Sustainable University Day 2025
2 December 2025

Navigating the Demanding Sustainability Landscape in Higher Ed

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Over the past 10 years, the Sustainable University Day (SUD) has become a key networking event for stakeholders from Swiss higher education institutions working to strengthen the culture of sustainability in their organizations.
In a changing landscape of sustainability in higher education, such a forum remains essential for bringing people together.

This year’s event, which brings together students, faculty, researchers, university staff, and anyone interested in promoting sustainability in Swiss educational landscape, will be held at the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Science (OST) in Rapperswil.

The SUD aims to be the meeting point for sustainability-engaged members of the Swiss higher education system. It features a variety of formats and opportunities to inspire, inform, and facilitate interaction, including workshops, marketplaces and visits the OST LivingLabs.

A large crowd of people attending an event in a spacious, historic-style building with high ceilings and decorative reliefs on the walls, many of them standing near tables or walking around.
A man in a black blazer and pink shirt speaking into a microphone during a panel discussion, with a woman in black listening attentively in the background, and a floral arrangement behind them.
A group of women engaged in a discussion during a meeting, with one woman speaking animatedly.
An older woman with glasses and gray hair speaking into a microphone, sitting next to a young woman with blonde hair listening attentively. They are on stage with a floral arrangement in the background.
A young woman writing on a poster board at a conference or exhibition, with two other women in the background, one sitting and the other standing, in a hallway with columns.
A young woman with curly blonde hair wearing a red jacket and a badge, sitting at a table with a bowl of food and a water bottle, talking to a person in a brown jacket against a backdrop of informational posters.
A woman with curly hair and a colorful orange and black patterned jacket is speaking to a woman with short brown hair, wearing a green sweater, at an indoor exhibition. The woman in the jacket is gesturing with her hands while the woman in green list
A young man exchanges a small object with another person during a social event, with a man and a laptop displaying a digital currency on the table in the background.
A group of people gathered around a table looking at drawings and papers with one person explaining or presenting.
Three women are sitting at a table engaged in drawing and discussing a fashion illustration of a woman in a dress, with colored markers, paper, and sketch notes on the table.
Group of professionals having a discussion around a table with papers and sticky notes, one man is explaining something with a smile.
A group of five adults sitting around a table in a conference room, engaged in a discussion. The man in the center is talking and gesturing with his hands, while the others listen attentively. There are papers, markers, and a yellow sticky note on th
A woman with red hair in a bob haircut wearing a white top, sitting in a room with blue curtains in the background, appears to be listening attentively.
A group of people dancing and celebrating at a party or social gathering, with a man in a gray shirt laughing while interacting with others.
Group of women participating in a dance or exercise class indoors, raising their hands in the air, on a wooden floor, with some chairs against the wall.
A woman and a man standing together at an event, smiling at the camera. Behind them is a display with multiple posters for a film festival called "Film for Future," featuring a colorful abstract design, a row of water glasses, a laptop, and informati
Women engaged in conversation at a social event, with a blurred background of other people, and a glass of wine on the table.
People having a conversation at a social event, standing around a cocktail table with glasses and a bowl.
A woman giving a presentation in a large conference room with wooden walls and large windows, with a slide projected on a screen behind her that asks about experiences with political involvement as a scientist.
A classroom or conference room filled with people attending a presentation. The presenter is standing by a large screen displaying a slide titled 'Current Status' with colorful graphics. One attendee has their hand raised, and others are seated at ta
A woman with dark hair and a brown sweater holding a glass, looking up at papers hanging on strings with clothespins at an indoor event.
program SUD

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SUD 2025 @ OST

Choose from a variety of workshops and visits to the OST Living Labs to create your own personalized program.

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OST LIVING LABS

OST LIVING LABS

The OST – University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland operates various living laboratories on the Rapperswil campus and in the surrounding area, which offer interested individuals insights into various areas of research related to sustainability.

WORKSHOPS

WORKSHOPS

At various times, a panel discussion and a range of workshops on the topic of sustainability will be offered by WWF, the Blue Communities movement, saguf, and the University Coalition for Student Inner Development – all of which participants can attend individually.

  • How to radically reimagine the university — not just improve it?

    In this keynote, Silja Graupe, president of the Hochschule für Gesellschaftsgestaltung, invites us to question the foundations of higher education as we know it. At a time when traditional approaches to sustainability seem insufficient, she shares concrete examples of how to do higher education differently — from governance and curriculum to student roles and social purpose.

Meet the KeyNote Speaker

  • Luciana Vaccaro has held various positions in organisations responsible for supporting and promoting education, research and innovation in Switzerland. From August 2021 to January 2023, she was President of the Chamber of Universities of Applied Sciences within swissuniversities.

Project Spotlight @ SUD 2025

We invite contributions that showcase practical efforts to advance sustainability in Switzerland’s higher education landscape.

Whether you are part of a university, student group, or external organization, this is your chance to share what’s working and inspire others. We welcome projects related to teaching, operations, culture, governance, or Inner Development.

Submission Form

Co-organizers of Sustainable University Day 2025

The following organizations, along with their respective networks and projects, have agreed to collaborate in co-organizing the Sustainable University Day 2025.

OST - Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences

Logo of Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences with a black and pink circular design and text.

We are the university of applied sciences for the six cantons of Eastern Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. With around 3,800 students spread across six Schools, 1,500 professionals pursuing executive education, and over 1,000 current research projects, we are Eastern Switzerland's regional educational hub. 

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Swiss Academic Society for Environmental Research and Ecology

Saguf logo with a red cross symbol and a curved green line

Saguf is a professional association that has been committed to the promotion of environmental and sustainability research in Switzerland. It is committed to inter- and transdisciplinary, practice- and solution-oriented research.

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Swiss University Coalition for Inner Development

Logo of the University Coalition for Student Inner Development with colorful vertical bars and text indicating Switzerland.

The University Coalition for Student Inner Development is a global initiative that seeks to explore, implement, and scale inner development within higher education. The Switzerland chapter brings together diverse actors from across the Swiss ecosystem, drawing on insights from the global Coalition while focusing on the specific dynamics and needs of the local context. Its mission is to co-create and support practical, context-sensitive pathways for universities to strengthen the inner dimensions of sustainability—through learning, leadership, and institutional change.

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SUD @ OST

OST Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Science
Oberseestrasse 10
8640 Rapperswil

Switzerland

OST Campus Map