The Students4Sustainability evaluation committee has selected three innovative and interdisciplinary student projects for funding in the second call 2024. The cross-university hub of the four universities in Bern thus supports committed students who are actively committed to sustainable development.

The funded projects in the fall semester 2024 are:

I can consent!

‍The project team consisting of students from PHBern, BFH and the University of Bern is planning a participatory action week in June 2025 to raise awareness of the topic of consensus. As part of “I can consent!”, stakeholders will be networked and existing educational formats for teaching consensus skills will be further developed. The project builds on the findings of the “Eight x consent” student project and is aimed not only at members of the universities but also at a broad audience in Bern.

Reconnect

The Reconnect project analyzes existing prevention offers to promote mental health among young people (secondary school 1). On this basis, the co-project leaders are developing an empowerment workshop in which students learn problem-solving skills using creative methods such as Design Thinking or EduScrum. The approaches of the interdisciplinary team of students from BFH and PHBern promote interdisciplinary skills and anchor knowledge for action sustainably in everyday school life.

What trees can do in urban areas - launch for schools

Building on the “What trees do in urban areas” project funded by Students4Sustainability, a comprehensive information system is being created for children and adults on the contribution of trees in urban areas. The topic will be presented in a target group-oriented way with a board course in Bern, teaching materials and a central website. The content is to be made widely available through cooperation with educational networks.

These projects impressively demonstrate how students at Bern's universities are developing creative and practical solutions for a sustainable future. It is also clear how synergies can be created and innovative ideas successfully implemented through cross-university cooperation.