Solution Initiatives: We promote the development of future-relevant solutions.
SDSN Switzerland financially supports up to three solution initiatives each year. These are projects in which two or more SDSN members collaborate to contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Member and partner organizations are invited to submit proposals for projects and activities. These should address a clearly defined problem, be scalable, promote collaboration and strengthen interactions between science and policy.
Switzerland is severely affected by species extinction: almost half of all habitat and more than a third of species in Switzerland are threatened (SCNAT 2019). The loss of land due to settlement development in particular is continuously increasing pressure on ecosystems. The experimental educational project Campus4Biodiversity aims to raise awareness of the problem among future actors in the construction industry and provide them with knowledge, tools and networks so that they can work to increase biodiversity in urban areas. Students acquire expertise on the topic of biodiversity in the classroom and, in interdisciplinary teams, develop solutions for selected urban or industrial areas through project-based learning. The program is to be implemented at universities of applied sciences and universities that offer degrees in the construction sector.
Curriculum Change @ Business Education
The integration of sustainability knowledge and skills into business education in Switzerland needs to be strengthened. It is time to prepare students for current and future social and economic challenges of sustainability. This initiative by the University of St. Gallen, the University of Lausanne, the Bern University of Applied Sciences and WWF Switzerland aims to build a network of committed business and management experts and create a freely accessible platform with learning materials, best practices and an array of other tools. Training workshops for lecturers are also part of the initiative.
Intrapreneurship Academy
The Intrapreneurship Academy taps into participants’ untapped potential, cultivates resilience and fosters creativity in a changing world. This professional development program is a hands-on process for becoming agile and resourceful. It aims to prepare leaders to shape tomorrow’s economy. They learn to see problems as opportunities for targeted innovation and to prepare their organizations for the future through improved team dynamics and autonomy. In the program, they work on real-world solutions. It builds their confidence and resilience, and they build meaningful connections and cross-sector collaboration within a network of leading organizations.
Pilot projects for revising curricula in sustainability-oriented management and business degree programs
Every eighth Swiss student chooses to study business or economics. These students often take on influential leadership positions in companies, NGOs or the public sector later on. Sustainability-oriented values and methods are still poorly integrated into many management and business courses, however. Integration is essential, though, because managers’ decisions have a major impact on natural resources. In pilot projects, this initiative by WWF Switzerland, the University of St. Gallen and other partners promotes relevant skills such as transdisciplinary, critical and integrative thinking and action. Additionally, a network of university business stakeholders is being established to exchange experiences and learn from each other. Additionally, a network of university business stakeholders is being established to exchange experiences and learn from each other.
Sustainability Week for Businesses
Der Schweizer Verband studentischer Organisationen für Nachhaltigkeit (VSN) unterstützt und begleitet Unternehmen bei der Organisation einer individuellen Nachhaltigkeitswoche, die auf die Bedürfnisse des Unternehmens und seiner Mitarbeitenden zugeschnitten ist. The aim is to motivate and empower employees to integrate the SDGs into the corporate culture. Personal responsibility and employee engagement are specifically promoted, which not only strengthens a sustainable corporate culture but also creates a working environment oriented to the future. In this way, companies actively contribute to solving environmental, social and economic challenges and support sustainable innovation for a prosperous and resilient Swiss economy.
Biblio 2030
Libraries are centers of competence for transferring knowledge regarding topics of the 2030 Agenda. They are thus key institutions for achieving the SDGs. With Biblio 2030, BiblioSuisse wants to ensure that libraries make information about the SDGs and the skills to use this information accessible to everyone. Participating libraries provide up-to-date literature on the SDGs, organize events on topics related to the 2030 Agenda, and forward information and materials from the Confederation, cantons and municipalities to the public.
Beyond Waste | Circular Resources Lab
The GAiA journal’s thematic issue about the SDGs aims to present important findings from several transformational research initiatives. Transformative knowledge is an extremely important component for bringing about the changes necessary to achieve the SDGs in business and society. With this issue, we hope to promote mutual learning and stimulate discourse about transforming science and research for sustainable development. The guest editors of this issue are Ocèane Dayer and Urs Wiesmann, co-chairs of SDSN Switzerland.
