Universities bear a social responsibility. They educate future decision-makers, generate knowledge and innovation through their research, and influence public opinion. The Swiss Student Union therefore understands sustainability at Swiss universities to mean that the federal government promotes sustainability at universities with financial resources, that universities are designed to be sustainable, and that this involves cooperation with specialist organizations. The Swiss Student Union is strongly committed to sustainable university operations and pursues this issue intensively in its Sustainability Working Group.
Our Vision
The VSS is committed to a higher education landscape in which sustainability is a standard component of education, research and campus life.
Students are empowered to actively shape their higher education institutions (HEI) and work together with relevant stakeholders to promote a socially just, ecologically responsible and sustainable society.
Sustainability is not only represented politically, but is also anchored in students’ everyday lives through strong networks, participatory structures and concrete offerings.
Our Mission
The VSS represents students’ interests in all areas of sustainability at the political level and empowers students to effectively advocate for sustainable development at their universities. Through networking, cooperation with relevant stakeholders and targeted opportunities, the department strengthens the role of students as active shapers of a socially just and ecologically responsible higher education landscape.
Strategic Priorities
- Political advocacy: The VSS campaigns at national level for ambitious sustainability policies in higher education and brings students’ perspectives into political processes.
- Political advocacy: The VSS campaigns at national level for ambitious sustainability policies in higher education and brings students’ perspectives into political processes.
- Support at HEI: Students receive support to get involved in sustainability issues at their universities — whether in committees, projects, initiatives or strategic processes.
- Offers for students: The VSS provides workshops, further training, guidelines, exchange formats and other offers that strengthen students in their commitment.
- Building a strong network: The VSS connects students, student bodies and sustainability stakeholders throughout Switzerland, promoting exchange and creating synergies.
- Collaboration with stakeholders: The VSS actively collaborates with universities, associations, NGOs, authorities and experts to jointly promote sustainable development.
This paper was produced by the Swiss Student Union Sustainability Working Group in close collaboration with the VSN. It contains the wishes and priorities of Swiss students regarding sustainability at universities. The aim and idea behind this position paper is to guide cooperation between stakeholders from all areas of the higher education landscape toward a more sustainable future, namely students, university staff, and other bodies and institutions in the higher education landscape. As each university is different from the others, priorities and needs also vary. The content of this paper should therefore not be incorporated 1:1, but rather adapted to the specific situation of each university in a separate document. If you would like to receive the Word document instead of the PDF document, please contact info@vss-unes.ch.
Basis for developing your own sustainability paper
