Networks and partnerships
Sustainable development thrives on mutual exchange and shared learning. That is why the KU is active in a wide range of networks at the regional, national, and international levels. There, it contributes its expertise, develops innovative approaches together with partners, and at the same time benefits from the experiences of other stakeholders from universities, politics, and society.
These collaborations range from inter-university alliances and think tanks to regional initiatives and international partnerships. Whether in research, teaching, operations, or transfer, the KU understands sustainable development as a cross-institutional task that can only succeed through lively dialog.
Association: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltigkeit an Hochschulen e.V. (DGHochN)
Since 2020, KU has been a founding member of DG HochN, which pursues the overarching goal of ensuring that all universities in Germany have effectively implemented sustainability and education for sustainable development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals in research, teaching, operations, governance, and transfer by 2030.
Bavarian Network for Sustainability in Higher Education (BayZeN)
In March 2023, the KU founded BayZeN, a think tank for sustainability and climate protection at Bavarian universities, together with five other universities. The presidents of all state and state-recognized universities and universities of applied sciences have committed themselves to implementing sustainability at their universities within the network. BayZeN offers a platform for institutional networking, exchange, and cooperation for the implementation of sustainability and climate protection in the fields of research, teaching, operations, transfer, student commitment, and governance. As the supporting university of BayZen, the KU is responsible for managing the coordination office in the field of teaching.
Uniservitate
In the international service learning project Uniservitate, the KU has been one of seven global hubs for the dissemination and promotion of service learning at Catholic universities since 2020. Uniservitate aims to systematically and extensively anchor service learning opportunities at universities.
The project is led by the Latin American Center for Solidarity Service Learning (CLAYSS) in Argentina. It is funded by the Porticus Foundation. Further information on the project can be found on the project website “Uniservitate”.
Senatra
Senatra is a joint project between the KU, the University of Vechta, the University of Bremen, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, and "netzwerk n". Together, they are investigating the research question: “To what extent can the use of service learning in higher education contribute to the sustainable transformation of higher education institutions as a whole?”
Institute for applied sustainability – "inas"
Founded by Prof. Reinhard Büchl, inas is a private research institution recognized as an affiliated institute of the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt and the Technical University of Ingolstadt (THI). Their common goal is to promote research, teaching, and the transfer of knowledge for sustainability in the Ingolstadt region, as well as sustainable living and economic models.
Sustainable places of learning
Promoting sustainability in the region together and offering events that enable everyone to get involved – these are the goals of the „Sustainable Places of Learning“ network founded in 2024.
fairEint - Initiative for a sustainable Eichstätt region
The KU is represented in the regional sustainability network fairEInt with various stakeholders, projects, and student initiatives. It thus contributes to the sustainable regional development of the city and region.
