The Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society (HWG LU) hosted its first Networking & Career Day on October 10, 2023, which was all about sustainability. With lectures, networking opportunities and a sustainable organic regional buffet, the innovative career event offered a platform for exchange between students/career starters and selected companies with a focus on sustainability. The event, organized by the university's International Office, took place as part of the EU-funded sustainability project "Sustainable Horizons". This project brings together six European universities that are implementing projects to increase sustainability in the areas of education, society and research.
Exciting presentations:
The Networking & Career Day kicked off with keynote speeches: Prof. Dr. Johannes Kals, Professor of Business Administration, in particular Sustainability and Energy Management at the University's Department of Management, Controlling, HealthCare, opened the international lecture series with his contribution on the topic of "Green Energy Transition". In it, he focused in particular on Germany's role. His conclusion: even though Germany only causes 2 percent of the world's climate-damaging emissions, it still plays a role: Germany is regarded by other countries as the "laboratory of the world" and has a corresponding role model function, Kals was convinced of this. With regard to career prospects, he advised the students that it is important to acquire technical engineering knowledge in addition to operational expertise in sustainability in order to be successful in this field in the long term.
The second lecture was given by Elio Vicente, alumnus of the partner university Universidade do Algarve in Faro, Portugal, and head biologist at the Portuguese amusement park Zoomarine Algarve and the associated Porto D'Abrigo, a rehabilitation center for sick or injured marine animals. Vicente gave a very vivid account of the very successful efforts to date to combine a tourist attraction with sustainability: In addition to the rehabilitation center for marine animals, Zoomarine also stands for reforestation projects, beach cleaning campaigns or used water treatment. According to Vicente, the use of solar energy, the avoidance of pesticides and a high proportion of electromobility are a matter of course.
In the final presentation of the day, Anne-Marie Tuomala, Senior Lecturer and Project Manager of the Sustainable Horizons consortium at the Finnish LAB University of Applied Sciences in Lahti, offered exciting insights into the world of sustainable leadership. Her lecture "Sustainable Leadership: Skills for a Sustainable Future" focused in particular on essential skills such as environmental awareness, ethical behavior and entrepreneurial thinking. She illustrated these principles using concrete examples from practice and made clear how companies and organizations can successfully implement sustainable leadership. Anne-Marie Tuomala concluded her presentation with a motivational message to the audience, calling on them to actively engage in the world of sustainable leadership and develop the necessary skills for a sustainable future.
Diverse networking opportunities:
The second part of the Networking & Career Day was then all about dialog between students and the participating companies: In a relaxed atmosphere and with a sustainable organic regional buffet, prepared by the pupils of Ludwigshafen's Georgens School, the guests now had the opportunity to enter into conversation with eight selected companies: BASF, Bauhaus, Etengo, ARAG, tecis, Bechtle, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen or WSB were available to the students as contacts. In addition to the exchange about sustainability and the placement of jobs, internships, working student positions, theses and trainee programs, topics such as further education and training, diversity management, sustainable business models, resource-saving process transformation, CO₂ savings or the protection and preservation of natural ecosystems and biodiversity were also discussed. The Rhine-Neckar Graduate School and the university's start-up office were also on hand to answer students' questions. "The feedback from the participating companies and students on this new format has been very good so far. The compact programme and the exciting exchange were particularly praised," said organizer Nils Sitar, Project Manager Sustainable Horizons, at the end of the day.
Expert contact:
Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society
Nils Sitar
Project Manager Sustainable Horizons & Student Recruitment Manager
Project European Universities & Student Recruitment
Mobile: +1523 4661319
Email: nils.sitar@hwg-lu.de
