International Higher Education Teacher Award ^2024/25

This innovative seminar, "Climate Action, Now! Museums in (Climate) Change", addresses the intersection of museums and the climate crisis, equipping students to respond to global challenges. Offered in the MA program Expanded Museum Studies, it combines theoretical insights with practical applications in collaboration with KunstHausWien, a pioneer in sustainable museum practices. Innovative Aspects: The seminar emphasizes experiential learning through real-world projects, bridging academic study and professional practice. Students explore tools like CO₂ accounting and sustainable exhibition design, while interdisciplinary collaboration enhances their skill set. Partnerships with external experts enable direct contributions to sustainability efforts, positioning museums as drivers of environmental and societal change. Activities and Methods: The course blends lectures, guest speakers, and hands-on group work. Topics include climate communication, operational carbon footprints, and sustainable exhibitions. Collaboration with KunstHausWien anchors the seminar in professional realities, with key projects to: 1. Create a CO₂ inventory for KunstHausWien, identifying emissions and proposing reduction strategies following greenhouse gas protocols. 2. Develop a sustainable exhibition guide for curators, artists, and stakeholders, consolidating best practices in design and procurement. 3. Archive and categorize the Future Talks video series, improving accessibility with filters, metadata, and keywords for public and professional use. Outcomes and Impact: The seminar equips students with actionable skills to address sustainability in cultural institutions, fostering leadership and innovation. For KunstHausWien, it delivers practical tools: a CO₂ inventory for strategic climate action, a sustainable exhibition guide, and an enhanced video archive promoting accessibility and climate discourse. These results highlight the capacity of museums to drive change, inspiring new strategies for sustainability in the cultural sector. Alignment: Focusing on sustainability, the seminar aligns with global climate goals and underscores the transformative potential of cultural institutions. Its hands-on approach ensures students not only learn about sustainability but also implement real solutions, bridging academic knowledge, professional practice, and societal impact.

Methodology

The methodology of the seminar "Climate Action, Now! Museums in (Climate) Change" integrates research-based teaching with service-learning, directly addressing global societal challenges and aligning with the main category of "Impact and Mission with and for Society." The course empowers students to actively contribute to climate action through real-world projects, fostering social responsibility and active citizenship. In the preparation phase, four museums were approached and engaged in discussions to explore their interest in participating in the seminar. The selection of these institutions was based on their established commitment to sustainability and climate protection, as evidenced by their certifications such as the Austrian Environmental Label (UZ 200) and their membership in Museums For Future. These criteria demonstrated the dedication of museums to addressing climate change and sustainability, making them ideal partners. KunstHausWien emerged as the primary partner, while the other three museums expressed strong interest for future collaborations. This initial outreach laid the foundation for a strategic partnership with KunstHausWien, a recognized leader in sustainable museum practices, ensuring the course’s alignment with a forward-thinking cultural institution. The planning and implementation phases included: • Curriculum Development: Designing a course that seamlessly merges theoretical knowledge with practical, real-life applications of sustainability in museums. • Hybrid and Flexible Formats: Given the geographical distance between the co-lecturers - Sina Herrmann (Berlin) and Tanja Kimmel (Vienna) - the course was designed using a mix of in-person, hybrid, and online formats. In-person sessions were held as intensive blocks to maximize impact and minimize travel emissions, while hybrid and online formats allowed for continuity and flexibility. This structure not only aligns with the course's sustainability focus but also mirrors the realities of remote collaboration in professional practice. • Partnership with Social Stakeholders: The collaboration with KunstHausWien and other key cultural institutions ensures the course’s relevance to real-world climate action challenges, providing students with hands-on experiences that support sustainability. • Clearly Defined Roles and Responsibilities: The lecturers oversaw the academic aspects and coordinated the projects while delivering full-length presentations at the start of each session, providing detailed insights and framing the discussions. KunstHausWien contributed essential subject matter expertise, access to facilities, and real-world challenges. External experts shared their specialized knowledge on topics such as: - The Austrian Environmental Label for Museums: Verena Kaspar-Eisert and Anne Zimmermann from MuseumsQuartier Wien - Sustainable Exhibition Practices: Karen Henke - Climate Communication: Katja Weber - The UNFCCC Youth Delegates Program and COP29: Theresa Öllinger

Tools, equipment, technology used

CO₂ Accounting Tools: A central component of the course was the use of open-source and specialized tools for CO₂ accounting. The primary tool, „ClimCalc“, originally developed for universities, forms the foundation of the upcoming „Austrian Bundesmuseen-Tool“, which is expected to launch in 2025. „ClimCalc“ enabled students to calculate the carbon footprint of museum operations, providing a hands-on understanding of greenhouse gas emissions. To ensure a robust assessment, students actively particapted in the data collection process, conducting mobility and visitor surveys to gather the necessary information for accurate carbon footprint calculations. Additionally, students were introduced to other relevant tools, such as the German carbon footprint calculators „KBK“ and „E-Tool Kultur“, specifically designed for cultural institutions. By comparing these tools, students gained valuable insights into the diversity of approaches to CO₂ accounting and how each tool is tailored to different contexts within the museum sector. Using these tools, students conducted carbon footprint assessments of museum activities, identified emissions, and proposed actionable strategies for their reduction. This practical exercise provided students with real-world experience in measuring and mitigating environmental impacts, contributing to the broader sustainability goals of the course. The hands-on approach ensured that students not only understood the theory but also developed practical skills applicable to their future careers. Sustainable Exhibition Planning Software: By utilizing cutting-edge software for exhibition design, students incorporated sustainable materials, energy-efficient technologies, and waste reduction strategies into their projects. This approach merged professional ethics with environmental responsibility, underscoring the importance of sustainable design in the cultural sector. Collaborative Platforms: Technology also played a crucial role in empowering students to tackle complex sustainability challenges. Virtual platforms facilitated seamless communication between peers, course leaders, and external experts, fostering a collaborative approach to climate action.

Outcomes and outputs, main results

The key results of the seminar exemplify its impact on society and its alignment with the main category of "Impact and Mission with and for Society": • CO₂ Inventory for KunstHausWien: A major outcome of the seminar was the creation of the first-ever CO₂ inventory for KunstHausWien. This marks a foundational milestone for the museum, establishing a reference year for future CO₂ assessments. The inventory will serve as a critical component of the museum’s roadmap toward carbon neutrality by 2040. By setting this benchmark, the seminar provides KunstHausWien with a clear starting point for ongoing sustainability efforts, helping to guide them toward meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. This result hightlights the seminar’s commitment to real-world challenges and delivering tangible solutions for cultural institutions striving to reduce their environmental footprint. • Sustainable Exhibition Guide: Developed collaboratively by students, the Sustainable Exhibition Guide offers practical recommendations for integrating sustainability into exhibitions and museum operations. Key aspects include sustainable procurement, strategies for reducing loans, and reusing exhibition materials. This guide not only supports students' professional growth but also empowers museum professionals to take proactive steps in reducing their environmental impact, fostering long-term social and environmental responsibility in the cultural sector. A concise version of the guidelines will be published for the public, reinforcing KunstHausWien’s pioneering role in sustainable exhibition management and ensuring a lasting societal impact. • Enhanced Video Archive: The interdisciplinary Future Talks Climate X Change videos at KunstHausWien, dedicated to the demands of the Fridays for Future movement, address pressing climate issues and explore innovative future strategies. By enhancing the Future Talks video archive, students have made climate communication more engaging and accessible. This improved digital content curation ensures that valuable climate action content reaches a broader audience, boosting public engagement and inspiring museums to take a more active role in addressing global environmental challenges. These diverse outputs reflect the seminar’s holistic approach to teaching, combining research-based learning with service-learning to create worthwhile societal impact. The course contributes to the EU’s sustainability goals and Austria’s national climate strategy, while equipping students with the skills to promote sustainability in their future careers.

Lessons learnt

The seminar’s implementation highlighted several key lessons in interdisciplinary collaboration and student empowerment. Engaging with external experts and cultural institutions, such as KunstHausWien, demonstrated the value of service-learning, allowing students to directly apply their academic knowledge to real-world contexts while contributing to sustainability goals. Other key lessons include: • Interdisciplinary Approach: The combination of knowledge from environmental sciences, museum studies, and social responsibility allowed for a comprehensive approach to sustainability, blending theoretical knowledge with practical, actionable solutions. • Importance of Feedback: Regular feedback from external experts and museum partners was essential to ensure that student projects remained relevant and had a real impact on museum practices. • Sustainability in Education: Integrating sustainability into educational curricula through practical, hands-on projects is an effective way to foster social responsibility. By engaging with global challenges like climate change, students are empowered to become active agents of change in their communities and beyond.

Adaptability and sustainability of the best practice (for other institutions)

The approach taken in this seminar is highly adaptable and scalable, making it suitable for various educational institutions focused on sustainability and interdisciplinary learning. • Modular Structure: The flexible integration of theory and practice is particularly relevant to other fields such as restoration and museum conservation. For example, students in restoration programs could use similar tools and methods to assess the carbon footprint of different conservation techniques, promoting environmentally friendly practices in the preservation of cultural heritage. This course structure can also be easily adapted to sectors like architecture, where students can examine the environmental impact of building materials and energy-efficient designs. • External Partnerships: Collaboration with cultural institutions remains a cornerstone of the course's success. Museums, galleries, and heritage sites can provide the real-world context necessary to ensure that student projects are both practical and impactful. • Scalable Projects: Activities such as CO₂ footprint analysis, sustainable exhibition planning, and content curation for digital marketing can be customized for different institutional settings. This scalability ensures the approach can be sustained long-term, equipping students with tools to drive change in the museum sector and beyond.

Promotion of best practice

The seminar is actively promoted through a range of channels to ensure its broad reach and impact. Key dissemination strategies include: • University Websites and Newsletters: Highlighting the innovative approach to sustainability, the seminar is featured as an example of the university’s commitment to social responsibility and sustainability in education. • Social Media: Platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn are used to showcase student projects, providing visibility for the seminar’s outcomes and demonstrating its broader societal impact. • Conferences and Workshops: The seminar’s results will be presented at national and international conferences, including the International Museum Conference on Climate Change (April 2025, Vienna), and in the Austrian rollout of the professional training program “Transformationsmanager:in Nachhaltige Kultur”. These presentations will highlight the seminar’s alignment with global sustainability goals and its contribution to climate action. • Collaborations with Art Institutions: Ongoing partnerships with museums and other cultural institutions increase the seminar’s visibility and promote sustainability across the cultural sector. This multifaceted approach ensures that the seminar’s outcomes reach both academic and broader societal stakeholders, maximizing its impact on sustainability and climate action.

Scope and impact

• Course/department level
• Institutional level
• Cross-institutional level
• National level
• EU/EHEA/International level

The seminar’s impact extends across various levels, reflecting its significant contribution to society and sustainability: • Course/Department Level: The seminar has become a core component of the MA program in Expanded Museum Studies, shaping the curriculum and fostering interdisciplinary learning focused on sustainability. • Institutional Level: It is part of the University of Applied Arts Vienna’s broader commitment to sustainability, contributing to institutional strategies for integrating social responsibility into education. • Cross-Institutional Level: Through collaborations with institutions like KunstHausWien, the seminar fosters cross-institutional exchanges on sustainable practices, contributing to a more sustainable cultural sector. • National Level: The seminar supports Austria’s national climate strategy by equipping students with the tools and knowledge to contribute to the country’s climate goals. • EU/EHEA/International Level: On a European and international level, the seminar aligns with the EU’s Green Deal and sustainability frameworks, demonstrating how education can drive climate action and contribute to sustainable development goals.

6.1 Digitalization

• Outstanding, innovative, excellent practices of online / blended / hybrid learning
• Innovative, novel methodology in using digital tools/devices in teaching
• Digital skills development and assessment both general and profession-related, embedded in course design, in teaching and assessment

Reasoning: The seminar uses a hybrid learning model, combining in-person, online, and asynchronous elements to reduce travel emissions and enable global participation. Digital tools like ClimCalc and other CO₂ accounting tools allowed students to conduct carbon footprint assessments. Virtual platforms supported collaboration with experts, enhancing digital skills while fostering engagement in climate action projects.

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6.2 Internationalization

• Outstanding practices of international online collaborative learning
• Students engagement in international projects
• Courses implemented in international cooperation (projects, co-teaching, virtual/blended mobility, etc.)

Reasoning: The seminar employed international online collaborative learning, with course leaders and experts from both Vienna and Berlin. Students worked on real-world sustainability projects alongside professionals from different countries, fostering international cooperation. The hybrid course format facilitated global participation, ensuring diverse perspectives in tackling climate action challenges. Collaborations with international cultural institutions further enriched the experience.

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6.3 Inclusion and diversity, universal design

• Inclusive course design, universally designed divers activities to meet special students' needs
• Innovative teaching methodology for inclusion and meet diverse student needs
• Senzitivizing students to consider special needs when practicing their profession
• Course includes hints on how the services/products of the profession could be universally designed/inclusive

Reasoning: The seminar's inclusive course design ensured all students could engage with content regardless of their background. A variety of teaching methodologies were employed, accommodating diverse learning styles, including hybrid formats and interactive platforms. The course emphasized sustainability and climate action, encouraging students to consider universal design in future professional practices, ensuring environmental solutions are accessible to all communities.

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6.4 Sustainability

• Sustainability goals are addressed in the course(s)
• Teaching material contains profession related sustainability aspects
• Social entrepreneurship projects, service-learning in the topic
• Environmental attitude, skill development and assessment either general or profession-related
• Sustainability aspects are considered in all phases of the learning practice - "hidden curriculum"

Reasoning: Sustainability is central to the seminar's content and methodology. The course addresses sustainability goals, using tools like ClimCalc for CO₂ accounting and sustainable exhibition planning software. Students engage with environmental challenges and solutions, working on projects that reduce museums' carbon footprints. 1. Course content on sustainability: The course integrates sustainability through CO₂ footprint assessments, exhibition design, and climate communication, aligning with Austria's climate strategy and the EU's Green Deal. 2. Teaching methodology: The hybrid course, combined with real-world projects like the CO₂ balance for KunstHausWien, enables practical sustainability learning, fostering problem-solving skills. 3. Assessment of sustainability: Students apply sustainability principles in hands-on projects, ensuring they understand and can implement these concepts professionally. 4. Student engagement with sustainability challenges: Collaboration with KunstHausWien

3.3 Public contact datas

Name	Email address	Website
Tanja Kimmel / Sina Herrmann	tanja.kimmel@uni-ak.ac.at	https://base.uni-ak.ac.at/courses/2024W/S05435/