International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) awards Schools@University  in the category "Excellence in Innovative Collaboration".

Heather Vickery awarded project manager Karola Braun-Wanke the price in June 2018. Jury leader Matthew Gardnern applauded the "passion and creativity" that make the project special. "This international recognition means a lot to me" said Karola Braun-Wanke of the Freie Universität's Environmental Policy Research Center. This price is another testimony to her many years of work in the field of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), focusing on climate change, climate protection and sustainable ways of life. 

Every year, about 3,000 children of fifth and sixth grades in Berlin participate in the project. In addition, 400 teachers annually participate in a teachers' training. A network of 90 cooperation partners from academia and civil society makes this possible. Scientists, artists, photographers, directors, a cook and environmental organisations as well as businesses offer a great variety of workshops. "This high degree of interconnection and our friendly cooperation are one of the reasons why we got this award", said Karola Braun-Wanke.

In the final round, there were many strong competitors, including Harvard University,Yale University and the University of Copenhagen. This is the sixth award for Schools@University. In 2015, ISCN also gave an award to the sustainability initiative SUSTAIN IT!.

For more information about the ISCN award, read this press release of FU Berlin (in German).

In 2009/2010, 2011/2012 and 2013/2014, Schools@University was awarded the title of "official project of the UN Decade of ESD".

The UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) sought to mobilize the educational resources of the world to help create a more sustainable future. Many paths to sustainability (e.g. sustainable agriculture and forestry, research and technology transfer, finance, sustainable production and consumption) exist and are mentioned in the 40 chapters of Agenda 21, the official document of the 1992 Earth Summit. Education is one ofthese paths. Education alone cannot achieve a more sustainable future; however, without education and learning for sustainable development, we will not be able to reach that goal.

Please click here for further information. 

In 2010, the United Nations proclaimed the Decade on Biodiversity 2011-2020. This provides an overarching framework on biodiversity, not only for the biodiversity-related conventions, but for the entire United Nations system and all other partners engaged in biodiversity management and policy development. The Decade will help to implement the Sustainabilty Agenda that was decided upon in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. 

Outstanding projects are awarded and we are proud that Schools@University is among them. These projects work on biodiversity by protecting it or educating others about the importance of biodiversity.

Click here to read more about the Decade.

Werkstatt N (Workshop S for Sustainability) is a German award by the Council on Sustainable Development, which awards German ideas and initiatives that show paths towards a more sustainable society. Every year, 100 ideas are getting an award and Schools@University was among them in 2013.

You can find further information at http://werkstatt-n.de/. Please click here to see Schools@University's presentation on the Werkstatt N website.