Sustainability Conference 2008

Professor Lund-Durlacher held a presentation at this year’s Sustainability Conference 2008 (Nachhaltigkeitskonferenz 2008) in Pielachtal, Austria, where more than 100 industry experts discussed the role sustainability can take in the future development of the tourism industry. The integration of multiple aspects of sustainability – social, ecological and economical - was exemplified in the conference theme Sustainability as a Chance (Nachhaltigkeit als Chance).

In her presentation, Professor Lund-Durlacher gave an overview on the educational landscape of cutting edge tourism programs and contrasted different approaches to the integration of sustainability aspects into the curriculum. At MODUL University Vienna, sustainability plays an integral part in daily operations and business strategy. In 2007, the university hosted the first Tourism Education Futures Initiative (TEFI) summit, welcoming more than 15 leading universities from Europe, North America and Australia (www.tourismeducation.at) to discuss the future of tourism education.

Further, as a member of the BEST Education Network, (www.besteducationnetwork.com) MU Vienna fosters the development of balanced education programs that meet both the professional and sustainability needs of the industry and the wider community. In general, MU Vienna not only lives the environmental and social sustainability as expressed in their sustainability statement, it also takes a leading role with other universities worldwide in developing and integrating the educational values of: Professionalism, Stewardship, Ethics, Knowledge, and Mutual Respect.

The abstract of Prof Lund-Durlacher’s presentation at the Sustainability Conference 2008 can be accessed below. Please note that the original abstract is in German, the language of the conference. However, should there be additional questions arising about the concept of sustainability, its interpretation, integration and practice at MODUL University Vienna, please do not hesitate to comment on this post or email us.

Update
To date, we have received enormous feedback on our sustainability blog in general, and the sustainability conference 2008 in particular. In response to this widespread interest, MUV entered a collaboration with Niederösterreich Werbung, which allows us to provide you with the presentations of the conference for download. Please feel free to further use this blog as a platform for discussing or commenting on topics from the conference.

• Strategien der EU für nachhaltigen Tourismus | Francesco Ianniello
• Tourismus und Klimaschutz – wie passt das zusammen? | Angelika Zahrnt
• Ökologie und Ökonomie – Versuch einer Symbiose | Univ.-Prof. Dr. Stefan P. Schleicher/Mag. MBA Andreas Türk
• Ohne Menschen läuft nichts! | Dr. Christian Baumgartner
• Nachhaltige Tourismuspolitik: festes Fundament für die Zukunft | Mag. Elisabeth Udolf-Strobl/Mag. Anton Zimmermann
• Fokus und strategische Ausrichtung für nachhaltige Effekte im Tourismus - Das Beispiel Kursbuch Tourismus 2010 | Mag. Christian Neuwirth
• Dirndltal – Destination of Excellence | DI Hans Weiss
• Die Natur als Partnerin – Führung durch die Naturelemente im Steinschaler Dörfl | Ing. Georg Schramayr
• Tourismus im 21. Jahrhundert | Dr. Ulrich Reinhardt
• Bildungswege zum nachhaltigen Tourismus | Prof. Dr. Dagmar Lund-Durlacher
• Sanfte Mobilität und CO2-Reduktion | Dr. Romain Molitor
• Lokalbahnen – Schienen Richtung Soft Mobility | DI Otfried Knoll
• Recht auf guten Geschmack | Barbara van Melle
• Regionalität und Saisonalität in der Gastronomie | Ulli Amon-Jell
• Urlaub am Bauernhof – Richtungsweisende Modelle in Österreich | Mag. Hans Embacher
• Moorheilbad Harbach – in mehrfacher Hinsicht nachhaltig | Primar Dr. Johannes Püspök
• Nachhaltiger Tourismus – Verantwortung für die Gemeinde | Bgm. Helmut Mödlhammer
• Umweltfreundlich reisen leicht gemacht – mit dem Österreichischen Umweltzeichen | Mag. Christina Weichselbaumer
• Nachhaltigkeit als Verkaufsargument | Mag. Gregor Kadanka MBA
• Umweltqualität als Unternehmensgrundsatz | Mag. Dr. Josef Peterleithner

Contact
Dagmar Lund-Durlacher, MODUL University Vienna, Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Am Kahlenberg 1, 1190 Wien, Austria
dagmar.lund-durlacher@modul.ac.at | www.modul.ac.at