Vice-Rectorate for Sustainable Development

The elements of current rectoral policy in this area are as follows:

• Develop and coordinate actions and projects with societal players in the fields of waste management, transport and energy;
• Plan and implement coherent, transparent and sustainable university district developments, drawing inspiration in particular from the Master Plan and meeting the imperatives of making the campus safer ;
• Establish and implement the "company travel plan" and projects to minimize the environmental footprint of the University of Namur

The Sustainable Development Coordination Unit replaces the former Institutional Sustainable Development Group. It is attached to the Vice-Rectorate for Sustainable Development.

COMPOSITION 2024-2025

• Laurent Schumacher, Vice-Rector for Sustainable Development and President of the cell,
• Simon Hauser, Eco-counsellor, mobility manager and steward of the Haugimont forest estate,
• Benjamin Lapiere, President of the Assemblée des Kots-à-projet (AKàP) of the General Assembly of Students (AGE),
• Margaux Homans, Campus life delegate of the General Assembly of Students (AGE),
• Noémie François, Eva Gonzo and Marie Verecken, representatives of the CoKot, Kotélocal and BioKot kot-à-projets invested in Sustainable Development.

The Sustainable Development Coordination Unit meets regularly with individuals or representatives of departments/faculties/groups invested in Sustainable Development, as projects and needs dictate. Its aim is to share information, initiate and coordinate certain cross-functional projects, provide as much support as possible to different initiatives as and when requested, and set up federating information channels.

As early as 2011, the University of Namur officially incorporated a sustainable development policy into its priorities. This commitment was quickly confirmed by the signing of the Higher Education Declaration for Sustainable Development of RIO+20 decided at the June 2012 United Nations Conference in Rio de Janeiro. In it, the University publicly committed to:

• Teach Sustainable Development concepts
• Encourage research in this field
• Eco-responsible its campus
• Support Sustainable Development efforts at local and regional level