Rethinking the future: universities, politics, and society working together for change

‍Sustainability Day at Bern's Higher Education Institutions, October 31, 2025.

The four Higher Education Institutions in Bern—the Bern Institution of Teacher Education (PHBern), the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), the University of Bern, and the Bern Institution of Teacher Education (PH NMS Bern)—cordially invite you to actively participate in Sustainability Day 2025.

This year's Sustainability Day will focus on transdisciplinary approaches and their potential to shape a sustainable future. In close cooperation with external partners from business, society, and politics, we want to initiate a new culture of science that addresses global challenges and develops practical solutions.

Strengthening the links between science and society

In view of complex social and ecological challenges, transdisciplinary cooperation has become a key factor for sustainable change. The Sustainability Day 2025 provides a platform for further developing the third mission of universities—the social responsibility of science and education, such as knowledge and technology transfer, social innovation, and regional engagement—and for strengthening the links between science and society.

This requires science to focus even more on social needs and to overcome boundaries between disciplines. We are looking for innovative concepts and ideas that make knowledge practically usable and open up new perspectives.

A new educational and institutional culture

The day offers space to explore forward-looking educational models that focus on sustainability and social relevance. At the same time, the possibilities of forward-looking institutional cultures that promote cooperation and mutual learning between universities and external partners will also be explored.

Program

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09:00–09:30

Registration/welcome coffee

09:30–09:45

Welcome

09:45–10:30

Panel discussion

10:30–11:00

Coffee break

11:00 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

Project market

12:15–1:15 p.m.

Lunch

1:15–2:30 p.m.

Project market

2:45–3:45 p.m.

Campfire sessions

4:00–4:30 p.m.

Apéro and artistic finale