The CZU Rectorate’s Sustainability and Development Office is launching the new edition of the Campus Sustainability Challenge 2026! Since 2018, this competition has brought to life dozens of innovative, ecological, and socially beneficial student-led projects across the CZU campus.
You may already know some of them — the CZU Freeshop, the solar pergola, or the insect hotels. All these activities have been created by students. Now, you can be one of the next changemakers.
What is the competition about?
The Campus Sustainability Challenge is a student competition aimed at encouraging ideas that:
- improve the sustainability of the university campus,
- contribute to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
- strengthen environmental, economic, or social responsibility at CZU.
Your task is to propose and design a project that is feasible, sustainable, and innovative and positively impacts campus life.
Why participate?
- You can help shape our environment where you study.
- You can gain hands-on experience with designing a real project.
- The selected projects will be implemented in the following semester.
- Winners can receive up to 25 000 CZK.
Have an idea? Perfect! Become a driver of positive change and submit your project to the Campus Sustainability Challenge 2026 through the online form.
Choose a theme for your project
In this year’s edition, you can work within three thematic areas:
1) Transportation
- parking,
- shared mobility solutions,
- improving mobility on the campus.
2) Well-being, Equal Opportunities, Ethics
- active & healthy lifestyle,
- mental and physical health,
- inclusion and equal opportunities.
3) Enhacement of campus biodiversity
- supporting native species,
- managing invasive species,
- caring for water bodies and campus ecosystems.
What should your project include?
The jury will evaluate your project based on the following criteria:
- Content and quality
- clear connection to relevant SDGs, as described in the CZU Sustainability Strategy 2025+,
- measurable environmental, economic and social impact,
- full structure: summary, project’s objectives, proposed solution, main result, milestones, risks, schedule, and budget,
- use of facts, reliable data, and wellfounded argumentation.
- Contribution to the campus & relevance to thetheme
- direct impact on the CZU campus or CZU community,
- originality and sustainability of the proposed solution.
- Feasibility & budget
- feasibility within the maximum budget of 200 000 CZK incl. VAT,
- realistic, welljustified budget,
- financial sustainability of the project in the following years.
- Teamwork
- interdisciplinary cooperation,
- involvement of students across faculties,
- inclusivity and community collaboration.
- Project presentation
- a clear and understandable presentation of the project lasting up to 7 min,
- high-quality visual design, including the use of media,
- ability to answer the jury effectively,
- presentation skills and overall delivery.
Participation rules
- Projects must be submitted by teams of 2–6 CZU students via the online form by 20 March 2026.
- The project budget may be up to 200 000 CZK incl. VAT (personnel costs included).
- The expert committee will review all written projects and select the finalists.
- Finalists will present their projects in person to the expert committee on 23 April 2026 in the CZU Aula.
Awards
- 1st place – 25 000 CZK
- 2nd place – 15 000 CZK
- 3rd place – 10 000 CZK
Competition timeline
- until 20 March 2026 – submit your project via the online form here
- 2 April 2026 – announcement of finalists
- 23 April 2026 – final presentations and awards ceremony (CZU Aula)
Need help with your project?
We are happy to advise you during preparation of your proposal or to discuss your idea during an individual consultation.
Contact the competition coordinator
Ing. Anna Tvrdíková
CSR Manager