In recent years, sustainability has become a top priority on a global scale. As a university, it is our duty to be a role model and steer students in the right direction during their education. After all, they are the leaders, managers, entrepreneurs ... of tomorrow.

We want them to work and live in a sustainable, socially responsible way. In a world characterised by increasing ecological and social challenges, we shape people who are aware of these challenges and the leading role they can play in tackling them. We do this by sharpening our students' ethical and sustainability awareness throughout step within their programme and within the identity of each educational programme. As a result, they become responsible citizens without fear of the future and with a positive impact on society. 

We also want to bring and/or keep these themes to the attention of our researchers so that they observe ethics and sustainability in their research activities. Moreover, we want to encourage them, if possible and if relevant, to conduct new research around these themes (in the form of research projects, publications and PhDs). In this way, our Faculty can help to seek answers to the current ecological and social issues in our society.

At the university level, sustainability is a strategic policy theme. Interfaculty and interdisciplinary initiatives are encouraged such that students and staff can broaden their perspective on sustainability.

The University of Antwerp launched its ambitious Climate Strategy. In addition to setting targets in 11 different areas, the university is committed to becoming climate neutral by 2030 and fossil free by 2050.

On this page you will find sustainability actions and inspiring projects of UAntwerpen.

The city of Antwerp leads by example when it comes to sustainability, holding an impressive 29^th place  worldwide in the Sustainable Cities Index 2024. This study is held by the consultancy Arcadis and ranks 100 of the world’s cities based on 67 metrics, arrayed under four pillars of sustainability: planet, people, profit and progress.​

In the ‘planet’ pillar, Antwerp obtained an impressive 17th place. The researchers consider this pillar to be the most important, taking into account efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions, public transport, energy consumption and efficiency.

As part of UAntwerpen's climate strategy, Green Impact was launched. With the toolkit offered on this platform, our staff and students can take small but important actions in terms of waste reduction, energy and water savings, etc. For three years in a row, the FBE team has been number one in the UAntwerpen ranking. And we obviously hope to maintain that position in the coming year.

You yourself can also already use Ecosia, a search engine like Google, which plants a tree for every search. It doesn't get any easier to do something for nature.

Within the curriculum

• International week on Sustainability
• Course unit 'Sustainability Management' for Master students in Business Engineering and Business Economics
• Specialisation 'Master in Business Engineering: Sustainability Engineering'
• Summer School Sustainability engineering and economics
• Several professors specialised in sustainability, e.g. Luc Van Liedekerke, Steven Van Passel, Tine Compernolle and Hans Verboven.
  

Extra-curricular

• Start-up Sustalab
• Business Update ‘Why Sustainability is inevitable’

Research

• Research group Environmental economics
• ​Research Morning Ethics & Sustainability  
• ​Research chair Ethics and Sustainable Economics

In conclusion, sustainability is embedded in our education and research. But we can always do better. Do you have suggestions or ideas on how we can improve our sustainability policy? A corporate project or student initiative we can support? Let us know and contact Sara Weyns.