Sustainability Trainings
Every individual in society has a vital role to play in promoting sustainability and protecting the environment, ultimately contributing to a healthier and fairer world for present and future generations. At AUL, a strong institutional commitment exists to improve environmental performance—a goal that can only be realized through the united efforts of the entire academic community.
Whether you are part of the academic staff or a student, you are encouraged to broaden your understanding of sustainability and climate change by participating in the educational programs offered. These initiatives aim to raise awareness of key sustainability challenges and provide the knowledge necessary to make responsible decisions that minimize your environmental impact.
Studies have demonstrated that participation in educational activities not only enhances knowledge but also supports better mental well-being, greater life satisfaction, and a stronger sense of personal empowerment. In particular, lifelong learning has been shown to foster individual resilience and improve overall quality of life, highlighting the crucial role of continuous education in driving both personal growth and societal advancement.
Environmental aspects of trainings
A dedicated online training module has been developed to provide all University staff with the critical knowledge and competencies needed to actively support environmental sustainability efforts. This training addresses the environmental and energy impacts stemming from everyday actions, clarifies individual responsibilities in mitigating these effects, and underscores the significance of working together to enhance the University’s environmental performance.
Completion of this training is mandatory for all employees and forms an essential part of the onboarding process for new staff members. To support this, the University also conducts a monthly centralized induction session for newcomers, a 20-minute face-to-face presentation outlining the University's sustainability agenda. These sessions offer new staff an opportunity to raise questions and contribute their perspectives on sustainability issues.
Staff can access the training module through a secure platform using their University login credentials.
Module Features:
- Staff can start the training at any time and review the content and questions as needed.
- Progress can be saved and resumed later.
- The module is designed to take approximately 20 minutes to complete in one sitting.
- Employees are required to complete a total of 15 hours of mandatory training annually.
Social aspects of trainings
To strengthen the University’s commitment to inclusivity and fairness, a new training module focusing on the social aspects of sustainability is now accessible to all staff members.
This module addresses the crucial links between sustainability and the following themes:
- Justice and equity
- Diversity and inclusion
- Human rights in workplace
The course equips staff with practical tools to identify and respond to social sustainability challenges in both academic and administrative settings. It also provides strategies for embedding these vAULes into the University’s daily operations and culture.
Staff can access the module securely via a dedicated link using their University login credentials.
Key Features of the Training:
- Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Estimated completion time: 30 minutes
- Counts toward the required 15 hours of annual mandatory training
This initiative is part of the University’s broader strategy to cultivate an inclusive, socially responsible, and sustainability-driven academic community.
Student trainings
AUL has embedded sustainability education into its student induction programme through a range of engaging formats, ensuring that all new students are well-informed about the University’s sustainability policies, goals, and the ways they can make a meaningful contribution both on campus and in their daily lives.
To facilitate this, several communication and outreach strategies have been implemented:
- Booklets, distributed to all first-year students, contains key information about AUL’s sustainability vision and provides practical guidance on adopting eco-friendly behaviors from the beginning of their academic experience.
- The Student Group on Sustainability also organizes short-term educational courses on topics such as climate change, environmental issues, and sustainable development, further enhancing student knowledge and engagement.
Students are invited not only to watch the video but also to actively share their own sustainability pledges, thereby contributing to the creation of a greener, more environmentally responsible university community.
