Mendel University in Brno has issued a Sustainability Strategy valid for the period from 2025 to 2030, the first document of its kind at the university. MENDELU’s vision is to work towards environmental, social and administrative sustainability of the whole institution, the goals of this strategy are also written into the strategic plan of the university, they will be linked through plans for the implementation of the plan. The Sustainability Strategy has been prepared with the financial support of the NPO project Promoting Green Skills and Sustainability at MENDELU.
“I believe that the study and science of Mendel University will inspire a change in thinking, which we urgently need for sustainable living on our planet,” said Jan Mareš, Rector of the University. The campus will add bins for sorted waste, new green roofs, walls and other green elements. In the area of catering, the university plans to increase the use of its own food production, from faculties and school enterprises. “Among the more costly items, we can mention the installation of photovoltaic panels, part of the cost will be covered by a subsidy. Another more costly item is the planned electric vehicles in the service fleet,” Martin Klimanek, Vice-Rector for Strategy, Sustainability and Purposeful Activities, explained.

In the field of science and research, a Sustainable Research Ten. “As far as the operation and administration of the university is concerned, further solutions are gradually being developed and implemented in the field of digitalization of the institution in order to reduce the administrative burden for students and staff, and to minimize the consumption of paper and toner. As far as operational matters are concerned, a major challenge is the gradual conversion of all information on facilities and infrastructure into digital form, among other things, in order to optimise the management of the University’s assets,” the Vice-Chancellor outlined. The proposed measures should result in a gradual reduction of energy consumption and energy consumption, to the careful management of drinking water, to the use of rainwater and to the minimization of waste.

The MENDELU community is involved in shaping cultural heritage and implementing the concept of social responsibility. “We want to create a multicultural environment with the participation of international students and employees and at the same time be a quality and responsible employer. We aim to provide quality education with an emphasis on critical thinking and creativity of graduates, and to implement innovative research with global distribution of knowledge and knowledge transfer at our workplaces,” Klimánek described.

The university has started reporting on its sustainability activities with the MENDELU Sustainability Report 2022; the aim is to publish the report every year, in both Czech and English. A new feature in 2025 will be the appointment of a sustainability manager or manager. A Sustainability Marketing Strategy 2025+ will be prepared in the same year. Due to the large number of events organised, a related MENDELU Sustainable Events Manual is also in preparation, which will offer recommendations and examples of good practice.

Since the end of 2024, Mendel University in Brno has also been the head of the Czech Rectors’ Conference Working Group on Sustainability, with MENDELU Rector Jan Mareš as the guarantor and Vice-Rector Martin Klimánek as the secretary. The Working Group currently has 18 members, including representatives of Czech public and private universities. “MENDELU will share its experience in the field of non-financial reporting in cooperation with the participating universities, for example, a unified structure of sustainability reports could be the outcome,” said Vice-Rector Klimánek.