Bringing the sustainable development goals to life
Under this motto, FHWien der WKW, Austria’s leading University of Applied Sciences for Management and Communication, is working on living the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (SDGs) at the university itself and integrating them into the curricula. The SDGs serve to ensure sustainable development on an economic, social and ecological level.
“As a university of applied sciences for management and communication, we see the importance of the SDGs for the training of future managers,“ explains Beate Huber, Chair of the Academic Board at FHWien der WKW.
FHWien der WKW has been a pioneer in Corporate Responsibility since 2012. As one of the first universities of applied sciences in the German-speaking world, it includes Business Ethics and Corporate Governance as compulsory subjects in the curricula of all business management Master’s programs.
In order to guarantee that these programs and all academic initiatives on the topic meet international standards, FHWien der WKW signed the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) in 2015.
Contact
Head of Competence Center for Sustainability
Tel.: +43 690 40 476 155
Review: SDG Days
Since 2021, we have hosted an annual Sustainability Day at FHWien der WKW, focusing on a different Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations each year. Here you can find a review of our past SDG Days:
This was our SDG Day 2025...
The SDG Day took place for the fourth time at FHWien der WKW, where everything revolved around the topics of responsible corporate governance, tourism sustainability trends, sustainability communication vs. greenwashing and much more.
In addition to exciting project and poster presentations, there was an ideas market as well as workshops and simulation games. The SDG Awards were once again presented to outstanding Bachelor’s and Master’s theses on the topic of sustainability.
This was our SDG Day 2024...
On January 25, 2024, the third SDG Day of the FHWien der WKW took place. The day was dedicated to the topic of green jobs.
In an exciting panel, some of our alumni talked about their green jobs. The program also included interesting workshops, presentations of student projects on the topics of sustainability communication and tourism sustainability trends, as well as the presentation of the SDG Awards.
This was our SDG Day 2022...
On November 17, 2022 (13:00 – 21:30), the second SDG Day of FHWien der WKW took place. This time, the focus was on SDG 11 “Sustainable Cities and Communities”.
The program included an exciting keynote by Gernot Wagner, interactive workshops, the presentation of the SDG Awards and a high-profile panel on the topic of “Climate Neutral Cities”.
This was our SDG Day 2021...
On September 23, 2021 FHWien der WKW hosted the SDG Day for the first time. This day was entirely dedicated to the SDG 12: the promotion of sustainable consumption and production patterns.
The program included an inspiring keynote by circular activist Harald Friedl, the SDG award ceremony (for lecturers and students) as well as an interesting panel discussion and interactive workshops. On our event platform you will find, among other things, videos and podcasts to watch and listen to.
17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
In September 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly of all 193 member states. It contains the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to “transform the world” in terms of social, economic and ecological aspects.
No Poverty
Economic growth must be inclusive to provide sustainable jobs and promote equality.
Zero Hunger
The food and agriculture sector offers key solutions for development, and is central for hunger and poverty eradication.
Good Health and Well-Being
Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages is essential to sustainable development.
Quality Education
Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives and sustainable development.
Gender Equality
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
Clean Water and Sanitation
Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in.
Affordable and Clean Energy
Energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity.
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Sustainable economic growth will require societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs.
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Investments in infrastructure are crucial to achieving sustainable development.
Reduced Inequalities
To reduce inequalities, policies should be universal in principle, paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized populations.
Sustainable Cities and Communities
There needs to be a future in which cities provide opportunities for all, with access to basic services, energy, housing, transportation and more.
Responsible Consumption and Production
Sustainable consumption and production is about doing more and better with less. It is also about decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, increasing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable lifestyles.
Life Below Water
Careful management of this essential global resource is a key feature of a sustainable future.
Life on Land
Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels.
Sustainability Activities at FHWien der WKW
Activities at FHWien der WKW
The SDGs were implemented in the following areas at FHWien der WKW:
- Green Travel Guide for employees
- Eco certification for events
- Communication & Marketing: Gender & Diversity at FHWien der WKW, focus on sustainble advertising material, environmentally friendly material in print, focus on online communication (lower paper consumption) etc.
- Employer Branding: Mission Statement & Code of Conduct, value-based management diploma, compatibility of work and family (certificate „hochschuleundfamilie“), further training, etc.
- Energy saving measures & waste management
Teaching activities
- Integration of SDGs into the curricula (project until 2023)
- Responsible Management Education: In order to promote the training of responsible managers, FHWien der WKW joined the “Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME)” initiative in 2015.
- Support of topic-relevant student projects and theses
- Annual Award for Innovative Teaching: two categories “Individual Innovative Elements” and “Sustainable Developement Goals in Teaching” to honor outstanding didactic projects
- Bachelor theses no longer have to be submitted in printed form.
- Master theses only have to be submitted in printed form once.
Teaching activities
- Relevant business talks, field trips and practical projects, e.g.: annual Gastronomy Founders Day, HRprogress Business Breakfast, excursion to the eco-hotel Boutiquehotel Stadthalle in Vienna, 2-day bike trip to Styria to get to know local food production, radio shows “Science Radio” and “Start Me Up” at Radio Radieschen 91.3 with contributions on environment, sustainability, urban development and diversity as well as management and start-ups.
- Topic-relevant activities in teaching, e.g. the lecture series “Responsible Management Lectures: Ideas for Better Business“, in which national and international experts from science and practice lecture on business ethics, sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate governance.
Research Activites
- The Endowed Chair for Sustainable Real Estate Development aims to create a competence center for the sustainable, resource-conserving and climate-neutral development and refurbishment of real estate. This will consider aspects of the circular economy as well as current legal regulations in Austria and the EU.
- The WKW Endowed Chair for Sustainable Urban Tourism addresses socially relevant issues for location development and aims to establish a research program for sustainable and resilient location and tourism development that provides scientific support for the implementation of Viennas Visitor Economy Strategy.
Research Activites
- Supervision of topic-related theses
- Participation in topic-related congresses, events and networking events
- Workshops & training for researchers, teachers and staff (“Train the Trainer” initiatives)
- Cooperation with other national and international universities and companies on PRME topics
Responsible Management Education
Business Ethics & Corporate Governance in teaching
FHWien der WKW has been a pioneer in Corporate Responsibility since 2012. As one of the first universities of applied sciences in the German-speaking world, it includes Business Ethics and Corporate Governance as compulsory subjects in the curricula of all business management Master’s programs
In 2015 we signed the "Principles for Responsible Management Education". As part of this initiative, we have set ourselves the task of integrating social and ecological sustainability into our teaching and research activities. In this way, we actively contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.