Rapperswil-Jona – From September 8 to 12, 2025, the Noble Banadda International Summer School on Sustainability took place on the campus of OST – University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland, with the participation of Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (HKA). Around 60 students from different countries and disciplines came together to discuss and develop solutions for a more sustainable world.
The focus was on topics such as renewable energies, energy storage, clean water, and sustainable cooling and heating technologies. In workshops, excursions, and laboratory visits, the participants developed practical approaches to climate protection. Special attention was given to the EU-funded SophiA project, from which the summer school emerged.
In addition to intensive technical discussions, the supporting program offered plenty of opportunities for exchange, including boat tour on Lake Zurich, a barbecue with live music, and a variety of cultural encounters. “The combination of international expertise, practical research, and personal interaction makes the summer school unique,” summarized Prof. Michael Kauffeld, co-founder of the summer school and head of the Institute for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Environmental Technology (IKKU) at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences.
This year's naming in honor of Ugandan agricultural scientist Noble Banadda also sent a clear message: one of interdisciplinary cooperation and commitment to a sustainable future — across national borders. The summer school was founded in 2022 with the participation of IKKU and has now taken place for the fourth time.