Sustainable University Day 2025
2 December 2025
Navigating the Demanding Sustainability Landscape in Higher Education
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 event brings together students, teachers, researchers, university staff and anyone interested in promoting sustainability in Swiss educational landscape.
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 of LivingLabs.
SUD 2025 took place on 2 December with an extensive programme at the OST Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Science, and we are pleased to provide you with a few insights:
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
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.
SUD @ OST
OST Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Science
Oberseestrasse 10
8640 Rapperswil
Switzerland
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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
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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
In a poster session, 16 exhibitors presented their contributions on topics related to practical efforts to promote sustainability in Swiss higher education.
We were delighted to see the various projects presented by universities, student groups and external organisations to inspire others.
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
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.
Swiss Academic Society for Environmental Research and Ecology
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.
Swiss University Coalition for Inner Development
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.