Simon Benal completes a voluntary environmental year at the University of Graz

Simon Benal supports the Environmental Management team at the University of Graz.

Committing to the planet, getting to know exciting fields of activity and discovering possible paths for your own future – these are the opportunities offered by the Freiwilliges Umweltjahr (FUJ), a voluntary environmental year. One person who has chosen this option is Simon Benal. He has been working in the environmental management team at the University of Graz since September 2025.

“Environmental and climate protection are very important to me,” says Simon Benal. And that makes him a perfect fit as a “FUJler” at the University of Graz. When it comes to sustainability, the university has been setting an example for many years – in research and teaching as well as in its overall operation. Since 2016, it has been pursuing a consistent environmental management system certified according to EMAS and ISO 14001. In addition, the University of Graz has set itself the goal of becoming one of the first climate-neutral universities in Austria by 2040 through consistent measures to reduce emissions.

Benal's activities are quite varied. “I proofread the texts for the University of Graz's environmental statement 2024, maintain our department's website, take photos, create graphics and am currently programming a tool for issuing certificates to university employees who complete internal training courses on sustainability topics,” he reports. In the process, he is also discovering how a university functions as a business. What surprised him was that “it is far more complex than I had imagined, with so many different tasks in different departments.” And these departments must also be integrated into environmental management and work together to make the university as a whole even more sustainable and climate-friendly. “Consistently pursuing this path while guaranteeing the best conditions for science and study is a major challenge,” Benal realised after just a few months. In addition to his work at the university, he also appreciates the seminars, workshops and excursions offered as part of the FUJ course. They provide environmental education, promote personal development and are designed to help with career orientation.

However, Simon Benal has already decided that he wants to study computer science in autumn 2026. He has already acquired the basic skills for this at school, BORG Feldbach, where he chose this branch of study. “Computer science can be used in many areas. I could imagine adding a bachelor's degree in Environmental Systems Sciences afterwards,” he muses. But he still has some time until then. In any case, he will gain valuable experience at the University of Graz over the next six months.

Information about the FUJ at the University of Graz

The FUJ can be completed as an alternative to community service. There are more than 90 organisations throughout Austria to choose from.

Gudrun Pichler

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