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Hof University – University of Applied Sciences

PLACE OF LEARNING I PLACE OF RESEARCH I PLACE OF TRANSFER

Sustainability at Hof University: the campus as a living space

The sustainable transformation of all areas of life is one of the central social challenges of our time.  As a co-designer and initiator of sustainable development, the focus of sustainability at Hof University is the campus as a living space - learning and teaching, researching, transferring and working. At the heart of sustainability at Hof University are the members of the university - students, teachers, researchers and all employees. Sustainability lives through the responsibility of each individual. Each and every individual is invited to submit suggestions for sustainable development at, with and through Hof University and called upon to actively participate in its implementation. Through the integrative and participative approach, sustainability should not only be understood as an abstract concept, but should be lived in the concrete actions and thinking of all university members.

Sustainability message by President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann

Green Tech in focus

- ecological. social. economic.

With the Green Tech philosophy of Hof University, which is based on the balance between environmental relevance, social compatibility and economic efficiency, living, learning and research at Hof University of Applied Sciences focuses on the goal of a climate-neutral and environmentally friendly, socially just as well as economically future-oriented environment.

At Hof University, these ideas of sustainability are achieved through a close integration of theory, research and practice, taking into account the needs of university members and resource-conserving as well as responsible actions now and in the future.

The responsible actions of all university members will be strengthened through the transfer of knowledge and competencies for sustainable development. Sustainability will be an elementary component of onboarding, continuing education and training for all teachers, researchers and employees. A university-wide module will be developed for students in each of the Bachelor's and Master's programs. Students can take this on a voluntary basis and earn the sustainability certificate.

Together for a sustainable university (from left): Prof. Dr. Manuela Wimmer, University President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c.. Jürgen Lehmann, the new sustainability manager Anja Grabmeier and Christina Fischer, Personal Assistant to the president.
Together for a sustainable university (from left): Prof. Dr. Manuela Wimmer, University President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c.. Jürgen Lehmann, the new sustainability manager Anja Grabmeier and Christina Fischer, Personal Assistant to the president.

Sustainability manager

Anja Grabmeier

How should one imagine the work of a sustainability manager?

"In a nutshell, my work as a sustainability manager at Hof University involves developing and implementing strategies, goals and measures to promote sustainability - environmentally, socially and economically."    

Read the full interview with our sustainability manager 

Sustainability at Hof University

  • 2024: development of a university-specific sustainability strategy based on the guiding principle Green Tech University and the sustainability understanding of Hof University
  • from 2025: establishment of a greenhouse gas balance on an annual basis (first year: 2024) with development of a reduction path 
  • 2025: implementation of a sustainability reporting
  • as of now: continuous implementation of activties to promote sustainability and raise awarness within the university community

... insights into #34 webtalk with Anja Grabmeier Sustainability at Hof University (german language)

Sustainable campus and sustainable operation

  • ISO 14001 certified environmental management system
  • project "Energy independence of Hof University"
  • green roofs and photovoltaic systems
  • mobility: e-charging stations for cars, bicycle leasing for employees, e-scooter rental Hof parking space in the immediate neighbourhood of the campus at the digital start-up centre Einstein1
  •  protecting biodiversity through site-appropriate planting, flowering meadows, cherry and apple trees and a university pond based on a wetland biotope 
  • university bees  and blossom honey from the Campus Hof - a project of the heart
  •  newly designed seating areas for group work, individual study and relaxation
  • Fairtrade University
  • Foodsharing: Fairteiler to share food and participation in the harvest campaign "Gelbes Band"
  • Bookcrossing: book exchange station organised by the university library
  • Kitchen Bazaar organised by the International Office: at the beginning of each semester, international students have the opportunity to get second-hand dishes and kitchen equipment
  • Pen-Monster: recycling of pens

Diversity, equality and integration

  • Women's representatives
  • Equal Rights representative
  • Gender Equality Plan (under revision, currently available only in German language)
  • workshop series "Career strategies for women"
  • Cosmopolitan University of Applied Science against xenophobia
  • intercultural awareness training for employees with a focus on India

Healthy university, healthy employees - university health management

  • active break digitally and on site (weekly)
  • Health Day
  • workshops and sessions on physical and mental health
  • "Health-conscious eating at work and in the Home Office" seminar
  • coaching programmes at the workplace

The project "UNI4MIND" focuses on the health of students.  UNI4MIND is a prevention project funded by AOK Bayern in collaboration with Mental Health Crowd to promote the mental health of students at universities.

Commmunity

  • team-building events for employees such as participation at the Frankenpost company rund and university-wide christmas or summer party for employees
  • introducation days for students and onboarding for employees 
  • yearly company excursion, such as a city trip to Leipzig (2023) and hiking in the Frankenwald (2024)
  • Student clubs: Environmental Protection Group and many more
  • Campus sports: team sports, fitness courses, sports facilities
  • animal-friendly campus: our community also includes two cats, frogs, fishes and a deer
  • Frauen.Stärken.Hof: network initiated by Hof University, City of Hof and the "Bundesagentur für Arbeit" to connect women of all professions and ages

Hof University of Applied Sciences is a place of learning for all university members. Hof University offers practice-orientated, interdisciplinary and skills-based teaching in full-time, part-time and a dual model, as well as certificate courses. Furthermore education and training programmes for employees are offered.

Studying with a focus on sustainability

Additional Offers

The institutes' research focuses on Green Tech:

Two further institutes are specialised in cross-sectional disciplines, and at a closer look their contribution to sustainable development reveals:

The Institute for Information Systems (iisys)  is a competence centre for the development and application of information systems. In this context, it also addresses topics such as compliance and social, legal, ethical and sustainable aspects of information systems.

The Institute for Economic and Organizational Research (iwo) researches on future issues related to processes, regulations and social interaction.

Individual research groups are dedicated to sustainability, such as the research group Law in Sustainability, Compliance and IT at iisys and the research group Sustainability and Project Management in Water Management at inwa. 

 

In order to strengthen the Green Tech guiding principle and promote sustainability on campus, the campus itself is being transformed into a research object in cooperation with the research institutes.

Swimming Islands for crop production from the field of hydroponics have already been realised.

As part of projects related to sponge cities and regions as well as due to increasing extreme weather conditions, the inwa is developing a concept for a sponge campus. Existing elements are the Green Roofs, a rainwater retention basis and the University pond, which also functions as a rainwater retention and collection basin. The flowerin meadows serve as natural infiltration/eveaporation areas and support biodiversity.

The innovative Centre for Water and Energy, which is currently under construction, will be a research object on the way to energy independence at Hof University through future-oriented building technology.

In addition to application-orientated research, the focus is on close cooperation with companies and local authorities as well as knowledge and technology transfer to companies, local authorities and society. 

Competence Centres

Networks, certificate programmes and educational courses

  • S³Rem innovation network: aim is to develop innovative, intelligent, efficient and sustainable solutions to reduce the input of anthropogenic substances into the environment
  • Further qualification network for energy, cooling and local heating EnerNet: Establishment of a platform with three separate networks that offer specific further qualification programmes on the topics of energy, cooling and local heating
  • Completed projects: Further training Digital Recruiting hoch-N to attract and retain employees; certificate course "The path to the sponge city - urban development in times of climate change"; ADerN - connecting Bavarian companies and operators in the field of local heating technology and trainings for participants of the network

Symposia and conferences

Research Podcast 

Get to know the people behind the research topics in the official podcast of the Research University Hof: Head of Research Marketing Anne-Christine Habbel talks to guests about their day-to-day work and research, all in plain language. At the moment only available in German. Go to the research podcast.

Night of Science (Nacht der Wissenschaft)

The Night of Science takes place regularly at Hof University. It offers a varied programme of research, teaching, music and culinary delights. Visitors can not only get to know the facilities, but also try out many future trends for themselves and gain insights into current research topics. Impressions of the Night of Science 2023 can be found here.

Children's University Researchers' Day (Kinderuni Forschertag)

Children are welcome to attend at the annual Children's University Researchers' Day and gain tailored insights into research. Last year, two topics related to sustainability were on the agenda: "We let it rip! Sustainable packaged popcorn" and "Superheroes on mission! We're making the world a little bit better".

Representatives of all status groups and fields of action are already actively involved in sustainability management:

In addition, everyone is invited to submit ideas, suggestions and wishes for sustainable development at, with and through Hof University of Applied Sciences at nachhaltigkeit(at)hof-university.de.

We are delighted to be part of the Future Forum for Climate-Friendly Universities!

The "Future Forum Climate-Friendly Universities" is an interdisciplinary project dedicated to promoting climate protection and sustainability at universities. It is organised in cooperation with netzwerk n e.V., HNE Eberswalde and the University of Vechta and is funded by the BMWK. The project aims to support 15 universities across Germany - Hof University of Applied Sciences is one of them - on their way to develop and implement a climate protection concept in line with the whole institution approach.

We started the project with a successful Kick-off on Tuesday, 19 March 2024.

Contact

Anja Grabmeier
Anja Grabmeier +49 9281 409 - 5108

Sustainability manager

Prof. Dr. Manuela Wimmer
Prof. Dr. Manuela Wimmer
Christina Fischer
Christina Fischer +49 9281 409 - 3031