In the late 2010s, many universities worldwide positioned themselves as pioneers of a broad societal shift toward sustainability. By 2026, the landscape has evolved: crises, skepticism toward science, economic priorities, digital disruption, and climate fatigue have shifted sustainability from a dominant agenda to one among many priorities. The international conference "Sustainability in Higher Education: Between Transformation and Vibe Shifts" from September 21 to 23, 2026 at Campus Dahlem (Holzlaube, Fabeckstr. 23-25, 14195 Berlin) addresses these shifting dynamics through the lens of a Whole Institution Approach. It aims to critically examine the current status of sustainability in higher education, tracing how the rhetoric of “transformation” has given way to more complex modes of negotiation, adaptation, and resilience. The program offers a self-reflective engagement with the role of science communication, and higher education institutions in advancing climate action, fostering biodiversity, and social responsibility.
Internationale Konferenz: "Sustainability in Higher Education: Between Transformation and Vibe Shifts" | 21.-23. September 2026 | Campus Dahlem @ Freie Universität Berlin (Holzlaube, Fabeckstr. 23-25, 14195 Berlin)
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What’s next when “transformation” becomes yesterday’s vibe? - Das ist die Leitfrage dieser Konferenz ausgerichtet von der Freien Universität Berlin. Universitäten galten lange als Treiber nachhaltigen Wandels. Heute führen multiple Krisen, Wissenschaftsskepsis, digitaler Wandel und Klimamüdigkeit dazu, dass Nachhaltigkeit häufig nur noch eine von vielen Prioritäten auf der Agenda ist. Die Konferenz beleuchtet diese Dynamiken und fragt, wie wird Nachhaltigkeit jetzt neu gedacht und gestaltet?
Den Auftakt machen Keynotes von Prof. Dr. Katrin Böhning-Gaese (Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung) und Dr. Felix Christian Matthes (Öko-Institut), gefolgt von 6 parallelen Workshops.
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Call for proposals
The conference will consist of six workshops that will present ongoing research and institutional activities. These sessions will provide a platform for dialogue on how universities can integrate sustainability more deeply into their structures. The workshops will take place in parallel on the second and third days of the event.
Participants are welcome to submit proposals for the workshops. Further information:https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/higher-ed-sustainability-conf/call/index.html
We look forward to receiving your proposals via our conference registration platform, by May 31, 2026.
IMPORTANT DATES
March 30, 2026 – Registration opens
March 30, 2026 – Submission of contributions for call for proposals opens
May 31, 2026 – Deadline for submission for call for proposals
June 15, 2026 – Notification to contributors
June 22, 2026 – Final conference program (linked to calls for proposals)
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Call for Proposals – Deadline: 31. Mai 2026: In sechs Workshops werden Beiträge aus Forschung und Praxis gesucht, die unter anderem fragen: Wie lässt sich Nachhaltigkeit jenseits von Einzelprojekten strukturell in Hochschulen verankern? Wie können Hochschulen aktiv Wirkung erzeugen – und diese messbar machen? Und wie gelingt es, Kreislaufdenken und Interdisziplinarität von Beginn an in den Forschungsprozess zu integrieren? Abstracts können bis zum 31. Mai 2026 über ConfTool eingereicht werden. Ausgewählte Beiträge werden Mitte Juni bekanntgegeben.
Programm & Anmeldung: https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/higher-ed-sustainability-conf/index.html
Call for Proposals Call for proposals: https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/higher-ed-sustainability-conf/call/index.html
Information on participating / attending:
Call for proposals
The conference will consist of six workshops that will present ongoing research and institutional activities. These sessions will provide a platform for dialogue on how universities can integrate sustainability more deeply into their structures. The workshops will take place in parallel on the second and third days of the event.
Participants are welcome to submit proposals for the workshops. Further information:https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/higher-ed-sustainability-conf/call/index.html
We look forward to receiving your proposals via our conference registration platform, by May 31, 2026.
IMPORTANT DATES
March 30, 2026 – Registration opens
March 30, 2026 – Submission of contributions for call for proposals opens
May 31, 2026 – Deadline for submission for call for proposals
June 15, 2026 – Notification to contributors
June 22, 2026 – Final conference program (linked to calls for proposals)
***
Call for Proposals – Deadline: 31. Mai 2026: In sechs Workshops werden Beiträge aus Forschung und Praxis gesucht, die unter anderem fragen: Wie lässt sich Nachhaltigkeit jenseits von Einzelprojekten strukturell in Hochschulen verankern? Wie können Hochschulen aktiv Wirkung erzeugen – und diese messbar machen? Und wie gelingt es, Kreislaufdenken und Interdisziplinarität von Beginn an in den Forschungsprozess zu integrieren? Abstracts können bis zum 31. Mai 2026 über ConfTool eingereicht werden. Ausgewählte Beiträge werden Mitte Juni bekanntgegeben.
Programm & Anmeldung: https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/higher-ed-sustainability-conf/index.html
Call for Proposals Call for proposals: https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/higher-ed-sustainability-conf/call/index.html
Date:
09/21/2026 10:00 - 09/23/2026 18:00
Event venue:
Freien Universität in Berlin-Dahlem, Fabeckstr. 23–25, 14195 Berlin
https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/higher-ed-sustainability-conf/information/venu...
14195 Berlin
Berlin
Germany
Target group:
Journalists, Scientists and scholars
Email address:
Relevance:
international
Subject areas:
interdisciplinary
Types of events:
Conference / symposium / (annual) conference
Entry:
05/13/2026
Sender/author:
Christine Xuân Müller
Department:
Stabsstelle Kommunikation und Marketing
Event is free:
no
Language of the text:
English
URL of this event: http://idw-online.de/en/event81581
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