Medical drugs are expensive to make and can have an adverse effect on the environment. Researchers Stefano Cucurachi and Justin Lian have developed a framework to help the healthcare system assess the economic and environmental sustainability of medical compounds.

The theme Sustainability is one of the five continuous developmental themes in the strategical plan Innovating and connecting – 2022 - 2027 of Leiden University. Making sustainability one of the hot topics.

Sustainable housing is one of the key pillars of the University’s environmental policy. Sustainable construction requires an additional investment of time and money. However, these costs can be earned back with lower energy costs, longer building usage, less maintenance, better performance by the staff…

Sustainable housing is one of the key pillars of the University’s environmental policy. Sustainable construction requires an additional investment of time and money. However, these costs can be earned back with lower energy costs, longer building usage, less maintenance, better performance by the staff…

Education, Research

The University has established an Environmental Policy Plan, which sets a number of ambitious goals to reduce its direct environmental impact and CO2 footprint and to raise staff awareness of sustainable and eco-friendly operations.

In our teaching, Leiden University gives all students the opportunity to learn about sustainability themes and issues. Social issues, including sustainable development, are addressed in the teaching and research at all of our faculties. On this Day of Sustainability, we highlight a number of subject…

Leiden University has appointed a new supplier for furniture procurement, signing a contract emphasising sustainability and reuse. This approach is already delivering results: when furnishing the new Spui Campus this year, more than half of the furniture was reused.

Education, Research

Lifelong development at Leiden University: learn, develop, grow

The effects of sustainability projects on poorer, marginalised people should be considered at a much earlier stage. This is the opinion of Marja Spierenburg, Professor of Anthropology of Sustainable Development and Livelihood, who will give her inaugural lecture on 25 February.

Digitalisation can make a huge contribution to a greener future, but it must also be as sustainable as possible. To make significant progress, more collaboration and national leadership will be needed. Leiden University has therefore signed the Digital Sustainability Manifesto, which was presented on…

Leiden students working to solve a sustainability problem at the request of an external party: that is the Sustainability Challenge. During a recent symposium, 28 groups of four to five students unveiled their solutions. The commisioners expressed great enthusiasm.

Dutch greenhouse horticulture is a world leader when it comes to innovative capacity and sustainability, but ‘the challenges are great in terms of energy, water, environment and biodiversity,’ says Peter van Bodegom, coordinator of AgriFood at the Centre for Sustainability of the Leiden, Delft, Erasmus…

The Faculty of Science believes it is important that you are stimulated, inspired and supported in your development as a teacher. In this section, you can find out more about the support and opportunities to work on your teaching skills.

Leiden University considers good education to be of paramount importance. That is why we invest in our teachers’ professional development, to ensure that their teaching methods continue to match the needs of individual students.

Further development

University Leiden encourages its employees to use and develop their talents. We do this by supporting you in your career and in your personal and professional development. We try to ensure that you get the opportunity to realise your full potential.

Leiden University needs space to be able to innovate, and the Organisational Development programme is working on this.

As of 6 October 2025, Leiden University has incorporated three key HR processes into a new platform: the Talent and Development Platform.

Education, Research

Leiden University has secured fifth place in SustainaBul, the sustainability ranking for universities and universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands.

Leiden University has taken 14th place in the UI Green Metric, a global sustainability ranking for universities.

Our aim with the Humanities Campus is to create a sustainable and attractive campus with ample green spaces and opportunities for interaction, complemented by modern and future-proof facilities. The campus is being developed in stages. On this page, you can find information about the planning, latest…

Liveable Planet, the Leiden interdisciplinary research programme on sustainability, has a full presence at the LUGO Sustainability Day on Tuesday 9 May. Professor Jan Willem Erisman will deliver the keynote lecture. You can also ask questions about sustainability research and interdisciplinary collaboration…