Promoting responsible thinking and behaviour at Swiss Universities

Paulovics Ágnes (2021) Promoting responsible thinking and behaviour at Swiss Universities. In: Innovative Solutions for Sustainability - Day of Hungarian Science 2021 Conference Proceeding. Budapesti Gazdasági Egyetem, Budapest, Magyarország, pp. 125-137. ISBN 978-615-6342-20-1

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.29180/9786156342201_9

Abstract

Switzerland is in the top five most sustainable countries based on the Sustainable Competitiveness Rankings 2019; Hungary has the 31st place. In order to learn some practices of Switzerland, the approach of Swiss universities to sustainability is examined to provide recommendations for Hungarian universities. This study aims to examine how Swiss universities integrate sustainability practices into the everyday life of students and co-workers to promote responsible thinking and behaviour among them. The research is conducted by analysing some Swiss universities’ approaches to promote responsible thinking and behaviour and to present the implemented projects in the field of sustainability. My hypothesis is that Swiss universities have a wide range of sustainability concepts and actively apply them. The data is collected, analysed and researched in order to provide a compiled list of recommended practices to carry out at other universities. Since universities are in direct contact with young generations, these institutes have the opportunity to educate youngsters on sustainable behaviour. Moreover, universities might teach the skills needed to develop and apply sustainable solutions, which might be useful on a large scale as after graduation, students enter the professional world, where they might disseminate and act according to the values learnt at universities. All in all, in the long term, this might lead to a positive change in corporate values and culture. Universities and schools worldwide may benefit from the research as functional solutions become achievable, and the education of the next generation with the right tools allows companies to benefit from the new employees with sustainable perspectives.