Openening of the ENGAGE.EU Winter School
At the opening of the first ENGAGE.EU Winter School at the University of Mannheim, 44 students from different disciplines came together. The challenge for the coming week is an intensive examination of the topic Studium Oecologicum – Current Issues in Sustainability. The aim is to provide participants with an understanding of current knowledge and skills in sustainability. Interdisciplinary academic exchange and intercultural experiences are central elements of the programme.
In his opening speech, ENGAGE-EU coordinator Moritz Fleischmann warmly welcomed all participants. He was particularly pleased that students from all nine partner universities were represented: ‘It's a pleasure to welcome this range of disciplines and cultures here. Bringing together people from different institutions and backgrounds is what ENGAGE.EU is all about.’ The second central aspect, the topic of sustainability, is also of great social importance: ‘Climate change is an urgent challenge. The pressure to give it increasing importance is constantly rising.’
Strengthening awareness of sustainability is the task of the Mannheim Climate Protection Agency. In her keynote speech, project manager Caroline Golly drew attention to our own behaviour and its impact on the carbon footprint. This is a challenge that not only private individuals, but also municipalities, politicians and companies must pursue for a sustainable future. ‘We have to do more than adapt to climate change – we have to reduce emissions,’ she emphasised, citing the example of Mannheim with regard to the increasing heat in cities. ‘City centres already have a serious problem in summer that requires action.’ The students delved straight into the topic with questions and lively discussions.

