The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna was founded in 1872 and is today an attractive place for more than 12 000 students. BOKU perceives itself as a teaching and research center for renewable resources, which are necessary for human life. It is BOKU's objective to help make a considerable contribution to the conservation and protection of resources for future generations by providing diversity in its fields of study. Within its 15 departments and 70 institutes, BOKU connects natural sciences, engineering, and economic sciences, and fosters the exchange of knowledge of the ecologically and economically sustainable use of natural resources.

An important feature of BOKU's research lies in its recognition of future problems and the efforts to provide and stimulate practical relevance.

BOKU provides 9 bachelor and 25 master studies. Its teaching is designed holistically and in a coordinated manner. It leads graduates to knowledge, understanding, and flexibility. From this program, they gain the willingness to face future challenges and the capability to meet them in a competent way. The cosmopolitan scientific vocational education and training enable them to understand complex interdisciplinary relationships.

In its sustainability strategy, BOKU amongst others committed to one important goal: "During their study life, every BOKU student must at least once intensively deal with the topics of sustainability". In order to reach this high aim, BOKU reorganizes the existing teaching structures and creates new learning opportunities for students as well as lecturers to deal with education for sustainable development.

With the Copernicus Alliance membership, BOKU primarily aims to foster inter- and transdisciplinary exchange of good practice and knowledge on ESD as well as to have access to up-to-date solutions for current ESD challenges.

The Copernicus Alliance Conference 2016 is a great opportunity for both the Alliance and BOKU, the conference host. Our goal is for BOKU to organize this conference under the “Green Meeting” directive of the Austrian Eco Label. Hence, Copernicus Alliance will be able to present a green meeting certified conference for the first time since the foundation of the Alliance. BOKU accepts this great challenge with honor.

 

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