In the week of 6 May a Sustainability Week was organised at KU Leuven (Belgium). This was an initiative of the Green Office for KU Leuven, in collaboration with the student unions of all faculties, the student council, the Sustainability Office of the vice-rector for Sustainability, and Pangaea (a welcoming place for international students). The goal was to create awareness about sustainability in all its dimensions, by bringing less known dimensions – such as economic and social aspects – into the spotlight.
The mission of the Green Office, a student-led initiative integrated within the university structure, is to set up events, campaigns and projects on sustainability topics. Last year they organised a one-day symposium, ‘Facing the Future’, showcasing various transdisciplinary and service-learning initiatives. This year for the first time they launched a university-broad full week event.
The goal was to create awareness about sustainability in all its dimensions, by bringing less known dimensions – such as economic and social aspects – into the spotlight. The Green Office planned a main activity each day, while other organisations, students and staff members were encouraged to organize their own events within the framework of this week. In total 26 actions took place at various campuses in Leuven, Brussels, Kortrijk and Genk. Some examples: a lecture with renowned economist Prof. Martin Weitzman, a symposium on transdisciplinary research and service learning, a veggie picnic, a repair café and a panel discussion on "foodprint"..