Teaching and Learning
A Comprehensive Education for Future Leaders
At RWTH Aachen University, we embrace our institutional responsibility to catalyze society’s transition toward a sustainable future. As we prepare the next generation of global leaders, our mission is to equip our students with the skills to think critically, reflect on complex issues, and drive meaningful change. To this end, we are strategically embedding sustainability across our academic core—ensuring that every degree program, regardless of discipline, empowers students and instructors to develop innovative solutions for a complex world.
The following section details our progress in advancing sustainability within teaching and learning at RWTH. For more detailed information on objectives, measures, and priority areas through 2030, please refer to the Teaching and Learning focus area of the Sustainability Strategy on the University website.
Good to know: RWTH has a Sustainability Strategy.
The Sustainability Strategy outlines the University’s overarching goals through 2030, spanning teaching and learning, research, governance, and operations.
Sustainability in Teaching and Learning
Where Do We Stand?
Our Sustainability Strategy includes 10 objectives, 30 related measures, and 17 performance indicators to monitor progress in teaching and learning. Two of these goals were scheduled for completion by 2025, four are targeted for 2028, and the remaining four are slated for 2030.
As of the reporting date five of the 30 measures have been completed, including ongoing initiatives. Over 90 percent of measures are at least in the planning stage, and more than 60 percent are either underway or fully implemented. One key sustainability goal in teaching and learning has already been achieved. Please note that the status of each specific measure is based on annual updates, so there may be some discrepancies between the actual implementation status and the information presented here
For a detailed breakdown of our progress, the Measures and Indicators Report offers a comprehensive overview of the status of sustainability initiatives in teaching and learning. This report includes current updates on all specific measures as well as the performance indicators used to track our progress toward each objective.
Sustainability means taking responsibility for future generations. At RWTH, we actively embrace this responsibility. As one of Europe’s largest technical universities, we empower students through education to develop the knowledge and skills needed to understand global challenges and contribute to meaningful solutions.
These challenges are complex and deeply interconnected. Addressing them requires an interdisciplinary approach, making education for sustainable development increasingly cross-cutting. At the same time, it is equally important to support students and instructors in scientifically assessing complex sustainability issues and developing viable solutions. RWTH is making steady progress in advancing these capabilities across the institution.
At a Glance
Sustainability is increasingly embedded within teaching and learning at RWTH, supported by a variety of existing and evolving initiatives.
Integrating Sustainability into Teaching and Learning
How is sustainability integrated into the classroom?
Meaningful contribution to sustainable development requires that sustainability be adopted as a core guiding principle—both for individuals in their professional and personal lives and for RWTH as an institution. Our primary mission is to educate and empower. By weaving sustainability into our own institutional fabric, we provide our graduates with more than just technical expertise; we equip them with the critical competencies and values necessary to thrive in their careers and lead society’s sustainable transformation. This commitment is formalized in our Teaching and Learning Mission Statement, which underscores the importance of “raising awareness of the impact of decisions and actions” (see RWTH’s Teaching and Learning Mission Statement). As a result, sustainability is now integrated throughout RWTH’s diverse academic programs.
But how does sustainability actually manifest in the RWTH classroom? According to Professor Joost-Pieter Katoen, Vice Rector for Teaching and Learning, this integration centers on two essential dimensions: content (what is taught) and pedagogy (how it is taught). Strategically, RWTH aims to cultivate “critical reflection and systems thinking” by prioritizing “problem-based learning and high-impact, transdisciplinary projects.”
In the following video, Professor Katoen discusses how we are strategically embedding sustainability into the RWTH experience, the inherent challenges of this transition, and our roadmap for the future. Watch the video below and read on to learn more about our progress in this area.
Our Teaching and Learning Mission Statement, together with our Teaching and Learning Guidelines, provide a foundation for integrating sustainability into academic instruction. Since 2023, both documents have included sustainability as a core focus. The ALLADin project (short for “Aktualisierung von Modulhandbüchern zur Umsetzung des Leitbilds Lehre durch konsequente Kompetenzorientierung und Aufnahme der Themen Digitalisierung und Nachhaltigkeit / Updating Module Handbooks to Implement the Teaching and Learning Mission Statement through Consistent Competency Orientation and the Inclusion of Digitalization and Sustainability”), also launched in 2023, offers instructors and staff an opportunity to reflect on how sustainability can be integrated into the academic curriculum. The first step is a digital guide for module handbooks, featuring guiding questions to help instructors connect their course content to broader sustainability themes.
Sustainability Competencies for Students and Instructors
RWTH Aachen University’s Sustainability Strategy sets a clear direction for how teaching and learning will evolve in terms of sustainability in the coming years. A primary goal is for every degree program to equip students to make a meaningful contribution to a sustainable future. By 2032, each program’s competency profile must reflect this objective, integrating specific sustainability learning outcomes into the standard program evaluation process.
Sustainability competencies are already being assessed during the accreditation of new degree programs. For existing programs, this integration is ongoing as part of routine evaluations. We are on track to ensure that all our programs meet these standards no later than eight years from the adoption of our Sustainability Strategy—by 2032. Empowering students with these sustainability competencies requires that our instructors also possess these skills. A key goal of RWTH’s Sustainability Strategy is therefore to expand professional development and support services designed to help teaching staff integrate sustainability into both course content and pedagogy.
Integrating Sustainability into Teaching and Learning: An Example
While our strategic direction and plans for sustainability in teaching and learning are clearly defined, what does this actually look like in practice? Our new Bachelor’s program in Sustainable Materials Engineering is a prime example. By evolving the traditional Materials Engineering curriculum, this degree provides fresh momentum and a sharpened focus on environmental impact, according to Professor Hauke Springer.
The program “enables students to be part of a sustainable society and to contribute to the decarbonization and modernization of industry” (Sustainable Materials Engineering B.Sc.). Much of the curriculum centers on advancing sustainability within materials science. Students engage with critical questions: How can manufacturing processes become less emissions-intensive? How can material recycling be made more efficient? These are the types of real-world challenges students tackle throughout the program.
Did you know?
Videos such as the one highlighting the Bachelor’s in Sustainable Materials Engineering are produced by the Sustainability Staff Unit, among others. These videos are part of our broader sustainability communications on social media and other platforms. Learn more about our communications efforts here.
Advancing Sustainability in Higher Education
From the SDG Campus to Campus Connected
Launched in 2020, the SDG Campus project reflects RWTH Aachen University’s commitment—alongside our partner institutions—to making the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) both visible and actionable in higher education. The SDG Campus introduces students to sustainability through a practical, interdisciplinary lens, bridging the gap between global theory and local action.
Knowledge and Expertise: From RWTH, for RWTH, and Beyond
The Open Perspectives Series
The Open Perspectives event series illustrates the impact of learning and applying sustainability expertise. By featuring insights from both high-level research and student-led projects, the series showcases transformative work from within the University and the broader community. What distinguishes Open Perspectives is its intentionally multidisciplinary approach, where experts from diverse fields engage in collaborative dialogue. Participants include RWTH community members, local residents, and a wide range of external stakeholders.