21–23 September 2026 | Berlin, Germany

*Participants of the Sustainability in Higher Education Conference 2026.*

From 21–23 September 2026, Isabel Toman, Senior Programme Officer for Sustainable Development, represented the IAU at the Sustainability in Higher Education: Between Transformation and Vibe Shifts conference, hosted by Freie Universität Berlin in collaboration with the European University Alliance Una Europa. The three-day international conference brought together around 150 participants from 24 countries and 61 institutions, including universities from the Una Europa University Alliance. Participants engaged in a comprehensive discussions on the current state of sustainability in higher education and explored its implementation through the lens of a Whole Institution Approach.

Aim of the Sustainability in Higher Education Conference 2026

The conference explored how higher education can advance sustainability amid interconnected environmental and societal challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequalities. Using the Whole Institution Approach as a central framework, discussions examined how sustainability can be integrated across university governance, strategies, research, teaching and learning, campus operations, and student engagement. Sessions addressed a range of topics, including sustainability strategies and monitoring, teaching and learning, and approaches to engaging students in advancing sustainability across the institution.

IAU Contribution: Advancing a Whole-Institution Approach

As part of the workshop on University Sustainability Governance, Isabel Toman presented alongside Dr Jorrit Holst of Freie Universität Berlin, focusing on the Whole-Institution Approach (WIA) as a tool for advancing sustainability governance.

*Participants of the “University Sustainability Governance” workshop.*

Isabel presented the conceptualisation of the WIA guidance tool, developed through the UNESCO-led Transforming Futures project and launched on September 17, and discussed how the approach can support institutions in embedding sustainability across their activities.

The presentation also drew on the IAU’s research on the WIA Building Blocks model, developed through a literature review with Katrin Kohl, Charles Hopkins and Hilligje van’t Land (IAU Secretary General). This work builds on the IAU’s longstanding engagement with the Whole-Institution Approach in order to support higher education institutions in advancing sustainable development across their academic and organisational activities.

Learning from Institutional Practice

The conference also provided an opportunity to learn from Freie Universität Berlin’s experience in advancing sustainability across the institution. In his opening remarks, President Prof. Dr. Günter M. Ziegler highlighted the university’s commitment to sustainability and the role of higher education institutions not only as producers of knowledge, but also as spaces for reflection, dialogue, and communication. This commitment is reflected in the university’s 2026 Sustainability Report, which marks 25 years of sustainability engagement and outlines initiatives across governance, teaching, research, and campus operations.

President Prof. Dr. Günter M. Ziegler giving opening remarks.

Solar panels at Freie Universität Berlin.

Keynote contributions further explored the evolving role of higher education in sustainability, including presentations by Prof. Dr. Mandy Singer-Brodowski of the University of Regensburg on “Sustainability under Scrutiny,” Prof. Lena Partzsch of Freie Universität Berlin on power and sustainability, and Julie Newman of MIT.

Beyond the formal programme, participants had the opportunity to discover sustainability initiatives across the Freie Universität Berlin campus, including biodiversity projects and sustainable buildings and energy systems. The conference also provided opportunities to connect with colleagues from IAU Member universities, including the University of Oslo and the University of Helsinki.

Strengthening Cooperation with Freie Universität Berlin

*Isabel Toman (middle) with Nora Jacobs (left) and Herbert Grieshop (right) on campus at Freie Universität Berlin.*

On the margins of the conference, Isabel Toman met with Herbert Grieshop, Head of the Division of International Affairs at Freie Universität Berlin, and Nora Jacobs, Programme Manager for Strategic Partnerships and Networks. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation between the IAU and different parts of Freie Universität Berlin, an IAU Member.

The conference thus provided an important space for exchange on how universities can move from commitments to concrete institutional action, while also highlighting the value of international collaboration and peer learning in advancing sustainability in higher education.

IAU and Higher Education for Sustainable Development

The IAU has advocated for the role of higher education in sustainable development since 1993 and continues to support universities in embedding sustainability across their strategic, academic and organisational work. Through its work on Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development (HESD), including the IAU Global Cluster on HESD and its collaboration with UNESCO on the Whole-Institution Approach to Education for Sustainable Development, the IAU contributes to international dialogue, knowledge sharing and capacity building for sustainable development in higher education.