Social and Environmental Responsibility
As the Management School of the University of Kassel, we believe education is a catalyst for sustainable societal transformation. Our commitment extends beyond the classroom — to people, communities, and the planet.
Our Commitment
Social responsibility is at the heart of everything we do at UNIKIMS. As a public university institution, we have a duty not only to educate but also to contribute to the communities we serve — locally in Kassel, nationally across Germany, and internationally across the globe.
Our engagement spans three pillars: social inclusion through educational access for disadvantaged groups, environmental stewardship through reforestation and climate compensation, and local community support through direct aid and grassroots partnerships. We believe that meaningful change starts with concrete action — not just words.
SOS Children's Villages: Educating the Next Generation
UNIKIMS maintains a long-standing partnership with SOS Children's Villages, one of the world's largest organizations supporting children and families in need. Together, we work to give children and young people a chance at a better future through education.
Our partnership includes:
- SOS Children's Village Nhlangano, Eswatini — Ongoing support for children's education and development in southern Africa
- SOS International College, Ghana — Supporting educational programs for young people across West Africa
- WES Scholarships — Since 2021, thirteen engineers who grew up in SOS Children's Villages or whose families were supported through SOS family strengthening programs have been studying in the fully online Master of Science in Wind Energy Systems (WES.online) program — fully funded by UNIKIMS scholarships
Why this matters: These scholarships enable young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to access world-class renewable energy education, empowering them to build careers in the global energy transition while giving back to their communities.
Protecting Our Planet
Treedom: The UNIKIMS Forest
Through Treedom, we support a climate project managed by smallholder farmers across Central Africa. Our UNIKIMS forest comprises more than 650 trees planted in the region, contributing to reforestation, sustainable agriculture, and local economic development. Each tree's growth is digitally tracked, and sponsors receive regular updates — creating transparency and a tangible connection to the impact.
Plant-My-Tree: Reforestation in Germany
Since 2020, UNIKIMS has partnered with PLANT-MY-TREE, a German initiative focused on initial afforestation, forest conversion, and forest protection. The project emphasizes CO₂ compensation and long-term environmental protection through mixed-forest reforestation — ensuring resilient ecosystems for future generations.
Moving Windmills: Innovation in Malawi
We support Moving Windmills, an organization dedicated to sustainable development and innovative problem-solving in Malawi and other parts of Africa. The project promotes local innovation and self-built technologies, empowering communities to address their own challenges with creativity and resourcefulness rather than relying solely on external aid.