ESD – I’m already doing it!?

As part of “ESD – I’m already doing it!?”, we are conducting a survey at Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) in North Rhine-Westphalia during the winter semester 2026/27. The survey explores how Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is understood and how it is put into practice in higher education teaching.

The survey covers all 20 Universities of Applied Sciences in North Rhine-Westphalia and builds on the statewide ESD survey carried out at universities in 2024. For the first time, it adds the perspective of Universities of Applied Sciences, creating a broader evidence base across different types of higher education institutions. This will help identify similarities, differences, and areas for further development in the implementation of ESD in higher education.

The aim is to gain a better understanding of how ESD is perceived and integrated into teaching at Universities of Applied Sciences, as well as the challenges lecturers face and the kinds of support they need.

The findings are intended to provide impulses for the further development of support measures and for strategic processes aimed at strengthening and embedding ESD across higher education institutions in North Rhine-Westphalia.