Responsibilities and Participation

Numerous stakeholders at the University of Greifswald are committed towards making the university sustainable and climate-neutral. These include members of the university administration, representatives of various interest groups and bodies – such as the Academic Senate, the Sustainability Committee, the Pro-Rector for Sustainability, and the Sustainability Officer – as well as student bodies and initiatives. Achieving the goal of becoming a sustainable and climate-neutral university will only be possible if all of these and further stakeholders engage in productive discourse and collaborate actively.

The Academic Senate is the university’s parliament. Alongside the Rectorate, it is the university’s most important governing body. Key milestones in the sustainable development of the University of Greifswald result from decisions taken by the Senate, such as those on becoming CO₂-neutral, the establishment of the Sustainability Committee and the position of Sustainability Officer, as well as the adoption of guidelines.

The Academic Senate’s Sustainability Committee assists with a wide range of processes and activities linked to sustainable development at the university. Among other things, it prepares proposals for resolutions by the Academic Senate. Like all Senate committees, it comprises one professor from each faculty, two members of academic and artistic staff, two students, one additional member of staff, and one member of staff from the administration or a central facility in an advisory role.

Within the Rectorate, a Pro-Rector for Organisation, Resources and Sustainability is responsible for the topics of sustainability and climate protection and, for example, ensures that these are given due consideration in strategic decision-making.

In addition, there are student initiatives that are dedicated to sustainability issues within the student body and the university. These initiatives are active in areas such as environmental and climate protection, ethical consumption, and the promotion of social justice. They organise events, information stands, and campaigns aimed specifically at students.