Sustainability at SeAMK

According to its strategy, SeAMK tries to support and focus on the implementation of environmentally friendly and sustainable practices in all its operations. The aim is to bring sustainability and circular economy as a cross-cutting theme in both teaching and RDI activities as well as in everyday operations of SeAMK. The goals are set in the university level strategy, which aims at SeAMK becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

The concrete actions following the sustainability with circularity principles include among other things:

• SeAMK has calculated its carbon footprint concerning the use of energy and travelling in the context of international mobility periods of staff and students for the year of 2019 (1,624 t CO₂-eq). Indicators are under further development.
• A study course “Sustainable Development” (3 ECTS) is available for all SeAMK students from October 2020 onwards.
• Other actions supporting the sustainable, resource-effective influences on the CO₂ emissions are under development, e.g. replacing joint use cars by electric cars, adding charging points for electric cars on SeAMK’s campus, limiting air travelling to unavoidable and favouring distance meetings and working, favouring cycling and supporting the use of trains, finding out opportunities to starting a climate friendly degree programmes at SeAMK.

Carbon neutral by 2030

To promote our sustainability and responsibility work, we have committed to increase our handprint and reduce our footprint. Our handprint will be increased by expert personnel in education as well as in RDI.  SeAMK’s aim is to be carbon neutral by the year 2030.  Actions connected with CO₂ emission reduction are related to commuting and travelling, real estate, food services, and procurements.

In addition to direct environmental and sustainability goals, SeAMK aims at further enhancing the digitalisation in all activities to increase accessibility, inclusivity, and sustainability. Digitalisation goals encompasses administrative operations as well. International Mobility Services Team uses an online application and management system of mobilities. “Sole Move” already for incoming and outgoing student mobilities, and it will be adopted in staff mobilities.  The use of this online system reduces e.g. the amount of needed paper prints. In addition to online systems, the use of electronic signatures and the development of European Student Card Initiative (including Erasmus Without Paper) are important further development steps towards more environmentally friendly ways to handle procedures and documents at SeAMK.

Key figures in sustainability at SeAMK

Implementation of environmentally friendly practices in the context of the Erasmus+ programme

SeAMK has a very positive and forward-looking attitude towards the environmentally friendly principles and practices possibly defined by the new Erasmus Programme during the coming years. More environmentally friendly forms of international mobility, such as virtual mobility and blended mobility, beside the semester-long physical mobilities, are already included as part of SeAMK’s internationalisation action plan to a greater extent in the coming years.

Environmental protection being an important part of SeAMK’s strategy, SeAMK is very committed to communicating the more environmentally friendly options in the context of Erasmus+ programme, such as using more sustainable modes of transportations (options to flying, direct flights and compensation) and the use of electronic study material, etc., to students and staff. The promotion takes place in SeAMK’s communication channels, events, and sessions. Responsibility is one of SeAMK’s core values, which includes caring about the environment and encouraging students to assume responsibility.  SeAMK tries to act according to this in its international activities (mobilities and RDI) and is very willing to promote these practices in the framework of European and global cooperation.

Sustainability working group

SeAMK has a special working group on sustainable development. The group concentrates on the development and realisation of the environmentally friendly practices and procedures. It follows the general development, new steps and aims in the framework of sustainability; brings new ideas to SeAMK; coordinates the sustainability-related issues at SeAMK and works together with other SeAMK staff and students in order to achieve the aims. The working group has prepared a strategic action plan for a five-year period of 2020-2025.