The University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde (HNEE) receives Europe's most important and largest sustainability award, the German Sustainability Award (DNP) in the Company category. As a university, HNEE is being honoured for its formative role as a pioneer in the sustainable transformation of the education sector, making it the leading institution among schools and universities. The official and ceremonial presentation of the award to 100 winners from 20 sectors and industries will take place on 28 November as part of a major ceremony at the 17th German Sustainability Day with over 1200 guests in Düsseldorf.

HNEE came out on top in the final of the competition in the education and research/schools and universities sector and is taking on a pioneering role here. According to the DNP Foundation, HNEE's whole institution approach makes it a driving force for sustainable development. This holistic approach of HNEE makes it one of the top German educational institutions. The jury of 224 members (each expert jury with around five experts) from research, associations, consulting and civil society ranked it among the 100 pioneers of the transformation process in Germany. With a

• future-relevant study programme,
• sustainability anchored in the curriculum,
• strong sustainability research
• combined with award-winning eco-management
• and climate-neutral for 10 years

Since its foundation in 1992, the university has been actively shaping the transformation to a sustainable society and teaching its students the necessary design skills. Since 2010, the university, with its unique range of study programmes and research focus, has also carried its central theme of sustainable development in its name.

Prof. Dr Matthias Barth, President of HNEE, is delighted with HNEE's success: "We are delighted with this special recognition of the commitment we have shown for many years! Students, teachers and our numerous companions on the path of the transformation process are constantly providing creative impetus, strengthening and anchoring sustainability in business and society. We see this as an incentive to continue driving the transformation process towards a sustainable society in the future and to firmly anchor it in everyday university life! To this end, we are currently realigning our organisation so that we can continue to support the social transformation processes in the future with optimal offerings."

For Kerstin Kräusche, Sustainability Officer at HNEE, the German Sustainability Award is a special honour: "The German Sustainability Award is a special recognition of our university's comprehensive commitment to sustainability. We show how the sustainable transformation can succeed - not only in teaching, research and administration, but also in shaping the university environment together. Students experience this on a daily basis, they can participate, apply their knowledge directly and thus provide their own impetus for sustainable development at the university."

Around 1,200 guests are expected to attend the award ceremony on 28 November in Düsseldorf together with the CEOs and sustainability managers of the 100 winners. In addition, exemplary achievements in the transformation fields of resources, society, nature and climate will be honoured with special and honorary prizes. The congress and the festive event will be hosted by Judith Rakers (ARD), Prof Eckart von Hirschhausen, Dirk Steffens (RTL), Norbert König (ZDF), Stefanie Hauer, Karsten Schwanke (ARD), Gregor Steinbrenner (ZDF/3sat) and Ralph Caspers (ARD), among others. Highlights include a vegetarian menu by Michelin-starred chef Nelson Müller and the first and only performance by the legendary Belgian band "Vaya Con Dios" in Germany for 10 years.

The German Sustainability Award is presented in a two-stage competition based on AI-supported research, the involvement of expert juries and a proprietary scoring system.

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