About Focus Sustainability
Focus Sustainability is the national centre for student engagement with sustainability in Switzerland. The centre was launched in February 2021 by the Swiss Association of Student Organisations for Sustainability (VSN-FDD-FSS) and the Swiss Student Union (VSS-UNES-USU). Our mission is to enable students at higher education institutions to meaningfully pursue their transformation potential in their commitment to sustainability. To ensure this, we organise events and coaching programmes for students and work in partnership with stakeholders from both the higher education sector and society.
The goal of the national centre is to create a national network of students, higher education institutions and support platforms to assist students getting meaningfully engaged with sustainability.
Vision
All students commit meaningfully to a sustainable society during their study years and beyond.
Mission
We enable students at higher education institutions to meaningfully pursue their transformation potential in their commitment to sustainability. To ensure this, we work in partnership with stakeholders from both the higher education sector and society.
Empowerment
We inspire and motivate students to get engaged in sustainability.
Support
We support students in realising their sustainability ideas, through a variety of offers such as information, courses and counselling.
Network
We promote dialogue by connecting students with each other and with stakeholders from the higher education landscape and society.
Focus on Students
We inspire and motivate students at higher education institutions to get involved in sustainability. Moreover, we support students in developing, implementing and scaling up their sustainability projects.
Community
By means of our website, newsletter and social media channels, we keep students up to date on latest news and opportunities. Also, through networking events, we connect students with each other.
Workshops
We offer students a range of workshops and programmes on topics such as: project management, communication, fundraising and networking.
Coaching
Through our coaching and mentoring programmes, we provide support by sustainability experts.
Network
We increase knowledge, motivation and creativity through networking events.
Focus on Higher Education Institutions
Higher education institutions are generally positively inclined towards students’ extracurricular projects. However, lack of resources often makes it hard to seek contact with motivated students, and to advise and accompany them in the implementation of their sustainability projects. We aim to be a strong partner for higher education institutions and support their efforts in counselling, coaching and communication. Furthermore, we collaborate with the funding programme U Change – Student Initiatives for Sustainable Development. Also, we are a member of sustainability at swissuniversities, the network of Swiss higher education institutions. In our work with support platforms that assist committed students and promote student projects, we focus on:
● networking
● exchanging experiences
● coordinating activities
● developing joint services for students
● joint communication
Project Lead
Noémie Widmer
Working areas
- Contact person for higher education institutions, support platforms, organizations and students in the german-speaking Switzerland
- Fundraising
- Promoting cooperation in Switzerland on the topic of student engagement with sustainability
Mégane Schafhirt
Working areas
- Contact person for higher education institutions, support platforms, organizations and students in the french-speaking Switzerland
- Marketing and communication
- Promoting cooperation in Switzerland on the topic of student engagement with sustainability
Steering Committee
Marina Stone
Student Co-President
Swiss Association of Student Organisations for Sustainability (VSN-FDD-FSS)
Benjamin Pierroz
Student Co-President
Swiss Student Union (VSS-UNES-USU)
Christian Pohl
Representative — U Change
Chairperson
U Change
Jacopo Grazioli
Representative — Universities
Team Lead Sustainability and Education
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne
Andrea Flora Bauer
Coordinator Diversity & Sustainability
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW
Markus Wilhelm
Representative — Universities of Teacher Education
Head of Study Programme/Institute for Didactics of Nature, Human, Society and Sustainable Development
University of Teacher Education Lucerne
Lara Mogge
Society Representative — Economic Sustainability
Program Lead Circular Economy & Climate Action
Impact Hub Zürich
Anna van der Ploeg
Society Representative — Social Sustainability
Responsible for Educational Work
Helvetas
Simon Zysset
Society Representative — Ecological Sustainability
Responsible for Education Partnerships
WWF Switzerland
Yael Kälin
Student Representative — Universities
Join our Community
Stay up to date about our workshops and programmes and sign up for our newsletter.