Sustainability

Priorities

Sustainability is among the core values of IU Group.

We are a provider of education services, therefore our social impact plays a key role in our sustainability profile.

As a certified Corporation, IU Group is verified to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
We have identified three key areas of social impact, as defined by the relevant stakeholders:
  • Students
  • Employees
  • Communities

Also, the following areas are relevant for IU Group just as for any other organisation:
  • Environmental footprint
  • Corporate governance

UN SDGs

We align our sustainability work with these UN Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 1

No poverty

Goal 4

Quality education

Goal 5

Gender equality

Goal 6

Clean water and sanitation

Goal 7

Affordable and clean energy

Goal 8

Decent work and economic growth

Goal 9

Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Goal 10

Reduced inequalities

Goal 11

Sustainable cities and communities

Goal 13

Climate action

Goal 16

Pease, justice and strong institutions

Goal 17

Partnerships for the goals

UN Global compact

IU International University of Applied Sciences, the key educational institution of IU Group, is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, as well as a member of the Global Compact Network Germany. It is committed to the 10 principles of the UN Global Compact, which are derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organisation’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
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PRME

IU International University of Applied Sciences is a member of PRME, an initiative of the UN Global Compact that unites institutions of higher education. PRME works to promote sustainability principles in the education sector worldwide.
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FACTS & FIGURES

MINIMISING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT

Carbon intensity  (Scope 1+2), tCO2-e/student

1,00
2,00
3,00
4,00
5,00
6,00
7,00
6,27
5,01
1,56
1,02
0,64
0,22
0,06
0,03
0,01
IU Group
Peer 1 (major public British university)
Peer 2 (Major US private university)
Peer 3 (major German public university)
Peer 4 (major UK public research university)
Peer 5 (major UK public collegiate research university)
Peer 6 (major UK public collegiate research university)
Peer 7 (major US public state-related research university)
Peer 8 (US private Ivy League research university)
Scope 1 and 2 (direct and indirect emissions) tCO2e
Scope 3 (value chain emissions) tCO2e
tCO2e per student
Student number
2.4%

Scope 1 (direct)

3.0%

Scope 2 (indirect)

94.6%

Scope 3 (value chain)

CREATING VALUE FOR STUDENTS

190

countries our students come from

€ 46.4 mil.

scholarships to students from low-income countries (2022)

7x

growth of the student number at IU Group institutions between 2018 and 2023

5x

more new students without A-level compared to average German universities

70%

of students are from non-academic households

4 975

scholarships to students from low-income countries (2022)

IU International University of Applied Sciences values included

CREATING VALUE FOR EMPLOYEES

4 505

employees at end of 2023

2 343

full-time employees (year-end 2023)

67.1

average hours spent on training per employee (2023)

85

nationalities represented among employees

33%

received skills-based training to advance core job responsibilites

36%

received cross-job functions beyond regular responsi­bilities

10%

received training on life skills for personal development

33%

received specia­lised training on labour or human rights

IU International University of Applied Sciences values included

CREATING VALUE FOR COMMUNITIES

>53 000

of IU Group students study healthcare, social work, pedagogy or psychology

136
out of 200

of IU's largest Dual Studies corporate partners are social, charitable and humanitarian organisations

IU International University of Applied Sciences values included

IU Group SUSTAINABILITY BLOG

To find out more about our ongoing sustainability news and stories, please see our IU Group Sustainability Blog.
IU Group Sustainability Blog