Federal Handball League (HBL) offers digital learning platform for its clubs with "HBL School of Sustainable Sports"

  • HBL will offer a central digital learning platform for more sustainability in handball
  • XU sustainable (XU Group GmbH) is designing a learning experience platform for professional handball clubs
  • Certified learning content from XU sustainable creates more knowledge, awareness and competitiveness
  • HBL continues to focus consistently on credible transformation in its sustainability roadmap

Cologne/Berlin, Dezember 4, 2023 – Today marks the start of the HBL School of Sustainable Sports. From now on, employees from all departments of the Handball-Bundesliga GmbH and its clubs can begin developing their individual sustainability skills. 

From players to management: the participants in this digital continuing education program are players, employees and volunteers in professional clubs and Handball-Bundesliga GmbH. In cooperation with XU sustainable, the HBL offers participation in the certified continuing education program free of charge. The HBL School of Sustainable Sports is part of the HBL corporate strategy, in which social, ecological and economic sustainability play an important role.

The experts from XU sustainable have put together courses specifically for the context of professional sports: Basic knowledge about sustainability and climate protection, relevance and strategies of sustainable action for professional sport, relevance of sustainable partnerships and social responsibility as well as best practices from the world of sport. There are also introductions to sustainable match days and events, marketing and finance.

Participants can enroll in classes and access all contents of the HBL School of Sustainable Sports based on their preferences and availability. Interactive support is provided by experts.

 

HBL Managing Director Frank Bohmann: “Sustainability is not something that we can simply impose on ourselves. Rather, we are convinced that the transformation process and the associated willingness to change and further develop are largely dependent on the people who shape handball. Only if they internalize the knowledge and attitude for more sustainable action will we be able to live up to our social responsibility and the expectations of our fans and sponsors. That is why we invest in education and are delighted with the positive response of our clubs to the HBL School of Sustainable Sports.”

Dr. Christopher Jahns, co-founder and CEO of XU sustainable, says: “We need more sustainability for a good life and economy in the future. Professional sport is an important economic sector and has great potential to become more sustainable itself. Sport is also a subject close to our hearts. It moves people and can move mountains – that’s the energy we need for the sustainability transformation. That’s why I’m particularly pleased that the Handball Bundesliga, Germany’s second-largest sports league, is showing so much commitment to this cause. I am a passionate handball fan myself. I am therefore delighted that XU sustainable has found a great partner in the HBL for the first School of Sustainable Sports on the market.”

By offering the HBL School of Sustainable Sports, Handball-Bundesliga GmbH is building on the signing of the United Nations (UN) Sports for Climate Action Framework. Among other things, HBL GmbH has committed itself to systematically promoting and developing greater environmental responsibility within its own company and to raising awareness of the importance of climate protection.

 

About HBL GmbH

HBL GmbH is responsible for the organization, licensing and marketing of the first and second federal handball leagues. In addition to the 612 matches of the season, it is responsible for all cup fixtures and the organization of the REWE Final4 for the DHB Cup and the Super Cup. HBL GmbH is also responsible for the central marketing of the naming rights and media rights in Germany and abroad. The new media partnership concluded with Dyn and ARD/ZDF for the 2022/23 season gives the LIQUI MOLY Handball Bundesliga an unprecedented media presence in German-speaking countries.

HBL GmbH is firmly committed to anchoring sustainability in its corporate culture. In addition to the social facet, which is already an integral part of HBL’s DNA, ecological sustainability is becoming increasingly important. The basic idea that drives HBL is the careful use of natural resources as well as saving resources and energy in order to achieve greater sustainability in the company and reduce its CO2 footprint. In doing so, HBL is guided by the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

 

About XU sustainable

Founded in 2016, XU Group GmbH, operating as XU sustainable, offers a unique package of certified learning content including a learning experience platform (LXP) and services related to the future competence of sustainability with its drivers digitalization and mobility of the future. XU sustainable offers continuing education in a corporate context at a practical and academic level. The learning content is based on the academic principles of the IU International University. Regardless of industry affiliation and prior knowledge, XU sustainable offers a wide range of courses on the topic of sustainability. XU sustainable itself as well as over 121 hours of courses have been AZAV-certified by TÜV Nord since 2020. The courses are eligible for funding from the Federal Employment Agency.

Clients of XU sustainable include Airbus, Baerlocher, Bayer AG, Bosch, Deutsche Bahn, ebay, Greiner, Grohe, HDI, Hugo Boss, IAV, OMV, Otto Group, Porsche, Schaeffler, Schwarz-Lidl, Volkswagen and ZF Friedrichshafen. XU sustainable works with content and tech partners such as IU International University, BNW, the PEM Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Salesforce, Klett, avesco and Phineo to develop up-to-date learning content. www.xu.de 

Cologne/Berlin, Dezember 4, 2023