The University of Cologne (UoC) contributes to the transition towards a more sustainable future by promoting a shared culture of sustainability. This demonstrates the university’s capacity to accept change and to successfully reinvent itself as an institution. Accordingly, the university aims to align its actions with the planetary boundaries in all areas. This is essential for the well-being of all life on our planet. Intact ecological foundations are essential for a socially just and liveable future. In order to fulfil its role in society, the UoC is committed to futureoriented action while taking planetary responsibility. 

This implementation plan is aligned with the university’s sustainability strategy, which was adopted in 2023. The strategy was developed through a participatory process involving the entire university community. It identifies the mission of anchoring sustainability in all areas of the UoC: research, teaching and studies, commitment and transfer, and organization and operations. The implementation plan was drawn up by the Vice-Rector for Sustainability, the Sustainability Office, the Sustainability Council and those responsible for the measures. It was adopted by the Rectorate in September 2024. 

Structuring and quality management

The sustainability strategy and its implementation plan support the performance dimensions of the UoC as a cross-sectional area. In this sense, they are conceptually linked to, and explicitly interlinked with, other strategic areas and processes at the UoC, including individual measures. These include central strategies and processes such as the Excellence Strategy, Transfer Strategy, Mission Statement Teaching and Learning, and the University Strategy Plan. Other areas include the EUniWell university alliance and cooperation within the Coimbra Group. 

The implementation plan further clarifies the strategic goals and measures outlined in the sustainability strategy, setting out the subsequent developments in specific thematic areas. It also contains verifiable indicators of target achievements for specific measures. These are summarized in the following presentation. Sometimes, measures in one field of action also contribute to other fields of action or across fields of action. 

As part of quality management, the implementation plan’s portfolio is controlled and dynamically updated. 

• At the end of the first development phase (by 2024), the UoC will have an established governance and support structures in addition to a sustainability strategy and corresponding implementation plan and will have implemented the first centrally initiated measures.
• A second phase (until 2026) focuses on the development of offers for the wider UoC community and the further establishment of support structures in the faculties and institutions, which will further promote the development of profiles for sustainability in research, teaching and studies, as well as engagement and transfer. For example, researchers on sustainability topics will be further networked in a research hub and the Studium Integrale will be expanded to include a sustainability topic.
• In the third phase (by 2030), the UoC's climate protection concept and other longer-term measures should be implemented in all fields of action in accordance with the roadmap for sustainable campus operations.