Our research blog gives you valuable insights into our diverse projects and fields of research.
to the Research BlogA sense of responsibility and expertise
Sustainable development is firmly anchored in Furtwangen University's mission statement and institutionally.
The goal of sustainability is to maintain skills related to social, economic and ecological development (SEED).
Graduates of our university will work responsibly in companies and organisations whose quality innovations open up the markets of tomorrow. Topics such as health, mobility, Industry 4.0 and energy of the future require skills which are innovative, always following current trends.
Four fields of action
Our activities in the area of sustainability encompass four different fields of action: Teaching, Research, Transfer and Operations. HFU prepares its students for this in the areas of study, research and the introduction of innovation. Students become active in project teams, at international partner universities, in companies or research institutions during their studies and completely independently of their faculty. At HFU, they develop the skills with which they can play a decisive role in shaping technological, economic and social opportunities for a good future. This is where we see our responsibility as a public educational institution.
Campus in Action
![[Translate to English:] Nachhaltigkeit an der Hochschule (I17391)](https://www.hs-furtwangen.de/fileadmin/_processed_/7/d/csm_Logo_campus_in_Action_6f30f7c8ad.jpg){kind=logo}
Our sustainability slogan “Campus in Action − from knowledge to action” picks up on our educational claim.
Sustainability according to “Campus in Action” is tackled in a networked way at HFU. We have active partnerships with the companies in our area, research institutions and start-up organisations, and our international partner universities. Examples include the External link opens in a new window:wvib Schwarzwald AG companies in our innovation region, the External link opens in a new window:Smart Green Accelerator in the field of digital science, as well as External link opens in a new window:DMU University and External link opens in a new window:LUT University.
...at future afternoons and workshops
Prof. Dr. Achim Karduck and Professor Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker
Since 2019, we have been organising future afternoons and supplementary workshops at HFU with Professor Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker. These cover future areas and innovations of long-term value for our students.
The presentations, interviews and debates are recorded in the media so that they can be used specifically in teaching and research.
External link opens in a new window:Future Afternoons at HFU with Prof. Dr. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker (YouTube)
...at the “Lust for the future - energy for future opportunities” afternoon
Lust for the future - energy for future opportunities
Our education, innovation and economic region of Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg is a pioneer on the global markets in key areas of the future and is economically powerful. The so-called Schwarzwald AG (WVIB) includes world market leaders in the fields of health, energy, Industry 4.0 and mobility of the future.
The most recent Future Afternoon made it clear what can be tackled in a forward-looking way. With a view to the global markets of the future for our economy and industry, the quality innovations presented offer enormous opportunities. They provide an example of how the transition from innovations to products and infrastructures in a wide range of areas of application can be successful and attractive.
“Furtwangen University - The Black Forest University” and Schwarzwald AG
Furtwangen University - The Black Forest University and Schwarzwald AG work together like clockwork in the field of education and innovation. In this spirit, prestigious future afternoons have been taking place at Furtwangen University for several years, i.e. with a “Lust for the future”.
“Education, innovation, economic efficiency, humanity, ethics, and all this in a global context” was the introduction by Prof. Dr. Achim Karduck, Professor of Computer Science and Senate Advisor for Sustainability, to the latest Future Afternoon on the topic of “Lust for the future - energy for future opportunities”. This was followed by two presentations by renowned journalist Dr. Franz Alt and Prof. Dr. Christoph Wittwer, Director of System Integration at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar and Hydrogen in Freiburg.
Franz Alt summed up the prerequisites for a good future for everyone with this core message − “Without the availability of energy, there can be no economic development”. He pointed out the variety of impressive global projects. Christoph Wittwer supplemented this with the wealth of innovations and our industrial capacity in the field of solar and hydrogen technologies. His focus was on the infrastructures that can be implemented quickly and economically, and their international scalability. His conclusion − “We are working on important technologies that will help us to drive the transformation forward”.
Tackling the future in a powerful way
In the concluding debate between the speakers and Regina Storz-Irion from the HFU Innovation and Research Center, it became clear which (bureaucratic) hurdles currently stand in the way of progress and what should be tackled in a forward-looking manner.
Further information:
...as a pioneer with the EU quality seal
Our Senate Advisor for Sustainability
I'm happy to provide information on the topic of the future - sustainability!
International Semester representative on University Board of Executives
Senate Advisor for Sustainability at HFU