Social and environmental sustainability
Social Impact @ WHU
Conscious awareness of the world around us –
Continued sustainable development of the School.
At WHU, we aspire to be at the forefront of sustainable entrepreneurship and management and to drive positive change in the world. Our vision is to create a community of leaders who are deeply committed to economic, social, and environmental sustainability, and who possess the knowledge, skills, and values needed to create lasting impact. We believe that sustainability should be a core focus of all our activities, from research and teaching to transfer to management practice and beyond. Our goal is to generate new insights, approaches, and solutions that can address the most pressing challenges facing society today.
As a community, we commit ourselves to establish an environment at WHU that allows to reach these goals.
This, of course, implies that we aim to reach net zero emission targets on our premises and for our operations as soon as possible. As a first important step towards carbon neutrality, we have recorded our carbon footprint of 2022 (Scope 1 and 2) in an official Carbon Footprint Repor verified by TÜV NORD CERT. This emissions report was prepared in line with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) Corporate Standard, established by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
WHU Sustainability Management Center
WHU aims to be at the forefront in the area of sustainability, and its research ranks first among business schools in Germany and 11th worldwide in terms of SDG intensity. The WHU Sustainability Management Centers serves as a platform to share the school's sustainability-related insights and activities with the broader WHU network and beyond and to transfer them into practice.
PRME
WHU is a member of the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), an initiative supported by the United Nations, which was founded in 2007 and aims to address the topic of sustainability in teaching on the basis of seven principles. Acting in accordance with the PRME principles focuses on serving society and protecting our planet.
Impressive 1st place result for WHU's sustainability research
In a new study conducted by the Rotterdam School of Management that analyzes how intensely business schools focus on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their research, WHU has ranked #1 in Germany and #11 worldwide. The Financial Times published the results of this analysis as part of a special report on responsible business education, evincing how important contributions made by business schools such as WHU can help realize higher levels of sustainability—not only for the economy, but also for the environment and the whole of society.
Environmental sustainability at WHU
In terms of environmental sustainability, recent infrastructural improvements to the WHU campuses in Vallendar and Düsseldorf enable WHU to meet the highest environmental standards. A sustainability check was carried out to provide the School with valuable insights concerning areas where WHU could make an even larger contribution to the sustainable use of natural resources. Together with the TSB (Transferstelle Bingen) of Bingen University we are looking for ways to create more efficient and environmentally friendly energy in the areas of heating, air circulation, lighting and cooling systems. These efforts are hoped to make our campus greener by reducing the amount of resources used.
WHU offers its employees an array of offers that support environmentally friendly transportation and in turn, increase the attractiveness of the working environment at WHU. Employees can choose between four environmentally friendly mobility options: ‘Jobticket’ for public transport (VRM Job ticket for Campus Vallendar and Rheinbahn Job ticket for Campus Düsseldorf), JobRad (bike and eBike leasing), the use of car-charging devices installed on Campus Vallendar that use 100% green electricity, and e-carsharing with the use of an electric car located on Campus Vallendar.
Since April 2020, WHU has a double charging station for electric cars with 2x11-KW charging power on Campus Vallendar.The charging station is powered with 100% green energy and is there to service the e-cars of the WHU community. The charging station may also be used by the local community meaning also non-WHU members.
WHU began using its first photovoltaic system on the roofs of buildings F, G, and H in 2021. The modules installed provide total power of nearly 58 kWp (kilowatt peak). Most of the energy produced is used by WHU itself. By using this self-generated energy, WHU will be able to reduce its CO2 emission by up to 30,445 kg/year. WHU is planning to install more solar panels on the roofs of more buildings over the next few years.
Study at WHU
All programs at WHU are designed to foster personal growth and prepare our students for a managerial position in the business world. Therefore, an entrepreneurial attitude and responsible leadership are strongly encouraged and supported in the curricula. Ethics, responsibility, and sustainability have been integrated into the curricula and program designs, courses, and other learning formats since the School’s foundation. All WHU programs include semesters or modules abroad, which sharpen intercultural competence and raise awareness about global economic, environmental, and social issues.
Students are challenged on various social impact topics in numerous courses at WHU, such as Creating Social Value , Sustainability in the Food Supply Chain, Sustainable Urban Transport, Sustainable mega sport events: Oxymoron or reality?, Sustainable Entrepreneurship and New Business Development, and Health Economics, Policy and Management.
Future Leaders Fundraising Challenge
The Future Leaders Fundraising Challenge is a one-week leadership course at the outset of WHU’s MBA Program. It is designed to teach leadership through experience, to introduce topics covered in the MBA Program, and instill in students a lasting sense of leaders’ social responsibility beyond their organizations. The students work in teams and face a different challenge every day. The ideas and the funds that the students raise during the week benefit children's rights organizations. Since its inception in April 2016, MBA students have raised around €400,000 for charity.
General Management Plus Program
Boost your General Management skills with the General Management Plus Program: By combining the WHU Management Essentials Program with the Capability Program, which we conduct in cooperation with BOOKBRIDGE, we offer you the opportunity to obtain a WHU Mini MBA certificate with 15 ECTS. At the same time, we empower you to transform yourself and your organization with purpose. You will enhance your general management skills in the areas of finance, leadership, strategy, and entrepreneurship. Facilitated by BOOKBRIDGE, you will establish a real-life and fully independent social enterprise in a deprived community during the Capability Program.
SensAbility - The WHU Impact Summit
THE 13TH WHU IMPACT SUMMIT IN MARCH 2024
Ever since 2010, SensAbility - The WHU Impact Summit has been a unique platform for more than 250 international students, entrepreneurs, young professionals and investors. The diverse and exciting program includes inspirational speeches, hands-on workshops, a panel discussion, the pitch battle, and countless networking opportunities. Over the course of two unforgettable days, attendees from all over the world are inspired towards impactful economic behaviour and corporate social responsibility.
Research focus
At WHU, there are a number of chairs and centers that focus their efforts and resources entirely on exploring subjects such as sustainability, responsibility, and ethics.
Publications
Our knowledge base – Generating thought leadership through research and publications.
WHU is home to an expert faculty whereby professors conduct a diverse range of projects and studies, regularly releasing publications addressing and answering relevant questions on topics such as sustainability and social impact in all areas and sectors of management.
In the media
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World Snowboard Guide, January 27, 2023 | Professor Sascha L. Schmidt (WHU Faculty)
Technology is fundamental to a sustainable ski industry
Stadionwelt.de, January 26, 2023 | Professor Sascha L. Schmidt (WHU Faculty)
Sports Venues 2019/2020
Deal-Magazin, December 16, 2022 | Katrin Mohr (WHU Alumna)
Katrin Mohr wird neue Geschäftsführerin des Digital Hub Cologne
Handelsblatt Online, December 13, 2022 | Thomas Mersch (WHU Alumnus)
Vordenker Gebäude: Umbauen für das Klima
Markenartikel Online, October 21, 2022 | Professor Nadine Kammerlander (WHU Faculty)
Normen für Nachhaltigkeit sind hilfreich
Solarify, October 16, 2022 | Professor Nadine Kammerlander (WHU Faculty)
Standardisierung als Hebel zur Umsetzung von Klimaschutz
PR Contact
Contact our PR team –
Get in touch with our experts on sustainable topics.
Our public relations department is the interface between the business school and the public. For your interviews, we convey experts who will provide you with qualified information concerning various sustainable topics as well as studying at WHU.
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