In May 2014, the project and implementation plan for the BOKU sustainability strategy was approved by the Rectorate following a participatory development process. In the course of the discussions it became clear, among other things, that sustainability is understood and interpreted differently at the BOKU. The wish was expressed to develop or deepen a BOKU understanding of sustainability (sustainable development) and to explain it with examples.

An initial draft developed by the coordination and reflection groups was presented to all BOKU employees for discussion after a decision by the rectorate in autumn 2014.

The feedback received was taken up by the editorial team as far as possible and the first version revised. The final version of BOKU's understanding of sustainability was approved by the Rectorate in February 2015.