We live in a time of constant change and growing complexity. The question is not whether change will happen, but how we choose to navigate it.
Students who want to apply knowledge, share perspectives and develop the skills they need to shape change.
Universities that open classrooms beyond disciplines, connect research with practice and foster international exchange.
Organisations and practice partners that provide real challenges, co-create solutions and build impact beyond the university.
Because the future is not something we simply have to adapt to. It is something we can create – together.
The Sustainability Challenge is not about reproducing knowledge. It is about bringing students, universities and organisations together to apply knowledge, share perspectives and turn complexity into opportunity.
We create a space where people can experiment, collaborate and act – developing the skills, critical thinking, agency and resilience they need to shape change.
Since 2010, the Sustainability Challenge has connected students, lecturers and practice partners in Austria. Coordinated by RCE Vienna together with universities such as WU Vienna, BOKU University, TU Wien and the University of Vienna, it grew into an award-winning, two-semester course on the Sustainable Development Goals: student teams from all disciplines tackled real sustainability challenges with companies, NGOs and public institutions – or turned their own ideas into sustainable start-ups.
Now, something new begins: the Sustainability Challenge goes international.
The Sustainability Challenge was built together with universities and start-up centres across Austria – the foundation we now take international.
Interested in joining, partnering or learning more? We would love to hear from you.
© 2026 Sustainability Challenge International