HM Business School plays an active role in shaping higher education for sustainable development

On 22 October, lecturers from HM Business School took part in the inter-university event ‘University Teaching for the Future: Experiencing BNE and Applying it to Your Own Teaching’.

The event was the result of a joint initiative by Hochschule München, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the Catholic University of Applied Sciences in Munich (KSH) and BenE Munich.

Around 30 university lecturers and eight students came together to learn about, try out and apply innovative approaches to Bildung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung (BNE) (Education for Sustainable Development) to their own teaching.

The HM Business School was represented with several presentations and demonstrated how sustainability, transformation and future-oriented skills are already being embedded in its degree programmes and teaching.

CampusAckerdemie: Experiencing sustainability through an interdisciplinary approach

One of the first highlights was the presentation of the elective course ‘CampusAckerdemie’ by Beatriz Hoffmann-Kuhnt, Stephanie Helmeth and Prof. Dr. Angelika Iser. The course is a collaboration between the Department of Applied Social Sciences and the HM Business School, and combines sustainable food systems with practical educational work.

Under the title ‘Vegetable cultivation as an educational activity and a sustainable food economy’, the course brings together three perspectives:

Social Sciences: Eco-social work, food justice and community-supported agriculture

Economics: the circular economy and regenerative business models, doughnut economics, as well as planetary boundaries and systems thinking.

Ecology: Biodiversity, soil health, the circular economy and regenerative agriculture, with hands-on learning in the garden in collaboration with Acker e.V. and BUND

IDG’s 4 SDGs: Future skills for sustainable development

Prof. Dr Georg Zollner and Prof. Dr Ralph Buchner presented another fascinating contribution with their Studium Generale course ‘IDGs 4 SDGs – Inner Development Goals for Sustainable Development’. This general compulsory elective, which has been on offer for two years, links the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) and explores the question of what personal skills people need to actively shape sustainable transformation.

Through a brief introduction and three interactive exercises, the participants gained an insight into the course concept. The focus is on abilities such as self-reflection, empathy, cooperation and responsible behaviour as key prerequisites for sustainable development.

Commitment to sustainability at an international level

Prof. Dr. Georg Zollner brought the event to a close with a presentation on Hochschule München’s involvement in the UN Climate Change Conferences (COP). The presentation focused in particular on the long-standing participation of students and university staff in these global climate conferences. In November, a delegation from Hochschule München will take part in a UN Climate Change Conference for the fourth time.

The HM’s Studentisches Green Office (SGO) promoted the Public Climate School, which is taking place once again from 9 to 15 November 2026.

The event offered lecturers the opportunity to experience a range of BNE-oriented teaching and learning formats first-hand. At interactive stations, innovative methods were tried out, reflected upon and ultimately applied to their own teaching practice. Participants developed initial concepts for their own courses and exchanged ideas with colleagues from various universities.