following topics:
-Sustainable Finance
-Education for Sustainable Development
-Renewable Energy Innovations and Acceptance
-Digitalization & Sustainability

We will present innovative sustainability research and teaching formats from various disciplines, facilitate inter- and transdisciplinary exchange, and foster dialogue with representatives from politics and business. This way, the Alliance hopes to contribute to spreading innovative ideas, interesting research, and sustainable campus solutions across the globe.