Sustainable future is also the responsibility of universities – Corvinus’ sustainability achievements presented at BME
The Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) hosted the conference of the Sustainability Platform of Hungarian Universities in February, where 11 Hungarian higher education institutions presented their sustainability initiatives and achievements.
The presentations covered a wide range of topics, from a 1-megawatt solar farm to a hedgehog-friendly campus. However, the members of the university alliance are far from “going green” only through symbolic projects: almost without exception, their commitment is also marked by significant investments and research.
The aim of the event was to promote cooperation between Hungarian universities by sharing sustainability efforts and good practices, and to set new directions towards a more sustainable future.
A detailed report is available on the BME website: https://www.bme.hu/hirek/250213/magyar-egyetemek-fenntarthatosagi-platform-bme-konferencia
Corvinus: soaring 275 places in the UI GreenMetric world ranking
At Corvinus University we are very proud to have improved by 275 places in the UI GreenMetric world ranking, moving from the bottom 10% to the top third. The university was represented by Dr. Katalin Ásványi, Dean for Sustainability, and Máté Kovács, Sustainability Project Assistant, who presented the key steps the university has taken to make significant progress in the field of sustainability.
One of the pillars of Corvinus’ sustainability development is the Gellért Campus, which has been awarded a gold certification in the LEED system as one of the most sustainable higher education buildings in the country. The campus also focuses on energy efficiency, waste management and the promotion of sustainable transportation. For example, a power plant with 400 solar panels provides part of the campus’ energy supply, while the development of bicycle infrastructure and the installation of electric charging points support sustainable transportation. And the Gellért Campus Garden will contribute to biodiversity conservation through ecological principles, with native species, rain gardens, bird-friendly solutions and we are also planning a nature trail with community engagement.
Sustainability has also become a priority in education: at Corvinus, we have launched new ESG courses and a master’s degree in sustainability management and entrepreneurship. We are also strengthening sustainability education through international partnerships, such as the online inter-university course on the SDGs or the Sustainable.now program with the University of Helsinki. Our colleagues also lead the regional chapter of the UN-affiliated sustainability initiative Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME).
We have also launched several pilot projects to achieve our sustainability goals. One of these initiatives is the composting program, which we have introduced on a voluntary basis at Rajk and EVK colleges, with student compost master training and indoor COMPOT composters. And in a community planting event, we have replaced traditional potting soil with sustainable compost.
Corvinus also excels in social engagement: students in the Corporate Social Responsibility course and the Science Shop worked with more than 12 community partners, supporting disadvantaged groups and NGOs. The course won the UN PRME Award for its innovative teaching methods for sustainable development and was ranked in the top 25% of the QS Reimagine Education Awards in the category “Sustainability Education Literacy Award”.
Challenges and opportunities for the future
Other universities also presented their sustainability programs at the conference. For example, BME focuses on energy efficiency improvements and smart building management solutions, while ELTE focuses on measuring its environmental footprint and green campus programs. The University of Pannonia presented its research and pilot projects on circular economy to promote more sustainable resource use.
Corvinus intends to further strengthen its sustainability efforts in the future, focusing on reducing its carbon footprint, measuring sustainability knowledge and attitudes, and engaging students and community partners in sustainability initiatives. The university is also open to cooperation with other institutions, for example through university-wide digital carbon footprint measurement projects or joint sustainability challenges for students.
The conference clearly showed that Hungarian universities are increasingly focusing on sustainability and that we share the goal of building a more sustainable and responsible higher education system. And these goals can only be achieved through joint efforts.
The Sustainability Theme of the Month project continues in March, this time focusing on Active Hope in Communities. One such collaborative action is bringing universities together to make an impact on the sustainability of higher education and society. All questions, ideas and suggestions on sustainability are welcome at katalin.asvanyi@uni-corvinus.hu and mate.kovacs2@uni-corvinus.hu.