What does sustainability mean in the area of governance and communication?

If the university is to become a "sustainable community" in all areas, the necessary structures must be created by the university administration and the responsible governing bodies. In addition, the activities must be continuously communicated in order to motivate and enable the university community to participate in the development, implementation, evaluation and further development of the university's sustainability strategy. In line with this "whole institution approach", the Presidential Board has set up the Sustainability Task Group with members from various areas of the university and anchored the field of sustainability in the strategic development goals of TU Ilmenau in a participatory process.

In order to successfully anchor the concept of sustainability, networking with other partners is also necessary. This has already been achieved at various levels. In Thuringia with the Climate network for more sustainability in Thuringia (Klima-N) and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between all state universities and at European level with the European University Alliance SUNRISE.

What are we working on?

  1. Continuing news on the topic of sustainability
  2. Continuation and further development of the Sustainabilty Days
  3. Creating structures for green office participation opportunities
  4. Networking through strategic projects 

Strategic projects

We are involved in various alliances and projects to drive forward the transformation of the university towards greater sustainability in all areas.

SUNRISE: Cross-border sustainability

The European University Alliance SUNRISE - "Smaller (strategic) Universities Network for Regional Innovative and Sustainable Evolution" is a strategic alliance of nine partner universities for innovative and sustainable regional development, coordinated by TU Ilmenau. Together, we develop solutions for overcoming social challenges such as climate change and for the preservation of European values and democracy, concepts for innovative teaching and learning formats and study programs, models for the further integration of sustainability aspects into engineering education, exchange programs and strategies for joint research. We work closely with partners in business and society.

AnelaR/stock.adobe.com

Klima-N: Network for more sustainability in Thuringia

In the project "CLIMATE Network for more sustainability in Thuringia", the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt, the University of Erfurt, the Technische Universität Ilmenau and the Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences are cooperating to pool their competencies. Together, best practice examples and solutions for a climate-friendly campus and comprehensive education for sustainable development are being developed, which will have an impact beyond the individual institutions and make a positive contribution to sustainability in Thuringia. The sub-project "Sustainability Communication" at TU Ilmenau serves the mutual transfer of project results within the network and into the region.

What has been achieved?

  1. Sustainability task group: The members of the task group meet monthly, form working groups and work closely with the Sustainability working group in the Student Council
  2. Cross-sectional goal and field of action sustainability were anchored in the strategic development goals of the university 
  3. Establishment of the Sustainability Communication Office
  4. Half-yearly organization of the Sustainability Days in cooperation between the Task Group and the Sustainability Working Group
  5. Establishment of a Green Office
Barbara Aichroth

Sustainability Days at TU Ilmenau

The Sustainability Days at TU Ilmenau are a platform for presentations, workshops and discussions on ecological, social and economic sustainability. They offer space for exchange, networking and joint commitment - open to students, staff members and all interested parties. The event is organized once per semester by the AG Nachhaltigkeit des Studierendenrates in cooperation with various partners from the university and society.

Sustainability Days April 2026

Members of the Task Group Sustainability

Heiner Dintera

Presidential Board
Prof. Jens Müller, Vice President for International Affairs and Transfer
Prof. Stefan Sinzinger, Vice President for Research and Young Scientists

Employees and Administration
Marco Hennhöfer, Staff Council
Milena Pfafferott, University Library
Isabella Liedtke, Equal Opportunities, Diversity and Health 

Teaching
Claudia Haaßengier, Central Institute for Continuing Education (ZIB)

Students
Romana Rauch
Anne Zerbst

Campus development
Dennis Pohlig, Facilities and Operation
Andreas Reise, Presidential Board

Communication
Barbara Aichroth, Marketing and Communication
Prof. Jens Wolling, Group for Media Research and Political Communication