MODUL University Vienna publishes its first Sustainability Report

Sustainability is one of MODUL University Vienna’s key principles, and the university follows an integrated sustainability approach which tries to balance the economic, the social and the environmental dimensions of sustainable development. It has been operating for years under these principles, and now, for the first time, facts and figures have been compiled in the inaugural Sustainability Report, relating to the 2013/14 academic year.

The intention is to inform internal decision making and to transparently communicate the institution’s sustainability-related impacts to all stakeholders. The report was produced in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative G4 regulations, involving multiple stages of stakeholder consultation and requiring the development and measurement of many new indicators. The current report has already proved useful in identifying several areas of the university’s activities that require attention, and this information has formed the basis of subsequent initiatives implemented by both the Sustainability Committee and the highest governance bodies.

Eight working groups were formed by members of the Sustainability Committee to tackle relevant areas including sustainability in research and education, workplace conditions and relations, policies and communication, environmental sustainability, and economic sustainability.

David Leonard, Sustainability Committee president and Researcher and Lecturer at the Department of Public Governance and Sustainable Development, spearheaded the report. “My thanks go out to the dedicated group of students, staff and faculty from departments across the University for their contributions to the current Sustainability Report. I hope that readers find the report enlightening regarding the many challenges faced by the University and the diverse initiatives we employ to maximize our positive- and minimize our negative-impacts.”

It is the intention of MODUL University Vienna to continue compiling sustainability reports on a bi-annual basis so that progress may be tracked over time. Working teams are currently engaged in consultation with internal and external stakeholder groups to inform the content and presentation of the 2015/16 report. We warmly invite your feedback on the current edition so that we can provide the information which is relevant to you in an accessible format. Please address any feedback to: david.leonardsymbolmodul.acpunktat

Download the full report.