Mainz University of Applied Sciences and the University of Trier are jointly launching the research program VORAN – Entscheidungen und Verhalten: Nachhaltigkeitsorientierung in Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft stärken (VORAN – Decisions and Behavior: Strengthening the Sustainability Focus in Business and Society). The objective is to promote the sustainable transformation of business, industry, and society by researching how individual decisions, organizational processes, and new technologies affect each other. The project, which is funded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health as part of the Forschungskollegs Rheinland-Pfalz funding line, will receive around 750,000 Euro over the next three and a half years. Eight doctoral candidates will be supervised by researchers from both universities.
Key questions will be addressed in four interdisciplinary research tandems:
- Financing sustainability projects: How can private investors be attracted to green investments?
- Ecological practices in organizations: What roles do leadership and corporate culture play?
- Biomimetics and new technologies: What can we learn from nature for sustainable procurement processes?
- Immersive technologies: How do virtual and mixed reality support the shift towards greater sustainability?
“Our university combines academic excellence with high practical relevance. VORAN shows how interdisciplinary research can address the major challenges of our time while at the same time preparing young researchers for a career in research and development,” emphasizes Professor Susanne Weissman, President of Mainz University of Applied Sciences.
Photos: Sven-Helge Czichy | Mainz University of Applied Sciences
“With the research program VORAN – Entscheidungen und Verhalten: Nachhaltigkeitsorientierung in Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft stärken, Mainz University of Applied Sciences and the University of Trier are making a strong statement about the successful collaboration between universities in Rhineland-Palatinate. As the fourth joint research training program, VORAN strengthens existing partnerships and creates new research networks. It plays a key role in the advancement of emerging scientists and the training of urgently needed specialists at all qualification levels. The program contributes significantly to the further development of our country in key future fields of science, management, and administration,” says Minister of Science and Health Clemens Hoch.
“There is still a lot of basic research to be done, especially in the field of sustainability. I am not only very pleased that the University of Trier is very well positioned here in several schools, but that our economic sciences in particular are showing such considerable commitment in research and teaching and thereby also making a decisive contribution to VORAN,” explains the President of the University of Trier, Prof. Dr. Eva Martha Eckkrammer. “Projects such as our interdisciplinary CIRKLA project to advance the circular economy already underline how strong and hands-on the University of Trier is when it comes to sustainability research.”
Photos: Sven-Helge Czichy | Mainz University of Applied Sciences
Equal opportunities are a key focus of the research program: The supervision of doctoral candidates at Mainz University of Applied Sciences is entirely in the hands of female professors. This not only enhances scientific expertise, but also increases the visibility of women in the advancement of young researchers. The research program is making an important contribution to attracting women to scientific careers and further promoting equality in research.
In addition to content-based research, VORAN promotes cooperative doctorates between universities of applied sciences and universities. Through close supervision and a structured qualification program, doctoral candidates not only acquire methodological excellence, but also access to a strong research network.
With VORAN, Mainz University of Applied Sciences and the University of Trier are clearly setting an example for interdisciplinary research, the fostering of young talent, equal opportunities, and the transfer of knowledge to business and society for a sustainable transformation.
