PH Vienna receives environmental signs: model for sustainable education in Austria!

PH Vienna receives environmental signs: model for sustainable education in Austria!

Pädagogische Hochschule Wien, 1010 Wien, Österreich - The Pedagogical University of Vienna (PH Vienna) recently awarded the Austrian environmental sign. This award, which is awarded by the Federal Ministry of Education (BMB) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK), underlines the commitment of the University of Ecological, Social and Economic Sustainability.

With around 3000 students and over 500 teachers and employees, the PH Vienna is the largest pedagogical university in Austria. Certification is the result of an intensive process that focuses on resource conservation, awareness formation and sustainable transformation of everyday university life. Rector Barbara Herzog-Punzenberger emphasizes that the environmental label confirms the efforts of the university to structurally anchor and further expand sustainability.

comprehensive sustainability strategy

The university has developed an extensive sustainability strategy that goes beyond the requirements of the environmental sign. This strategy includes six central fields of action: teaching, environmental management, mobility, energy efficiency, sustainable interior design and nutrition. The PH Vienna is based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) of the United Nations as well as the principles of social justice, ecological responsibility and participatory participation.

The new Café Ménage

A highlight of the sustainability strategy is the new Café Ménage, which will open on October 1, 2024. It offers biologically certified coffee as well as vegetarian and vegan dishes. The café is operated by Gabarage, a socially economic company that is intended to serve as a social learning and lounge. With these initiatives, the PH Vienna positions itself not only as an educational institution, but also as a model for other educational institutions in Austria.

The UZ 302 guideline, which applies to the area of ​​adult and extracurricular education, supports similar efforts. This guideline promotes quality in education and is recognized as a quality management system from Ö-Cert. Education for sustainable development and environmental management is also conveyed to educational institutions that only sporadically deal with environmental or sustainability issues. For the granting of the environmental sign, certain criteria and basic requirements must be met in order to enable a switch to sustainable practices.

The implementation of these initiatives is promoted by close cooperation with consultants and educational institutions. This is also evident in access to the software for educational institutions that provide specific functions to support certification. Thanks to this comprehensive strategy and close cooperation with various actors, PH Vienna will continue to act as a supporting pillar for environmentally conscious educational institutions in Austria.

For more information about the environmental sign, the guidelines and the issued certificates, please visit the websites of environmentaltzeichen.at and Education.