Teachers:Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Institute for Environmental and Sustainability Communication

Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Institute for Environmental and Sustainability Communication

Leuphana University of Lüneburg is been perceived as a model for the university of the future. This development has become possible because the University and the Polytechnic University in Lüneburg have bundled their strengths since 2005 combining their successful traditions in a new common endeavour. The traditional division between university and polytechnic has been largely overcome in Lüneburg. Since 2003, the University of Lüneburg has been one of the first five state universities to become a so-called foundation university, an organization form that allows the greatest possible degree of autonomy from the state while still being an organization under public law.

The Institute for Environmental and Sustainability Communication (INFU) is one of several institutes of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, which was established in 1996 at the University of Lüneburg. INFU combines the three working areas of Environmental and Sustainability Communication, Environmental Informatics and Participation & Sustainable Development. Environmental and Sustainability Communication deals with environmental and sustainability aspects, aiming to foster individual and institutional competencies to shape our future. The focus of research and education is the overall concept of Sustainability. The staff members of the Institute study the various effects of specific communication strategies aiming at a popularisation of this concept. They develop new practical approaches and contribute to a scientific theory-development in the field of environmental and sustainability communication. Here, questions are taken up relating to individuals as well as institutions.

The Institute for Environmental and Sustainability Communication at the University of Lüneburg is also awarded the UNESCO Chair in “Higher Education for Sustainable Development” since 2004.

E-learning and sustainable development know-how:

 * VCC-Virtual Copernicus Campus - eLearning 2004
 * Alfa – Project “Programa de Maestría Internacional en Desarrollo y Gestión Sustentable“ (International Master “Sustainable Development and Management”) of the network ELaN (European-Latinamerican Network for Sustainable Development)
 * Development of a Virtual e-learning Space for an interdisciplinary study program “Sustainable Development”
 * Participation in the European Virtual Seminar (EVS) on Sustainable Development as Tutor and Expert
 * Development and Implementation of an international e-Seminar “Syndromes of Global Change

Main contribution to the VCSE Network:
VCSE-partner and Coordinator of VCSE Working Group 1 (WG1): Organisation of Virtual Campus for a Sustainable Europe

Links

 * http://www.uni-lueneburg.de/infu/