Lara Lundsgaard-Hansen, Sara Frey, and Zar Chi Aye from the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) have received the ENLIGHT Teaching and Learning Award for their course “Be fair, contextually aware, and conflict-sensitive: Key competences for sustainability transformations”.

Picture: Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)

"Out and about sustainably in Bern" is a sustainable city guide for students of the University of Bern. The book invites students to consider what they need for a satisfied and good life and contains facts, ideas and tips in the areas of Sustainable Development. The latest English version is now available!

How can scientific knowledge be translated into action for a sustainable world? What educational models are needed to achieve this – and what kind of cooperation between universities, politics, society and business? Around 250 participants discussed these questions in depth at the Bern Universities Sustainability Day on 31 October 2025.

Photo: https://www.nachhaltigkeitstag-bern.ch/ruckblick-2025

On 1 April 2025, around 350 pupils from Gymnasium and FMS Thun took part in a UNESCO project day on the topic of sustainability. In collaboration with the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) at the University of Bern, they explored topics such as climate change, urban development and global justice in workshops and games.

Image: Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)

Since 2017, the University of Bern strives to record its efforts in the area of SD integration. The annual monitoring reports on the integration of sustainable development (SD) in teaching at the University of Bern provide an overview of the extent to which SD is included in the University of Bern's study programmes and courses. The monitoring report for the academic year 2024/25 is now available.

Since January 2024, Students4Sustainability has been bringing a breath of fresh air to student sustainability projects at Bern's universities. The joint hub of the University of Bern, the Bern University of Applied Sciences, the Bern University of Teacher Education and the PH NMS Bern is committed to promoting and supporting student engagement in the field of sustainable development across all universities.

The authors of the Links to SD of sports science and theology in a joint interview: Both disciplines are in transition and can learn from each other in the context of Sustainable Development, Siegfried Nagel and Mathias Wirth agree.

Since 2017, the University of Bern has been committed to documenting its efforts in the area of SD integration. The annual monitoring reports on the integration of sustainable development (SD) into teaching at the University of Bern provide an overview of the extent to which SD is incorporated into the University of Bern's study programmes and courses. The monitoring report for the academic year 2023/24 is now available.

The University of Bern, the Bern University of Applied Sciences, the PHBern and the PH NMS want to jointly strengthen "Education for Sustainable Development": students should be able to understand and tackle complex problems of the present and the future. Lilian Trechsel explains what is already working well and what still needs to be done.

The University of Bern wants to integrate the topic of sustainable development more strongly into its teaching in order to better prepare students for global problems. In this course, you as a teacher will explore the intersections between your discipline and sustainable development. Registration is open until 21 February 2024.

All students at the University of Bern should engage with sustainability in the course of their studies. The University of Bern therefore integrates sustainable development into the teaching of all faculties and disciplines and supports lecturers in designing corresponding courses. uniAKTUELL presents concrete examples in a loose series.

Since 2017, the University of Bern has been committed to documenting its efforts in the area of SD integration. The annual monitoring reports on the integration of sustainable development (SD) into teaching at the University of Bern provide an overview of the extent to which SD is incorporated into the University of Bern's study programmes and courses. The monitoring report for the academic year 2022/23 is now available.

Since 2009, the University of Bern has been pursuing the integration of sustainable development (SD) into research, operations and teaching. In the latter area, it has set itself the goal of integrating SD into all degree programmes. In this peer-reviewed article, Anna Lewis, Lilian Trechsel and Anne Zimmermann show how the monitoring of this integration has been redesigned.

A highlight tile for "NE & Teaching" is now available on the University of Bern's official Instagram channel. It contains the latest stories and information on sustainability in teaching at the University of Bern.

In the spring semester of 2023, the national centre Focus Sustainability will offer interesting workshops for students to expand and improve their expertise in relation to sustainability engagement.

The publication addresses the opportunities and challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as promoting knowledge about participating in sustainable development.

What exactly is sustainability, and how does it relate to my field of study? To find out, take advantage of our online learning programme for all students and lecturers at the University of Bern. The online tool on ILIAS teaches sustainability in a clear and engaging way.

To capitalise on the opportunities and challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, these guidelines focus on the knowledge, attitudes and skills related to co-creation for sustainable development.

Karl Herweg et al. outline a practical and forward-looking approach to education for sustainable development. Drawing on their own many years of teaching experience and combining this with didactic methods, the authors provide tips, tools and examples for transdisciplinary learning and teaching that can be applied by lecturers from all subject areas.