- About BUas
BUas wins award and silver at SustainaBul
BUas has achieved a strong result in the 2026 edition of the SustainaBul, the annual sustainability ranking of Dutch higher education institutions, organised by the student network Studenten voor Morgen (Students for Tomorrow). At the Groene Peper event a week ago, BUas was placed in the silver category in the overall ranking. On top of that, BUas took home the best practice award for its participation in the Zoöp movement.
First Dutch university of applied sciences to join the Zoöp network
As the first Dutch university of applied sciences to join the Zoöp network, BUas has committed to giving non-human life a structural role in organisational decision-making. A designated Speaker for the Living represents the interests of other life (plants, animals, insects, soil organisms, and ecosystems) in BUas' operational processes, embedded in our Climate Positive Organisation (CPO) project. In our first Zoönomic Annual Plan (2026) we set out concrete goals for biodiversity, nature connection, and food & beverage procurement. For an educational institution, this is particularly meaningful: it models for students and staff a genuinely different relationship with the living world, grounded in ecological regeneration rather than harm reduction. BUas is the first Dutch university of applied sciences to make this commitment, positioning it as a pioneer in regenerative institutional governance within Dutch higher education.
Strong scores in operations and research
Looking at where BUas scored well this year, operations stands out as a clear area of progress. The CPO project has provided a coherent vision and a concrete set of actions, and this is now visible in the results. Research is another bright spot: BUas performed strongly in this newly introduced category, reflecting the growing integration of sustainability into its academic work.
Room to grow
At the same time, the ranking highlights where there is still room to grow. Professional development for lecturers and staff is an area where BUas currently lacks a sustainability-focused offer. The ranking also points to a broader question worth taking seriously: to what extent does BUas actively encourage students and staff to pursue sustainable careers? These are areas we are keen to develop further in the coming period.
Meaningful progress
These results reflect the momentum building across BUas' sustainability efforts. After climbing from 31st place in 2023 to 19th in 2025, this year's silver placing and best practice recognition show that BUas continues to make meaningful progress, whilst acknowledging there is still more to do.
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