"Sustainable development of universities - transformation and shaping the environment"

Professor Dr Gustav Bergmann will give a lecture on 5 November 2025 at 5:30 p.m. as part of the lecture series on sustainability on the topic of "Sustainable development of universities - transformation and shaping the environment" in the auditorium of Ostfalia University in Wolfenbüttel.

Professor Dr Gustav Bergmann teaches and researches as professor emeritus at the University of Siegen in the field of plural economics and transformation. He is particularly passionate about the empowerment and development of people and organisations. In addition, he is committed to shaping a democratic co-society and lives in Cologne, a city worth living in.

In his lecture, Bergmann explores the question of sustainable and participatory university development and shows ways in which transformation and education can succeed in complex times.

The sustainable transformation of universities means preparing organisations and their members for an increasingly complex world. This means learning new competences and skills and unlearning outdated patterns. The focus is on intelligent research, pattern recognition and substantial learning.

"Education is the critical acquisition of knowledge, skills and competences," emphasises Gustav Bergmann.

A sustainable transformation can only succeed in a favourable atmosphere. To achieve this, it is important to create enabling contexts in which people can discover their talents and aptitudes and shape them together with other learning organisations. Based on systemic-relational theory and the process design of the Solution Cycle, Bergmann shows that change is always possible - and that even difficult problems can be solved by working together.

Universities do not exist in a vacuum, but are closely interwoven with social conditions. It is therefore crucial not only to impart adaptive knowledge, but also to prepare people for the future and at the same time contribute to actively shaping it.

The lecture is therefore also dedicated to the idea of a co-world society - a eutopia in which the good life can unfold.

The lecture invites employees, students and interested parties to gain new perspectives on change processes in organisations. In a dynamic environment, traditional methods of system intervention and transformation are increasingly reaching their limits. This makes it all the more important to critically examine one's personal toolbox of methods - and to sort out some of the rusty ones.

Abstract

On 5 November 2025, 5:30 pm, Professor em. Dr Gustav Bergmann (University of Siegen) will speak in the auditorium of Ostfalia University Wolfenbüttel as part of the Sustainability Lecture Series on "Sustainable development of universities - transformation and shaping the environment". The lecture shows how participatory university development can succeed in complex times: through transformation in line with the environment, learning new skills (including clever research, pattern recognition, substantial learning) and unlearning outdated routines. Based on systemic-relational theory and the Solution Cycle, Bergmann explains how organisations develop the ability to change and act effectively together. Finally, he outlines the co-world society as a eutopia of a good life. Employees, students and interested parties are invited to attend.

Sustainability lecture series "Discover your future spirit"

Prof Dr Gustav Bergmann (University of Siegen): "Sustainable development of universities - transformation and shaping the environment" 05.11.2025 at 17:30 in the auditorium of Ostfalia University in Wolfenbüttel.

The overview of the "Sustainability lecture series" can be found under this link. (external link, opens in a new window)