Topic 2025: Circular Growth

• How can we transform a small leftover urban plot into a functional and inspiring space that meets the needs of a next-generation university?

• What innovative ideas can help us seamlessly integrate circular economy principles into the development and operation of a sustainable learning hub?

• What strategies and initiatives could inspire students and staff at a future-focused university to adopt sustainable practices and drive positive change?

This year’s WinterSchool offers you the chance to tackle one of two inspiring projects, each focused on creating impactful solutions for a sustainable campus.

In Project A, you’ll reimagine a small leftover urban plot, transforming it into a vibrant and functional space that supports learning, collaboration, and innovation. This is your opportunity to combine creative design with sustainable thinking to solve real-world challenges.

Project B invites you to explore how circular economy principles and innovative strategies can be integrated into the development and operation of university spaces. From rethinking materials to promoting sustainability in everyday operations, this project encourages bold ideas that challenge the status quo.

What if your ideas could drive real change?

This project is your chance to immerse yourself in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) – an approach that goes beyond traditional learning to empower you to act as a change-maker for a better world.

ESD equips you with the skills, knowledge, and mindset to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. By addressing the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability, ESD helps you think critically, collaborate effectively, and create solutions that have a lasting impact.

In this project, you’ll:

• Explore real-world challenges: How can a university campus operate sustainably? How can we integrate circular economy principles into everyday operations?

• Work hands-on: Develop innovative concepts that combine sustainability, design, and functionality.

• Be inspired: Discover how your actions can drive meaningful change, creating innovative solutions that blend sustainability, creativity, and real-world impact.

This project aligns closely with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making your work part of a global effort to create a better future. By focusing on SDG #4 (Quality Education), you’ll engage in transformative learning experiences that empower you to lead and innovate. Through SDG #11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), your ideas will contribute to designing urban spaces that are inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. Embracing SDG #12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), you’ll explore how to integrate circular economy principles into campus operations. Finally, with SDG #13 (Climate Action), you’ll develop strategies that address the challenges of climate change through mitigation and adaptation. Together, these goals provide the foundation for your work, connecting local action with global impact.

This is your opportunity to shape a forward-thinking university and contribute to a greener, more inclusive future. Together with peers from around the world, you’ll not only learn but also create actionable solutions that reflect the core of ESD: turning knowledge into impact.

Are you ready to lead, create, and inspire? Let’s make sustainability a reality – together.

Register for the WinterSchool

Join us this winter in the alpine region of Kufstein

The alpine region serves as the backdrop for our WinterSchool, a place known for its balance between city development and environmental sustainability.

Explore relevant questions about public spaces and their relevance to current and future challenges. During this WinterSchool, you will work together in inter- and intra-disciplinary teams for a week. Real-world examples of sustainability, energy, and real estate will be presented in the alpine setting of Kufstein. The WinterSchool offers the opportunity to explore these area in depth and make international contacts. With online research components prior to participation and a post-week summary, this program offers a comprehensive blend of virtual and on-site learning experiences.

The workload can vary individually. When participating in all tasks, the wokload corresponds to 150 hours. This includes approx. 50 hours for the block week, 50 hours for preparatory online research, and an additional 50 hours on average for follow-up activities. Upon successful completion of all components, you will be issued a certificate of attendance.

Time Schedule

• Start: 17.02.2025: 12:00 = 12 a.m. (CET)
• Final: 21.02.2025: 15:30 = 03:30 p.m. (CET)

Intradisciplinary project & international expertise

During the WinterSchool, a wide range of topics is covered, including sustainability and energy management, real estate management, financing and investment, and technical and social aspects. With more than 200 students from international partner universities, you will work for a week in small groups on a project task. Experts and coaches support you in learning about new ideas and approaches, researching, analyzing, sharing experiences, learning from each other, and expanding your skills. You will present your ideas in interim presentations and receive feedback on them. At the end, you will present a sustainable concept in front of a jury that will evaluate the project and provide feedback.

Be part of the award-winning WinterSchool

In 2014, our WinterSchool was awarded the Austrian Sustainability Award for the structural anchoring of the project. The award was given by the Ministry of Life and the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy. In 2014, the Austrian UNESCO Commission awarded the WinterSchool for sustainable education as an Austrian UN Decade Project. In 2018, our WinterSchool received again the Austrian Sustainability Award as an award in the field of sustainable cooperation from the Federal Ministry of Sustainability and Tourism and the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research.

Sustainable education

Your participation in the Winterschool is free of charge. At the same time you commit yourself with your registration to the obligatory participation. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your registration so that we can adjust the group allocation. Please organize your journey and accommodation in Kufstein independently and at your own expense in time. The cheap guesthouses are booked up very quickly. Kufstein and the University of Applied Sciences are very easy to reach by train. So please travel as ecologically as possible. In Kufstein you have many possibilities to get food: in the cafeteria of the university, many restaurants and snack bars around and of course we have a microwave to heat up your own food during the daily lunch break.

WinterSchool is a sustainable & green event

We are very proud that the WinterSchool has been recognized and certified as a sustainable event by Green Event Tirol.

Sustainability is not only important to us in teaching and research, but we also put this into practice. The drinks at our entire university of applied sciences and at the WinterSchool are offered in reusable containers. The food we offer at the WinterSchool evening event is vegetarian and vegan. We pay attention to waste separation and . save water. Our paper is recycled paper and we use it as sparingly as possible at the WinterSchool. We generate part of our electricity ourselves via photovoltaic elements on the roof. Our buildings have a good insulation standard and consume little energy. We are part of the biogenic district heating network in Kufstein and our cooling system uses cold groundwater. We also pay attention to energy-saving devices in our IT components. These are just some of the measures we take as a university to set an example for our students and the region.

Essential working material

The tasks are to be created digitally. Please bring an internet enabled device (laptop or tablet) with the ability to edit presentations, share data via MS Teams, and communicate. Also have a headest with you! Warm clothes and waterproof and snowproof shoes are important, even though we don't know what the weather will be like today. We will spend some time together outdoors and on excursions. Please budget for some spending money as well. We are planning evening events together to get to know each other and socialize.

Kufstein - great place in the alpine region whre eyou

Kufstein is surrounded by high mountains with a breath-taking panorama. The contrast between the historic old town, the fortress and the nearby mountains strongly contribute to the atmosphere and attraction of Kufstein. Thus the city’s nickname is “The Pearl of the Tyrol”. Kufstein and our Fachhochschule Kufstein Tirol - University of Applied Sciences welcomes you for the WinterSchool. 47.58396 / 12.17332 Fachhochschule Kufstein Tirol, Austria

Kufstein & our University is very well connected - take advantage of a sustainable arrival

In the context of sustainability, we look forward to your support and ask you to use environmentally friendly public transportation - the train station is a 5-10 minute walk away and is also fully barrier-free. Overall, the sustainable journey to the WinterSchool in Kufstein by public transport offers an excellent opportunity to take part in the WinterSchool.

Getting to the WinterSchool by public transport is very easy:

• Munich or Rosenheim: there is a regular train connection every hour between shortly before 5:00 a.m. and midnight.
• Salzburg and Vienna: are also well connected with the Westbahn, RailJet or BRB local transport.
• Innsbruck: You have up to two train connections per hour, where trains run from shortly before 5 a.m. until after midnight.
• Zurich: You also have regular, fast train connections via Innsbruck
• interantional connections: You can easily get to Kufstein by train from Munich, Salzburg, Vienna and Innsbruck airports. If you have any questions about your travel route, please contact us. We support your sustainable journey!

Direct links to public transportation services:

• ÖBB - Austrian Railways
• DB - German Railways
• MVV - Munich Transport Network : including the bus and train connections from Munich central station, Munich Airport MUC and Rosenheim up to Kufstein (last German train station)
• City Bus Kufstein

If public transportation is not possible due to the connection to your starting point, form carpools and carpooling options!

WinterSchool is an accessible event

• All relevant areas of the WinterSchool are barrier-free.
• There will be sufficient spaces available for wheelchair users and their companions.
• An orientation system for blind and visually impaired people leads from important points in the city of Kufstein to our university. Our university buildings are equipped with a tactile guidance system including university lecture hall signage.
• Portable induction loop system with microphone and headphones are available at our Infopoint in the main entrance.

Further information can be found on the university's homepage

Register for the WinterSchool

Have questions about the Winter School? We are here for you!

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Connect with Peers: Engage with fellow students, alumni, and faculty members, share your experiences, and join the conversation about topics that matter to you.

How to Connect

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Instagram: fhkuf_sustain_estate

For any inquiries regarding registration, the program or other questions, please feel free to contact us using the contact details below:

Contact: Asc. Prof. (FH) Dipl.-Ing. Christian Huber [he/his #CallMeByMyFirstName]
Email: christian.huber@fh-kufstein.ac.at
Phone: +43 5372 71819 0
Address: Andreas Hofer-Strasse 7, 6330 Kufstein, Austria

We're here to assist you and provide you with the information you need to make the most of your Winter School experience. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us - we look forward to hearing from you!

And that was our WinterSchool.2024:

• How can we combine green solutions & sustainable infrastructure while optimizing functionality and aesthetics?

• What innovative strategies can we adopt to ensure that our spaces can withstand the emerging challenges of climate change?

• How can we design public spaces that encourage real social interaction in our digital age?

• How can we ensure that everyone, regardless of age, income, ability or background, feels welcome and included?

• What building uses & infrastructure support the Economy for the Common Good?

In this topic, we focus on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations and more specifically on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) #11 Sustainable Cities and Communitie, #13 Climate action as well as #10 Reduced Inequality.

Register for the WinterSchool