Interdisciplinary paper on sustainability-oriented higher education presented at an international conference
The institutes of the Ferdinand Porsche FERNFH jointly participated in the First Conference of the DGPs Interest Group “Human – Climate – Sustainability,” which took place on March 24 and 25, 2026, at the University of Applied Sciences for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses in Hanover.
Under the theme “Human, Responsibility, Climate Crisis: Psychology in Societal Dialogue,” the conference at the University of Applied Sciences for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses in Hanover explored the role of psychology in the climate crisis and efforts to address it. The focus was on questions of responsibility, possible courses of action, and societal change. In addition to academic presentations, the program also included panel discussions, opportunities for exchange, and avenues for developing new collaborations.
During a one-hour symposium, the three institutes—the Institute of Economics & Psychology, the Institute of Information Technology & Business Informatics, and the Institute of Health Sciences —presented their joint contribution on the topic “Thinking About Sustainability Interdisciplinarily: Psychological Mechanisms in Higher Education.” In doing so, they brought together different disciplinary perspectives.
The focus was on the role that psychological factors play in sustainability-related perception, decision-making, and action processes, and how these factors can be better incorporated into various fields of study. The presentations highlighted the close connection between technical innovation, social responsibility, and sustainability-oriented education.
The central message of the symposium was clear: interdisciplinarity is not an option, but a necessity
The conference was held in a hybrid format and provided a forum for international exchange both in person and online. More than 160 researchers from across Europe participated—about 60 in person in Hanover and over 100 others online. The joint presentation by the three institutes of the Ferdinand Porsche FERNFH underscored the importance of cross-institutional collaboration for the further development of sustainability-oriented higher education.
