German Academia heading for sustainability? Reflections on policy and practice in teaching, research and institutional innovations

Abstract

This article discusses how far (and by what practical means) the growing global trend for universities to commit to sustainable development has spread across German academia. Following this introduction, part 2 will outline the political framework of the sustainability discourse in German higher education. Part 3 will emphasise the integration of sustainability principles into universities’ operational practices and institutional missions through teaching and research. Part 4 discusses Eco‐Audits for universities as a promising step towards sustainability. That the commitment to becoming a sustainable institution is not without its challenges is described in the final section, part 5, by a case study of the University of Lüneburg.