Sustainability
Maastricht University wants to contribute to a more sustainable future on earth with its education, research and operations. Its aim is to integrate sustainability in the DNA of the entire organization by 2030.
To reach that aim UM has created the taskforce Sustainable UM2030 that will work on sustainability issues. The taskforce consists of researchers, teachers and UM policy makers and works with students via the Green Office.
In order to be a sustainable university by 2030 the taskforce wants to achieve:
- That students, academics and other staff have the competencies and skills to work on the transition towards a more sustainable world.
- A more climate neutral university.
- That knowledge and values from different backgrounds and disciplines generated at UM can be applied for sustainable solutions
- That more interdisciplinary research for sustainability is taking place.
- Establishing partnerships within the university, the region and beyond to implement sustainability together.
- Connecting top-down and bottom-up initiatives for sustainable development.
As a university, our task is to train students properly, to deliver scientific research and to have an impact on society. Our vision is that sustainability cannot be separated from this. That is why the taskforce consists of three pillars: education, research and operations. We want to contribute to a better world as a university by means of the aforementioned core qualities, academic education and research, and also by means of our own operational management. That is why these three pillars are inseparable from each other.
What can you do?
Keep reading in the Sustainability Vision 2030
Participate in Green Impact
Do you have an idea or concern about sustainability at UM?
For students: reach out to Green Office
For UM-employees or external parties: send an email to sustainability[at]maastrichtuniversity[dot]nl
Sustainable education
The pillar Sustainable Education aims to involve the entire academic community in the process of becoming a truly sustainable university by 2030.
Sustainable research
Within the Sustainable UM2030 programme, the researchers are focusing on Sustainable research and Sustainability research.
Sustainable operations
Operations management, or operations for short, includes matters such as housing and mobility, but also the creation of a healthy and inclusive work environment.
Green Impact
Do you wish to contribute to sustainability at UM? Get involved in Green Impact! Have fun and be inspired whilst making positive changes within your department and perhaps beyond..
The themes we'll work on this year are:
- International business travel
- Nature inclusive campus
- Sustainable events & meetings
- Health & wellbeing in buildings on campus
- Competencies for UM staff members on sustainability
How does it work?
You pick one of the themes above that you would like to work on. Until May 2020 you work together within a team on a plan that can be implemented at UM. Of course the team of Sustainable UM2030 will help you along during workshops and via intranet. You can sign up, even if you've missed some of the events already. Alternatively, you can attend the meetings without signing up if you would like to listen in on what we are working on.
Planning
| 11 March |
Workshop #1 Time: 9 - 10.30 h, Location: Turnzaal, FASoS, Grote Gracht 90-92 |
| 20 May |
Workshop #2 Time: 9.30 - 11 h via Zoom |
| 17 June |
Workshop #3 |
| 1 July |
Closing event Time: TBA |
Take a look at Green Impact at UM from last year.
Events
Working towards a sustainable UM
Teams of students and staff working on sustainability
UM is offering the Green Impact programme for the second time. This programme enables staff and students to work together to make UM more sustainable. In this way, UM gains insight into what employees and students think is most important when it comes to sustainability and we collect many good ideas that can be implemented.
Sustainability & food week
Alligned with the Dutch National Week Without Meat, Green Office organised events during their Sustainability & Food week. Despite an early ending of the week due to COVID-19, Green Office had the chance to talk to a lot of people about their food preferences.
Maastricht University invests in solar park. "We want to be a sustainable employer".
To accelerate the switch to renewable energy and to reduce CO2 emissions, Maastricht University and Bodemzorg Limburg will make the former Belvedere landfill suitable for installing solar panels. We asked Annemarie van Zeijl and Ruud Bollen about UM’s contribution to a more sustainable city through its research, education and operational management.
Survey BA students: interest in UM-wide minor Sustainable Development
Between April and July 2019, a survey took place investigating whether bachelor students were interested in having a UM-wide Minor on Sustainable Development. The results of the survey were quite positive towards having such a minor.
Four sustainable plans for the coming year @ UM
The new academic year has started, so it’s time to get to know UM’s resolutions regarding sustainability for the coming year!
Precious Plastic Maastricht – the potential of waste
Plastic is everywhere – just ask environmentalists. Or fish. Or any respectable landfill. Precious Plastic Maastricht is currently setting up a local recycling workspace that turns plastic waste into entirely new goods, such as bins, beams, 3D printer filaments, and much more.
Impact over Image
“We wanted to scientifically substantiate all our sustainability actions,” explains Mariette Wennekers, FSE’s Coordinator Marketing and Communications, “and it would be great if Green Impact did the same next time around, along with measuring the actual impact.” In the brainstorm, they discussed things like blackle.com, a darker, energy-saving edition of google, and how much ink could be saved by changing fonts to e.g. Century Gothic.
Students for Climate – building a community
Students marching against climate change? Not really news, is it now? That’s the sort of thing students do anyways. Aware of the stereotype, Students for Climate chose to prick the student bubble for their latest march.
Library of Things: Out of the attic, into the commonweal
UM students Elisa Etrari, Anna Reyneri and Becca Bowers are running Library of Things. It’s exactly what you think it is: you sign up, choose something from their online catalogue or just browse – then you borrow whatever you need and bring it back once you are done using it.
Sustainable development as a research theme
"As academics, we need to cooperate with peers in other disciplines, governments, NGOs and private companies to carry out research that contributes to achieving the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals." - Rob Bauer, leader of the Sustainable Development research theme.
MUSTANGH Foundation
MUSTANGH is a humanitarian student organisation that tries to create a win-win situation for the West Gonja Hospital in Ghana and Dutch students, with the aim of supporting and improving healthcare in Ghana.
Sustainable notebooks by Enactus and Athos
How student organisation Enactus created sustainable notebooks together with social organisation Athos.
Children's rights research Marieke Hopman
Legal philosopher Marieke Hopman is investigating the violation of child rights and children's rights to education in several countries, including the Central African Republic. As part of her research, she has documented the level of physical violence taking place at schools in the strife-torn country.
Match – Connecting Students and City
Match offers students opportunities to contribute to Maastricht's community. By facilitating volunteering, Match enables students to put to use and develop their skills and talents in real-life practice.
MACCH
The Maastricht Centre for Arts and Culture, Conservation and Heritage (MACCH) is an interdisciplinary research centre that brings together economic, legal, (art) historical, philosophical, sociological and practical expertise to the context of arts and heritage.
Garden of Eden in Maastricht
The study association of the master's programme in Sustainability, Science and Policy, ASAP, has kept a community garden for about four years in Maastricht on the Mergelweg. Under the inspiring leadership of Colin Laviolette, around eight students maintain the garden.
News
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Sustainability goes beyond “the green stuff”
Friday, April 17, 2020Read moreWhen it comes to teaching about sustainability, you need an interdisciplinary team of teachers on board. Sustainable UM2030 organised a meeting in which teachers from various faculties presented their ideas for sustainability courses to students.
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Teams of students and staff working on sustainability
Monday, March 16, 2020Read moreUM gains insight into what employees and students think is most important when it comes to sustainability and we collect many good ideas that can be implemented.
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Sustainability & food week
Monday, March 16, 2020Read moreLast week it was the Dutch National Week Without Meat. Alligned with that Green Office organised events during their Sustainability & Food week.