The COVID-19 crisis has put our societies’ underlying agreements and assumptions under the magnifying glass and up for discussion. At an online initiative UmBruch, authors from diverse fields of life – including academia, education, media, the arts, policy making and civil society – publish their visions for our collective future. They dare to think big and outside the box, imagining a utopia in which indeed no one is left behind. Founded by Judith Kohlenberger at the Institute for Social Policy and colleagues from the University of Vienna, the platform provides space for a broad and open dialogue in a time of widespread societal and political transformation. Find out more about how to contribute a piece at https://www.umbruch.at/mitreden (in German). Contact for information in English: umbruch@umbruch.at.

We also recommend a recent panel discussion on the future of our economic system post Corona here (in cooperation with WU Alumni Club): https://vimeo.com/425511021

Non-financial reporting is a special form of sustainability reporting that requires an integrated view of a company’s economic, ecological and social performance. It should include information on environmental, social and employee concerns, respect for human rights and the fight against corruption. The EU Directive on non-financial reporting was implemented in Austria in December 2016, following the Sustainability and Diversity Improvement Act (“Nachhaltigkeits- und Diversitätsverbesserungsgesetz,” NaDiVeG). This primarily targeted companies of public interest, such as large corporations that employ more than 500 employees. However, the Act has also become important for numerous other companies, including SMEs.

Josef Baumüller at the Institute of International Accounting has recently published a book – the first one in Austria on the subject – using the legal framework to show how appropriate reporting can be carried out. The book also deals with problem areas and open questions of the law, and provides solutions based on real-life examples from corporate practice. In addition, it clarifies conceptual principles, e.g. the distinction between sustainability reporting and non-financial reporting, detailed questions on auditing and enforcement, as well as the benefits and limitations of relevant pronouncements by standard setters such as AFRAC or KSW.

A copy of the book can be ordered here [in German].

SAVT at WU (an abbreviation from German “Studentische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Veganismus und Tierrechte”) is a student working group promoting an animal ethics discourse at our university. Initiated by Doris Schneeberger from the Institute for Change Management and Management Development, the group seeks to ignite conversations around topics, such as speciesism (i.e., the discrimination of living beings due to their species membership), our impact on nonhuman animals, and how we, as a modern day society, can make their needs and suffering visible.

In January 2020, a kick-off workshop on “Nonhuman animals as invisible stakeholders - empathy and justice for nonhuman animals” drew a considerable crowd. In May 2020, author and activist Christopher Sebastian McJetters gave a virtual talk on the topic of “Oppression and discrimination - race, class, and species”. The agenda for future SAVT events includes holding public lectures on environmental impact of our dietary choices, vegan cooking and baking classes, and a panel discussion exploring how professional athletes succeed on a wholesome plant-based diet.

The best way to follow SAVT at WU activities is via the group’s Facebook page.

Recommended links:

• Alien thought experiment discussed in kick-off event (YouTube video)

• Intro Christopher Sebastian (YouTube video)

The webpage ‘Decision Support for Time-Critical Logistics Operations’, founded and managed by Christian Fikar from Institute for Production Management, provides an overview of emerging topics and recent research in the fields of foods’ logistics and humanitarian operations. Special areas of focus include economic, environmental and social sustainability of such logistics operations – particularly a reduction in food waste – as well as related simulation and optimization procedures to facilitate successful implementations and better processes in the future.

To visit the website and learn more, click here.