HomeEventsThe Sustainability Transformation Symposium

The Sustainability Transformation Symposium United in a transition from within

  • What: University Sustainability Transformation Symposium
  • When: 7 October 2021
  • Where: Agora, Vrijhof, University of Twente

A vision of the future

What is our collective vision of the University of Twente as a sustainable, circular and resilient university in 2030 and beyond? How can our community of researchers, teachers, support staff and students transform our organisation so that our university can maximise its positive social and environmental impact? These are questions we hope to answer in our ambitious symposium on the how of University Sustainability Transformation (UST) on 7 October 2021.

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Breaking down walls

UST requires all faculties working together in inter- and transdisciplinary teams of researchers and students that leverage the science, tech and engineering we teach and investigate as a community. Our aim with this symposium therefore is to provide a platform for existing inspirational faculty teams to showcase their research and teaching initiatives. The purpose? To break down disciplinary walls for innovation to sustainability solutions to take place across faculties borders.

Initiatives and innovations

Organised by the Green Hub Twente, Shaping Expert Group for Sustainability, Student union and other colleagues, this symposium will not just be any regular sustainability conference, but one driven intrinsically by the culture of our own university. The event will consist of keynotes from relevant specialists in applying sustainability and transformation management to the university, as well as lectures and workshops given by experts, student teams and management across disciplines. We want to create a platform for the whole spectrum of initiatives and innovations on sustainability to be showcased so we can begin to weave together a whole-UT signature approach to Sustainability Transformation.

Overall, we encourage participants to be bold, audacious and open, and seek to think and act in an interconnected manner; then we can unite our multiple identities into a united whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Preliminary programme

Moderator: Thyne Scholte

  • Morning programme: Sustainability Transformation

    Opening & keynote

    08:30 – 09:00

    Walk-in with coffee/tea

    09:00 – 09:15

    Kickoff and Introduction

    09:15 - 09:45

    Keynote Philipp PattbergDirector of the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (online)

    Session 1: Sustainability transformation

    Redesigning the UT institutional model for strong sustainability outcomes

    09:45 – 10:45

    Various presentations from faculty change initiatives in research, education and management.

    10:45 - 11:05

    Break: coffee & snacks

    11:05 - 11:35

    Interactive Keynote - Brechje Marechal - Sustainability Goals of UT and how to implement them

    11:35 - 12:30

    Workshop: Co-creating the Quintessentials of Sustainability at UT

    12:30 - 13:30

    Lunch break & networking

  • Afternoon programme: Innovation on Campus

    SESSION 2: Innovation on campus

    13:30 - 14:00

    Keynote  - Charlotte Bonner - National Head of Education for Sustainable Development, ETF UK

    14:00 - 15:15

    Various presentations from innovative on-campus sustainability initiatives in research, education and management.

    • Wiro Kuipers - EnschedeLAB / Nano-challenge approach 
    • Nando TolboomEnergy Data/Carbon Platform
    • Leon Borgdorf - UTs educational model and student wellbeing 
    • Kay Beckers (Zuyd University of Applied Sciences) – Electification of Aviation
    • Ype Willemsen - FiDETT: Stakeholder Engagement and Digitalisation in the Dutch Energy Transition

    15:15 - 15:30

    Coffee & snacks break

    15:30 - 16:00 

    Keynote Patricia Reyes Benavides - PhD candidate, University of Twente – Action research and Intersectionality


    16:00 - 16:40

    Plenary workshop 2: Carving out the UT Transformation Strategy: an Action Plan

    Closing

    16:40 - 17:00

    Round up and closing statements

    17:00 – 17:30 

    Drinks, Snacks & Networking

Sign up for the Sustainability Transformation Symposium!
Click here to register