Sustainable Award: University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol Receives Highest Green Event Certification
The University of Applied Sciences (FH) Kufstein Tirol earned the right to identify as a GET location on February 7, 2024; achieving this level of certification required considerable efforts in the area of sustainable event organization and internal adjustments in various aspects. Green events take ecological, social, economic, and cultural sustainability into account. The FH Kufstein has been implementing the strict guidelines of GET, an initiative of the Climate Alliance Tyrol and the Environmental Association Tyrol in cooperation with the state of Tyrol, at its events for several years. In 2023 alone, 18 outstanding events were held in accordance with these criteria. The University‘s continuous efforts have now led to this important award. The award ceremony of the GET certification took place in the historic Innsbruck Landhaus and was led by Climate Protection Councillor René Zumtobel.
Pioneering role in environmentally friendly event organization
The FH Kufstein Tirol has not only specialized in sustainable event organization but has also made internal adjustments to meet the high standards of a GET location. For example, certified facilities offer covered bicycle parking and barrier-free access to the event and sanitary facilities. In addition, they use green electricity and pay strict attention to waste avoidance and environmentally friendly cleaning agents. Moreover, printed materials are reduced to the bare minimum, and only recycled paper is used for printing and sanitary facilities. Prof. (FH) Dr. Thomas Madritsch, Managing Director of FH Kufstein Tirol, emphasizes the practical benefits: "We offer all organizers the best conditions for holding sustainable events on our premises without much additional effort." Communication with guests has also changed: "We encourage our guests to choose public transport, cycling or walking to our events," reports Thomas Petzold, Event Manager at FH Kufstein Tirol. "The journey to an event is responsible for a large part of the CO2 emissions at an event. We are counteracting this by actively promoting local public transport," says Petzold.
Sustainability: Integral application in studies
The head of the Sports, Culture & Event Management degree course, Prof. (FH) Monika Kohlhofer, emphasizes the importance of green events in the event industry: "It is of the utmost importance in the event sector to anchor the topic of sustainability even more firmly, and this is a focus of our degree course. Our practical projects must all be aligned with the GET criteria and, ideally, also be certified. The Indie Sunset practical project group, which was awarded the highest GET Star award in 2023 for the music festival of the same name, shows that this can be achieved with excellence.
The FH Kufstein Tirol is proud to contribute to the promotion of sustainable events as a GET location and looks forward to continuing to serve as a role model for other institutions.