Committed to society for society
If you want to play an active role in shaping social change, you need to engage with the players in society. Our faculty focuses on a co-creative process. Internationally oriented and regionally anchored, we fulfill a social mission with strong research and sustainable teaching: generating knowledge through research and making it effective for society.
Acting in the present for the future
Energy transition, mobility, water management, adaptation to climate change, open space and landscape planning as well as digitalization offer enormous potential to contribute to overcoming the global challenges of the present for the future.
We see ourselves as a driver of social innovation and want to help shape social change processes. A close transdisciplinary exchange with society's stakeholders is essential for this.
This exchange is based on global cooperation with universities and other partners. In transdisciplinary research and student projects, regional problems are examined in an international context and globally applicable knowledge and solutions are developed. In real-world laboratories, which offer ideal conditions for this, scientists work together with stakeholders to identify the associated challenges, problems and knowledge gaps. Specific research needs are derived from this and innovation processes are initiated.
Knowledge transfer into practice
We also offer further opportunities for cooperation and formats for the mutual transfer of knowledge. Through capacity development measures such as training courses or summer schools, we pass on our knowledge and expertise to practitioners (e.g. local authorities and decision-makers). The aim is to create and utilize synergies between science and practice.
Would you like to find out more about our capacity-building and knowledge transfer services for your employees? Do you have ideas for student projects or specific research or consulting needs? Are you looking for partners to realize other projects or cooperation projects? Get in touch with us, we look forward to hearing from you!
Examples of partnerships with representatives of society (selection)
- Bezirksregierung Köln (Cologne district government)
- Kolpingstadt Kerpen (Kolping City of Kerpen)
- Zweckverband Naturpark Rheinland (Rhineland Nature Park Special Purpose Association)
- Erftverband (Erft Association)
- Kultur- und Naturstiftung Schloss Türnich (Türnich Castle Cultural and Nature Foundation)