Mobility
Mobility in the university sector includes the day-to-day mobility of students and staff on local or long-distance Swiss public transport. But it also includes study and research visits, participation in seminars or guest lectures abroad. The Sustainability Office is in contact with other universities in Switzerland regarding the mobility policies for CO2 reduction of university members.
Members and visitors of the University of Lucerne can benefit from the immediate proximity to the train station and Lucerne's bicycle network, especially in terms of local transportation. There are no parking spaces available, which also relieves traffic in the city center and reduces exhaust fumes. Air travel in connection with university mobility has an even greater impact on the personal CO2 footprint, as well as on the achievement of the University of Lucerne's CO2 targets (net zero by 2030). The University of Lucerne's Finance and Accounting department records air travel by faculty and research program.
The International Relation Office at the University of Lucerne makes every effort to create ideal conditions for (inter)national mobility and to continuously expand mobility options, while promoting sustainable means of travel. In each individual case, it is important to consider whether it is necessary to travel at all or whether the event abroad can be attended online. The decision tree of Movetia, the national agency for exchanges and mobility in the education system, may be helpful for this.
The University of Lucerne currently offers the program "Greener Mobility", which is aimed at both incoming and outgoing students. The grants are awarded by Movetia as part of the Swiss Erasmus+ programs. The financial contributions of CHF 100 towards the respective rail journey are intended to promote environmentally friendly mobility within Europe for university members.
As part of the Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP) for employees of the University of Lucerne, lump-sum allowances are granted in proportion to the number of kilometers traveled by long-distance bus or train. The faculties and departments have different regulations regarding sustainable travel for their researchers and employees. In principle, the unreasonableness rule applies, according to which air travel is only paid for if travel by more environmentally friendly means of transport is not reasonable. As a rule, the journey is only unreasonable if it would take more than three hours longer by other means of transport than by air. The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences does not support air travel of less than 1000 kilometers. Further information can be found in the information sheets on the University of Lucerne's expenses regulations.
Leaflet: Expenses for lecturers
Scientific continuing education: Leaflet and process
FHSS: Application for Financial Support of Continued Scientific Training
