Committed to a sustainable university The TU Braunschweig Green Office introduces itself

How can the transition to a truly sustainable university be achieved – and who is driving it forward? At Technische Universität Braunschweig, the Green Office is playing a central role in this process. As a platform for education for sustainable development, consulting, projects and participation, it brings together students, lecturers and staff to jointly embed sustainability in the everyday life of the university.

“It is important to us that sustainability is not reduced to ecology. It also encompasses social and economic aspects – only when considered together can they unfold their full potential,” says Green Office coordinator Sira Möller. The goal is clear: sustainability should be visible, tangible and effective.

After all, sustainability is a crucial issue for the future – also at TU Braunschweig. That is why the Green Office, located in the Digitalisation and Sustainability Department, serves as a point of contact for all members of the university who want to get involved in sustainable development.

The following section presents projects and activities through which the Green Office supports and helps shape sustainable development at TU Braunschweig.

Teach4TUmorrow: Embedding sustainability in teaching

How can sustainability become part of teaching? With ‘Teach4TUmorrow,’ the Green Office has been analysing all module descriptions for degree programmes at the TU since the beginning of 2024 with the aim of highlighting existing links to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN). The analysis forms the basis for advice and further training opportunities for teaching staff.

The focus is not on ‘ticking off’ as many SDGs as possible, but on strengthening subject-specific priorities and references – whether in the natural sciences, psychology, computer science or the social sciences. “No matter what you study, no matter what subject you come from, we want to show that everyone has access to sustainability,” says Helen Lehne, who coordinates the project. Initial results have already been presented, and digital visualisation on the campus portal is in the planning stage.

Fairtrade University

In May 2025, TU Braunschweig was awarded the title of Fairtrade University for its active commitment to fair trade and global justice. The award is based on a list of criteria, such as the use of fair trade products at events or publicity campaigns. The initiative to apply came from the student body, and the Green Office coordinated the process.ess.

TUmorrow Awards & Journal: Honouring role models

Making commitment to sustainability visible – that is the goal of the TUmorrow Awards, which are presented annually in four categories: ‘Bachelor’s thesis’, ‘Master’s thesis’, ‘Teaching event’ and ‘Volunteer work’. The TUmorrow Journal is published annually to accompany the awards, presenting the winners and other inspiring examples of sustainable commitment – in future also in two languages, German and English.

TU for Future: Lecture series on sustainability

Together with Students for Future and the AStA, the Green Office organises the ‘TU for Future’ lecture series every winter semester. Originally started as a lecture on climate protection, it now covers a wide range of sustainability-related topics and research from the TU. Students are actively involved in the programme design. The lectures are open to everyone.

Educational opportunities in the interdisciplinary pool

Every summer semester, the Green Office organises e-learning courses in the interdisciplinary elective area in cooperation with the Virtual Academy for Sustainability (VAN). There are currently three courses to choose from: on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, on human-induced climate change, and an English-language course on sustainability communication. The courses are supervised, examined and can be credited with three credit points.

Paper Atlas Competition

Since 2022, TU Braunschweig has been participating in the Paper Atlas University Competition, which annually seeks to identify the most recycling-friendly university. Thanks to an administrative guideline, the central administration of TU Braunschweig was able to switch completely to recycled paper in 2023, for which it received the title ‘Rising Star of the Year.’ The TU will be participating again in 2025. The Green Office supports the implementation through organisation, communication and infrastructure.

Network for Sustainability at Universities in Lower Saxony (HochNiNa)

Founded in 2018, the HochNiNa network offers a platform for stakeholders at universities in Lower Saxony who are concerned with sustainability. It facilitates exchange and cooperation in working groups. The Green Office at TU Braunschweig is actively involved in the working groups and plays a leading role in the field of education for sustainable development.

One example of successful networking is the COUNTS project, which is developing a CO₂ accounting tool specifically for universities in Lower Saxony. The TU is a cooperation partner and contributes its experience in strategic sustainability work at the state level. In 2025, the Green Office organised the HochNiNa annual conference together with the Lower Saxony Climate Research Centre (ZKfN).

SDG Ambassadors

The SDG Ambassador Programme makes it clear that sustainability at TU Braunschweig is not an abstract concept, but part of everyday life – in all areas of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For each of these goals, ambassadors were selected for one year to work intensively on the goals in research, teaching and everyday university life. To make this commitment visible, the ambassadors were presented in a weekly public campaign on Instagram and the Green Office website.

kNOw MORE awareness campaign

Sustainability is more than just environmental protection – it also encompasses social justice. Together with the Equal Opportunities Office, the Green Office is participating in an awareness campaign that draws attention to power structures, sexualised violence and discrimination.

TUmorrow Lounge

With the ‘TUmorrow Lounge,’ the Green Office has created a regular meeting place in the student union building. Every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, students and initiatives can enjoy free Fairtrade coffee while exchanging ideas, presenting projects and recruiting new members. The Green Office also supports student initiatives in the field of sustainability with advice, networking and the Green Wiki, a knowledge base with tips for the work of the initiatives.

Sustainability in cinema format

With the film series TUmorrow Nights, the Green Office brings the topic of sustainability to the big screen, for example in cooperation with the Universum cinema or on campus. The films are followed by short talks or discussions that encourage reflection.

Sustainability certificate

The Green Office is currently working on a sustainability certificate that students can obtain in this field, either for job applications or to expand their own knowledge. Its introduction is planned for next year.