Sustainability is not just a trend. It is a way of thinking about the world, society, and therefore also about the future of universities, says BUT Vice-Rector Milan Houser.

“Sustainability is not only about protecting nature. It is a way of thinking about our world, about society as a whole – about its survival and functioning,” explains Milan Houser, Vice-Rector for Artistic Activities and Sustainability. The Sustainability Office at BUT has been operating since the beginning of 2025 and is intended to help faculties make decisions in a more conceptual and responsible way. And not only in the areas of energy and resource management, but also, for example, in the design of study programmes that respond to the development of society and its needs.

More and more companies and institutions are now dealing with sustainability – is it a trend?

It is nothing new; we may simply have called it something different in the past. For some, the word sustainability carries a negative connotation – they associate it with strict economic regulations or with political marketing. I see sustainability as an opportunity to combine rapid technological progress with social responsibility. And as a way to strengthen in students the awareness that it is they who will shape our future. I hope they will manage to do so more successfully than we have.

So what does university sustainability mean?

At BUT we see sustainability as a principle that should permeate four areas – university operations, science and research, study programmes, and social role. During this year we mapped a number of processes. We published the first Annual Sustainability Report and we know where we are doing well, where we are average, and what we are still paying too little attention to.

The point is that the university should be sustainable as a whole and that its activities should make sense. That it continues to function, develop, and serve the development of society. But I would not want it to sound pompous or trivial. The development of sustainability is happening naturally. We are naming and organising a set of activities that may already exist at the university.

Implementing sustainability principles is no longer just a matter of preference, but also of legislation.

Yes, it plays a big role, for example, in the evaluation of universities. So if we want to succeed globally, we need to take a pragmatic approach. Sustainability fundamentally affects university evaluation as well as access to funding. It is not just an ideological concept, but part of the legislative and economic framework of functioning.

What has been achieved so far?

For the university to manage things more effectively and sustainably, we first need data that reflects reality. We commissioned technical and investment studies of all BUT buildings with links to the use of renewable energy sources and energy-saving solutions for building operations. We are setting measures for the circular economy and water management. By the end of the year, a sustainable purchasing methodology should also be developed.

We have installed photovoltaic panels (e.g. at Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication and Faculty of Information Technology), modernised lighting and heating, introduced a building management system, and are working with geographic data for more efficient campus management. We have implemented systems for rainwater retention, which is then used for watering green areas. And we also support more sustainable mobility – such as charging stations for electric cars and e-bikes.

What will be the next sustainable steps for BUT?

They are not easy to choose, as the Czech state still does not have its own energy strategy. For large entities such as our university, it is therefore difficult to select the right innovative direction. But we have a large number of experts here and many projects with industrial partners, focusing for example on the development of a zero-emission economy. We have access to top-level know-how.

I would add, however, that sustainability is not only about energy and economics. We support environmental and social topics in science and research. In this context, I would like to highlight, for example, the research project Vector of Poverty at the Faculty of Architecture, which has been addressing since 2023 how the field of architecture can contribute to affordable housing. One of the main tasks is also to educate students in the areas that society will need in order to develop the much-discussed sustainability.

So it is not just about applying sustainable technologies at BUT, but about the direction of society?

Exactly. We work with the next generation and can therefore moderate how people within their field will integrate sustainable principles. And whether they will be well prepared for the dynamically changing labour market. European companies and institutions are seeking sustainable solutions. That is why we are gradually integrating sustainability into all fields of study – from chemistry to architecture to business. In doing so, we respond not only to the challenges of the future, but also to the current demands of industry.

What new study programmes have already been introduced?

The year 2024 was quite rich in this respect; at BUT we introduced a number of new study programmes focused on sustainability, including double degree programmes, specialised courses, and lifelong learning. Examples include the programme Sustainable Building Design at Faculty of Civil Engineering, Energy at Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FME), Applied Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Chemistry at Faculty of Chemistry, or Automotive and Material Handling Engineering at FME. And that is far from all – more will be added.

Do you see interest in these fields among the younger generation?

Yes. Sustainability is a topic that strongly resonates among the younger generation. That is why we also try to convince prospective students of BUT that we truly are a sustainable university in the fullest sense of the word. That it is not just about attractive marketing or bureaucratic reporting of tables for legislation. We take sustainability seriously, and the examples of good practice already being introduced at BUT clearly prove it.