Sustainability Strategy
What will sustainability look like for us in the future? What are our goals, and how do we intend to achieve them? The Studentenwerk SH explored these questions in depth during a series of workshops held from November 2022 to February 2023. The result is a sustainability strategy that outlines both the measures already implemented and the goals and planned actions for the coming years. It comprises six areas of action, for which specific goals and measures have been defined.
Below, we present extracts from our sustainability plan.
Climate Protection & Adaptation
Objective: The Schleswig-Holstein Student Services Organisation aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2035. This is based on an action plan that is continuously being developed and implemented.
Measures:
- Seeking external support for the implementation of the environmental management system.
- Developing and implementing strategies toreduce CO₂ emissions with a view to achieving climate neutrality by 2035.
- Creation of a ‘Sustainability Management’ post.
Energy and resource efficiency
Objective: The Schleswig-Holstein Student Services Organisation has set itself the goal of reducing its energy and resource consumption by 2030. A conscious and resource-efficient approach to energy and materials is an important part of our operations.
Measures:
- From 2023, users will be made aware of the importance of conscious energy use through a communication strategy.
- An energy monitoring system to identify and implement potential savings will be introduced by the end of 2023.
- Monitoring of water, waste, etc. as part of an environmental management system.
Sustainable Procurement
Objective: The Schleswig-Holstein Student Services Organisation has set itself the objective of systematically taking environmental and social criteria into account in its procurement. By 2030, these criteria are to be gradually embedded in the relevant product groups and continuously developed further.
Measures:
- Product groups and requirement profiles for procurement are defined.
- Suitable suppliers for all product groups are being identified.
Diversity & Discrimination – Promotion
Objective: The Schleswig-Holstein Studentenwerk is committed to diversity, equal opportunities and respectful treatment free from discrimination. It aims to create an environment in which people feel welcome and respected, regardless of their background, identity or life circumstances. At the same time, the Studentenwerk supports students’ financial security and, through its services, caters to their social and cultural needs.
Measures:
- A working group comprising representatives from all departments is developing the organisation’s policy on diversity and discrimination with external support.
- The Studentenwerk SH is reviewing, revising and drafting relevant guidelines and documents, and actively communicating these both internally and externally. Existing policies are being implemented and priorities set.
- All departments of the Studentenwerk will develop, within their own departments, the relevant professional and practical implications of the organisation’s approach to diversity and discrimination, incorporate this into their departmental strategy and, where necessary, adapt their practical work accordingly.
Digitalisation
Objective: By 2030, the Schleswig-Holstein Studentenwerk will operate digitally wherever possible and necessary. It will respond sensitively and in line with needs, adopting a positive attitude towards developments in the digital market. The Schleswig-Holstein Studentenwerk will continue to expand the necessary human and material infrastructure.
Measures:
- The necessary hardware and software will be procured and installed in the facilities; Wi-Fi will be expanded accordingly in the facilities.
- Active recruitment on the labour market to attract IT specialists from 2023 onwards.
- The Schleswig-Holstein Studentenwerk is actively pursuing the long-term recruitment of apprentices, investing in their IT training and developing a suitable strategy for this purpose.
Training and Further Education
Objective: The Schleswig-Holstein Student Services Organisation is a learning organisation at all levels (both in terms of people and structure) and offers dynamic formats for the mutual transfer of knowledge.
Measures:
- Training programmes and knowledge transfer on topics relating to the sustainability concept.