Ökologische Nachhaltigkeit praxisnah lehren: Raus aus dem Hörsaal, rein in die Lernfabrik

Studies indicate that practical training is the most effective method for knowledge transfer. However,most of the established courses on sustainability are still theoretical and mainly rely on overly guidedcase studies. In contrast, learning factories offer participants the opportunity to engage directly withreal-world processes. This hands-on experience is invaluable as it allows learners to apply theoreticalknowledge while becoming aware of environmental issues. The IIM Institute at TU Graz operates alearning factory where the production of scooters is simulated. Initially, this close-to-reality learningenvironment was used to make methods for increasing efficiency tangible for students. Over time,topics such as digitalization, energy efficiency, and most recently sustainability have been added. In2022, the first educational course about carbon footprinting was taught. Following this, teaching modules on environmental reporting at the organizational level and circular economy were introduced.This article presents the concepts, benefits, and challenges of this innovative didactic concept.