Sustainability

Surveys and analyses in the area of internal resource and energy use form the basis for gradually reducing resource consumption and emissions from university operations over the next few years. The development and establishment of an EMAS environmental management system (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) at the first location is a key instrument in this process.

We are actively working on the structural, content-related and operational implementation of sustainable development at the university. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) form the framework for the development of a sustainability strategy, which is being drawn up by the Working Group on Sustainability with the involvement of the relevant stakeholders.

Activities & cooperation in the context of sustainable development

• Anchoring responsibility – sustainability as an overall strategic goal in the development plan
• Member of the Allianz Nachhaltige Universitäten in Österreich and the Art & Sustainability Working Group
• Collaboration in the UniNEtZ – Universitäten und Nachhaltige Entwicklungsziele 
•  for the implementation of the SDGs (participation in SDG Working Groups 10 – Reduced Inequalities and 13 – Climate Action)
• Sustainability working group in the organisational plan to establish a culture of sustainability and develop a sustainability strategy 
  Support for the structural and content-related integration of sustainability in research, EEK & teaching
• Part of the Creative Europe Network AEC – Empowering Artists as Makers in Society (2022-2025), part of the  AEC Goes Green Working Group

University operations & resources

• Establishment of EMAS at the Schrannengasse site with the involvement of the relevant service areas and stakeholders (to be implemented in 2024)
• Purchase of certified green electricity since 1 January 2025
• Business travel guidelines for greening business travel, promotion of climate tickets
• Updating of the first GHG balance sheet 2019 for the reference year 2024
• Development of a climate neutrality path until 2035
• Participation in umwelt partner salzburg (2024-2026), focus on energy saving and sustainability communication
  

The special responsibility of art universities lies in the fact that graduates educated in the spirit of the holistic universitas and their teachers operate in an international professional environment and are therefore predestined to postulate a change in values and thus play a prominent role in initiating and implementing ideas for sustainable development. For this reason, and as a member of the Alliance of Sustainable Universities in Austria, the strategic anchoring of sustainability remains an important goal. The Mozarteum University therefore fully endorses the uniko manifesto for sustainability.

The Working Group on Education for Sustainable Development of the Alliance of Sustainable Universities in Austria has developed a continuing education programme on sustainability for university teachers, which invites participation.

Internally, work is underway on an offer to support the integration of sustainability aspects into teaching. An understanding of sustainable development and a common direction are central to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Continuing education opportunities in the field of teaching should support this process.

Offers

• Teachers: Zertifikat für Hochschullehrende Bildung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung
• Students: Arts of Change – Change of Art
• New from the 2025/26 winter semester: Study supplement: Art & Sustainability
• Supplementary course at W&K: „Die Künste: Praxis und Vermittlung“ und „Kulturmanagement und kulturelle Produktion“ an der Schnittstelle von Wissenschaft und Kunst. Programmbereich „Gesellschaft & Nachhaltigkeit | Zeitgenössische Kunst und Kulturproduktion“