FAIR TO SOCIETY & ENVIRONMENT
SUSTAINABILITY IS MORE THAN JUST CLIMATE PROTECTION
Offsetting CO2 emissions? Of course! But that's not enough for us. As an institution of higher education, sustainability matters to us: Accessible education for everyone, regardless of their background, enables us to live more sustainably – and together, protect our planet. The pursuit of a healthy and intact environment and society is the benchmark for our behaviour, teaching, and research.
OUR INSTITUTION:
SUSTAINABILITY AT THE CORE
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Environmental Protection
Our goal is to act sustainably and protect the environment. We also aim to inspire our faculty and students to join us in preserving our planet and working towards a better tomorrow.
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Social Responsibility
We strive to contribute to a fair global development by providing flexible access to education for people around the world.
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Sustainable Education
From teaching to research, sustainable education is important to us at all levels. In doing so, we actively shape a future-oriented and just society – both locally and globally.
SUSTAINABLE
THROUGH EDUCATION
Developing countries lack the know-how and financial resources. As the initiator and academic partner of the Study Access Alliance Africa, we provide people with the opportunity for higher education: With 100,000 scholarships for online degrees. This is an important first step towards diversity and equality, but it is only the beginning. As an institution committed to sustainability, our goal is even greater.
FIRST MOVER, NOT ONLY
IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR!
As the first certified climate-neutral online institution of higher education nationwide, we have been teaching and working in a climate-neutral manner since 2020. This is confirmed by TÜV Süd according to the international specification PAS 2060.
With our predominantly digital educational offerings, we significantly reduce CO2 emissions compared to traditional educational institutions.
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY
By supporting innovative climate protection projects through our partner "ClimatePartner," we contribute to mitigating climate change while improving the quality of life in various communities. Our projects are in line with the United Nations' goals, particularly Goal No. 3: Good Health and Well-being.
Sustainable Cooking in Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda
Amid the majestic Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda, we support an innovative climate protection project. The growing population around the park requires more firewood, which threatens the unique ecosystem. To mitigate this, we promote efficient cooking stoves made of local clay and sand, known as the Canarumwe model. These improved stoves, produced by a local cooperative, reduce wood consumption by two-thirds compared to traditional three-stone fires. They also improve the health of families by minimizing smoke exposure. An important contribution to nature conservation and promoting quality of life!
6,300 t CO2e compensated to cover our CCF for 2022; certification standard: Gold Standard
Clean Water for Sierra Leone – Climate Protection in Action
In rural communities in Sierra Leone, many people face the challenge of accessing clean drinking water. This climate protection project focuses on rehabilitating 57 wells in the Kono region. This not only reduces the need for boiling water, thus saving CO2 emissions, but also ensures regional access to clean drinking water. Women and girls, who are often responsible for water collection, benefit particularly from this initiative. A win-win situation for health, the environment, and the climate!
6,300 t CO2e compensated to cover our CCF for 2022; certification standard: Gold Standard
Working Together for Clean Water and Climate Protection in Africa
In various regions of Africa, we support projects that aim to provide clean and safe drinking water. In some cases, we even create new wells to give people access to clean water. This not only reduces CO2 emissions that would be generated by boiling water on open fires or using inefficient cook stoves but also improves living conditions on-site. Health risks due to contaminated water are minimized, and at the same time, we protect local forests. A forward-thinking initiative for health and the environment!
1,800 t CO2e compensated to cover our CCF for 2022; certification standard: Gold Standard
Cambodia – Clean Water through Natural Filtration
This project provides clean drinking water to 1.7 million people in Cambodia through ceramic water filtration systems. This traditional method uses fired clay to filter water, with a filtering efficiency of up to 99.99%, removing contaminants. Besides improving the quality of life, this initiative reduces the demand for fuel, as the need for boiling water with wood or charcoal becomes unnecessary.
1,800 t CO2e compensated to cover our CCF for 2022; certification standard: Gold Standard
Efficient Cooking Stoves for Sustainable Development in Uganda
Uganda faces the challenge of supporting over 90% of households that use wood or charcoal for cooking. Our response is improved cooking stoves that not only drastically reduce fuel consumption but also improve the health of the population and reduce deforestation. A project that goes beyond environmental protection and significantly enhances people's quality of life!
1,800 tons of CO2e have been offset to cover our carbon footprint for 2022. The certification standard is Gold Standard.
PUZZLE PIECE:
REBUILDING
DIGITAL FIRST.
Not an end in itself, but an important tool for conserving and rebuilding our environment. Our students can actively contribute to sustainable development: For every fifth saved printout of study materials, we plant a tree!
PLANTED TREES
SAVED PRINTOUTS
NEXT GENERATION
The IU Alumni Award in the category "Sustainability" was presented to Lars Holger Engelhard in 2022 to honour his outstanding achievements and significant contributions to the sustainable development of the shipping industry. As an alumnus of our university, Lars, through his company Unleash Future Boats GmbH, has developed innovative solutions to significantly reduce emissions in the shipping industry. The award not only recognizes his technological breakthrough but also his commitment to positively transform the shipping industry and make a substantial contribution to climate protection.
Lars deeply impressed the jury of the IU Alumni Award with his vision to reduce the share of CO2 emissions from European shipping from 3.7% to 0.0%. He and his team have developed emission-free, autonomous ships with electric propulsion and fuel cells, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional, environmentally harmful vessels. Lars' company, Unleash Future Boats GmbH, has already received several prestigious awards for its groundbreaking solutions, underlining his relevance and the positive impact of his work.
The IU Alumni Award acknowledges Lars' exceptional merits and serves as an inspiration for the next generation of alumni to also contribute to a sustainable future.
Discover the full success story here.
Find more alumni winners in the categories of Professional Success, Entrepreneurship, Digital Education Development, and Special Mention here:
B Corp
Certification
We made it!
IU Group (IUG) is a certified B Corporation following the successful completion of an audit process by the independent non-profit organization B Lab, signifying that IUG meets high standards in terms of social and environmental impact.
EVENT TIP
Our conferences are the ideal place where experts from research and practice come together. For example, in November 2023, the "Symposium Sustainable Media & Brand Management - Sustainable Media Strategies for Value-based Brand Leadership" took place at IU International University of Applied Sciences. Based on a research project, it was a resounding success: Over 100 scientists, media, and branding professionals gathered in Hamburg on November 8th and 9th. Conclusion: The topic of sustainability has made its way into media and branding.
ANY QUESTIONS? BRING THEM ON.
Our sustainability officer is ready to answer all your questions regarding sustainability.