2012 News Archive
On 11 November 2012, RCE Yokohama university students organized “HAMACON 2012”, a youth project competition among students who engage in environmental conservation activities. The projects werassessed by a committee consisting of members from Yokohama City Council, educational institutions, and NGOs based in Yokohama. Prominent companies such as Nissan and NTT were also partners in the event. Forty students from six universities presented their environment-related projects, discussing them with more senior and experienced participants. Through the event, the RCE Yokohama youth network actively engaged in the issue, creating theirown innovative local projects toward a sustainable society.
Since 2011, the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) in collaboration with the Southern African Development Community Regional Environmental Education Programme (SADC-REEP) has been implementing a capacity development programme for African RCEs. Under this initiative, RCE Makana hosted a capacity development and training workshop for 22 African RCE coordinators at Rhodes University, South Africa on 7-9 September 2012. Notably, the capacity development event coincided with the 30th Environmental Education Association of Southern Africa (EEASA) Conference that took place at Rhodes University from 11-14 September 2012. RCE coordinators from the SACD countries stayed on after the capacity development event to attend and celebrate the EEASA Conference. For more details about the capacity development event, please click here .
Bio-cultural diversity has emerged as an important component of education for sustainable development (ESD). ESD principles like value orientation, transformative education, cooperation, problem-solving, participatory action, holistic perspectives and self-organization are integral for conserving, revitalizing and sustainably using biological and cultural resources.
To build a socially just economy and a more sustainable society, our consumption and production systems must become more sustainable -- not only in terms of market growth and resilience, but also in terms of productive non-market relations, ecosystem health, quality of life and the well-being of all involved. The Education for Sustainable Development programme at UNU-IAS has just published a book of case studies, showcasing groundbreaking education for sustainable development (ESD) initiatives that address some of the greatest challenges we face in moving to more sustainable consumption and production systems. They stem from the work of the Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE). Please click here to download the book.
Winners of the 2012 Young Scientist Award announced
The latest volume of IAU Horizons provides an interesting overview of some of the many facets of Higher Education’s engagements towards a more sustainable future. The issue is available online at http://www.iau-aiu.net/content/latest-issue in English and at http://www.iau-aiu.net/fr/content/vient-de-para%C3%AEtre-0 in French.
(posted 4 Jul)
Call for papers: submit your abstract by 3 August 2012
The 16th UNESCO-APEID International Conference, The Heart of Education: Learning to Live Togetherwill be held on 21-23 November 2012 at Hotel Pullman, Bangkok, Thailand. Co-organized by UNESCO, the Ministry of Education in Thailand and the Asian-Pacific Network for International Education and Values (APNIEVE), the Conference focuses on the non-cognitive aspects of learning, such as learning about values, ethics, social responsibility, civic engagement and so on. The organizers are calling for papers on the following Conference sub-themes:
- Paradigms of learning to live together
- Innovative practices of learning to live together
- Collaboration and learning communities
- Policies and instruments for learning to live together
The latest issue of the ProSPER.Net newsletter is out now. The newsletter features highlights from the ProSPER Network from throughout the first half of this year, including feature article on sustainability in higher education in the United States and a developing nation's perspective on sustainability in higher education. Download the newletter by clicking here .
(posted 2 Jul)
These are turbulent times, with the world changing at accelerating speed. Information is everywhere, but wisdom appears in short supply when trying to address key inter-related challenges of our time such as runaway climate change, the loss of biodiversity, the depletion of natural resources, the ongoing homogenization of culture, and rising inequity. UNU-IAS Research Fellow Abel Barasa Atiti has recently authored a chapter of new book entitled "Learning for Sustainability in times of Accelerating Change". Find out more about the book and the chapter on exploring possibilities of organisational learning-based change and transition towards sustainability contributed by Atiti by clicking here .
(posted 19 June)
New ProSPER.Net Publication “Developing a New Generation of Leaders”
The ProSPER.Net Secretariat is delighted to announce the publication of a new booklet entitled “ProSPER.Net: Developing a New Generation of Leaders”. The publication showcases successful research projects and initiatives that have been launched by ProSPER.Net members. While the limits of time and space unfortunately prevented all activities from being showcased, the publication still stands as an excellent representation of the work being done by the network as a whole. To download a PDF of the booklet, visit this page or click here .
(posted 15 June)
Apply Now for the 2012 Young Researchers' School
The 2012 ProSPER.Net Young Researchers’ School, to be held at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from 17 to 28 September 2012. The main goal of the Young Researchers' School (YRS) is to provide graduate students and young post‐doctoral researchers with an opportunity to better understand the spectrum of challenges that underpin sustainable development. To apply for a scholarship to the School or to nominate a Lecturer or Resource Person, click here .
(posted 15 June)
Register Now for the 7th Global RCE Conference
The 7th Global RCE Conference will be held in Tongyeong, the Republic of Korea, from 21 to 24 September 2012. The Conference will look to the end of the Decade on Education for Sustainable Development in 2014 and beyond, providing a vision for the future and generating the momentum needed to make that vision a reality. Registration for the conference is now open. We ask all RCE members to register through the conference website ( http://2012.rce.or.kr/eng ) before Friday, 22 June 2012. For those who would like to request financial support from UNU-IAS, the deadline for registrations is Friday, 15 June 2012. In order to ensure that the conference moves beyond mere rhetoric and produces tangible outcomes, we invite RCE members to actively participate in the preparatory process by joining discussions on various thematic, strategic and operational issues. For more information click here .
(posted 14 June)
International Biodiversity Day 2012
The International Day for Biological Diversity was observed globally on 22 May 2012. In the Indian stats of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand numerous children participated in the celebrations thr ough different activities organised by RCE Srinigar that combined learning with fun. Seven school s in Himachal Pradesh participated in an event that taught children about the different components that make up biodiversity.
For children living in relatively untouched and scarcely populated areas of the Himalayan mountains, this was a unique opportunity for them to relate to the plethora of flora and fauna that they encounter on a regular basis. Students of two schools planted saplings of medicinal plants to mark the day. They also learned how to care for plants.
To read the full report of all the day's activities organised by RCE Srinigar, click here .
(posted 11 June)
UPDATE from RCE Srinigar: Towards Better Prepared Monasteries in Sikkim
In May RCE Srinagar, in collaboration with WWF-India and Rumtek Monastery organized a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) workshop in Sikkim to train the monks to help people during disasters as well as to effectively contribute to rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts. The workshop was highly successful and, based on that success, RCE Srinigar is now organising a similar programme on a much larger scale. An upcoming workship will be held in June for the monasteries of other States of India, Nepal and Bhutan also. WWF-US under their ‘Sacred Landscape Programe’ supported the Sikkim workshop and is also supporting the upcoming workship in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India.
His Holiness the Karmapa will give the keynote address and chair the entire programme himself. \Besides the representatives of the monasteries, officials of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA, Government of Tibet in Exile) will also be there. Their Prime Minister and ministers will attend the meeting. CEE is made a partner in the programme. You can dowload the agenda of the workshop here .
(posted 11 June)
Case Studies: Towards Sustainable Livelihoods and Consumption & Production Through ESD
As the global community prepares for the Rio+20 conference on sustainable development later this month, the Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development have been preparing a series of case studies to showcase groundbreaking ESD initiatives that address some of the greatest challenges we face in moving to more sustainable development through sustainable consumption and production systems (SCP). SCP are particularly important for sustainable development; to build a socially just economy and a more sustainable society, consumption and production systems must become more sustainable - not only in terms of market growth and resilience but also in terms of productive non-market relations, ecosystem health, quality of life and the well-being of all involved. To read the full case studies, please click here or visit thePaper and Articlespage of the ESD Programme. or visit the page of the ESD Programme. or visit the page of the ESD Programme.
RCE Srinigar: Towards Better Prepared Monasteries in Sikkim
RCE Srinagar, in collaboration with WWF-India and Rumtek Monastery (seat of His Holiness 17th Karmapa), Sikkim, organized a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) workshop from 3-5 May, 2012 to address more than 110 monks of 26 important and big monasteries of the state. The objective of this workshop was to train the monks to help people during disasters as well as to effectively contribute to rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts. In a predominantly Buddhist State, monasteries and monks have considerable control and influence on society. Hence, it was important to equip them with basic knowledge and skills to both protect themselves as well as to reach out to the larger community in times of natural disasters.
Each monastery was helped in preparing its ‘Disaster Management Plan’ to identify safe areas, mark evacuation routes and list important contact numbers. The participants were also encouraged to form their own disaster response teams. Trainings, mock drills, experience sharing sessions, lectures by experts and film shows completed the highly interesting and informative three-day DRR workshop. You can dowload the report here . The report is also available on Rumtek monastery websitehttp://www.rumtek.org/mn/mn_ar.php#030512
(posted 30 May)
RCE Saskatchewan Featured in Canadian Newspaper
RCE Saskatchewan's excellent work with aboriginal groups in Canada was recently featured in a Canadian provincial newspaper, The StarPhoenix. Read the full story here or on The StarPhoenix http://www.haw-hamburg.de/index.php?id=26499&L=1
(posted 11 May)
Join the Avalon Sustainability School August 2012
The Avalon Sustainability School is a place where young people have the skills, creativity and freedom to take part in the transition to a more resilient future. Join the Avalon Sustainability School an integral learning experience in an international environment for young people aged 14 to 19 combining art, adventure and skills for a resilient future. This year's programme is in the Spanish Pyrenees from 12th to 26th of August led by a team of professional outdoor educators, sustainability professionals, social entrepreneurs and language coaches. All activities are held in English and participants from Europe, the US, the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
The school is jointly organised by RCE Barcelona, Barcelonya and Active Earth , which has more than 10 year’s experience in nature based learning with young people, and inspired by Gaia Education’s Design for Sustainability running in over 27 countries around the world. Mercy Corps is collaborating with this programme as well to help give youth leaders in the Middle East a chance to take part in Avalon.
Find out more about the school and how to join the Avalon Youth Network at www.avalon-school-com .
(posted 2 May)
RCE Greater Sudbury Celebrates Success!
Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) staff and students recently celebrated the 10 year anniversary of the implementation at all schools of the Dearness Conservation (DC) Program, a program developed by the Dearness Environmental Society! At this celebration Board administration took the opportunity to thank the teachers and students by acknowledging their efforts and successes. Each school used this opportunity to highlight their achievements by showcasing their projects in a display booth setting. A variety of local officials and representatives attended including the City of Greater Sudbury’s Deputy Mayor, Joscelyne Landry-Altmann, and Mrs.Theresa Spencer, a Ministry of Education representative. You can read more about the anniversary in the upcoming edition of the RCE Bulletin. Learn more about the Dearness Environmental Society by visiting http://www.dearness.ca/ .
(posted 30 Apr)
Call for Nominations: Wenhui Award for Educational Innovation 2012
The theme of the 2012 Wenhui Award, Innovation in Education for Sustainable Development, focuses on innovations in education that have led to noticeable changes in values, mindsets, behaviours and practices in line with the concept and principles of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Two winners will be selected by a jury of distinguished educators. Each winner will receive US$ 20,000 and a Certificate of Excellence at the China Hangzhou International Conference on Educational Innovations.
The Award is sponsored by the National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO and coordinated by the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Programme of Educational Innovation for Development (APEID). To find about more about the award and the nomination process, please visithttp://www.unescobkk.org/education/apeid/wenhuiaward2012 . All nominations must reach the Award Secretariat at the address below by 8 June 2012.
Disaster Risk Reduction Workshop in Sikkim, India
3-5 May, 2012
A Workshop titled “Climate Change and Natural Disaster Management - Towards better prepared monasteries in Sikkim” will be held from 3-5 May, 2012 at Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, India. The workshop, which is supported by the Rubin Foundation, is being organized by the WWF – India, Khangchendzonga Landscape Programme in collaboration with Rumtek Monastery and RCE Srinagar.
Sikkim is a small landlocked state nestled in the eastern Himalayas of India and, as with most Himalayan states, it is vulnerable to multiple natural hazards. Last September, a 6.9 magnitude quake struck the region, killing 71 people and destroying several government buildings, multi-storied residences, markets and monasteries This workshop is aimed at the monks and monasteries in and around Sikkim. It will address safe construction techniques, identify improvements and upgrades on existing structures, explore climate change and its impacts, and underline the relevance of disaster risk reduction and the importance of being prepared for the future.
For more information, download the brochure here .
(posted 25 Apr)
Celebrate Earth Day by joining the Global Conversation on Sustainability
In June, the UN will bring the world together in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to discuss and decide how to accelerate action for a healthier, more equitable and more prosperous world for all. There will be government leaders, business CEOs, farmers, scientists, academics and community activists at Rio. There will be leaders of women’s groups, indigenous peoples organisations, trade unions and youth movements. You can also be part of this global conversation. Please visit The Future We Want (futurewewant.org) where you can contribute your ideas on what a sustainable future might look like – for you, your family and your community.
(posted 22 Apr)
RCE Srinigar Focuses on Students
RCE Srinigar, together with its partners in education and sustainable development, has led a number of highly successful projects focused on students in the region. In Sikkim, a small landlocked state in the eastern Himalayas that was struck by a 6.9 earthquake last September, the RCE and its partners have launched a disaster risk reduction awareness campaign. You can read more about that initiative here .
RCE Srinigar also helped hundreds of students celebrate World Water Day on March 22. The RCE and partners led a number of activities in the Himalayan states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachel Pradesh and Utterakhand. Students were introduced to the theme of "Water and Food Security" and were able to learn about local water issues, such as water availability, pollution, agriculture, conservation and health issues related to water. You can see photos from the events and read more about it here .
(posted 19 Apr)
RCE Srinigar launches Safe Holi Campaign
Holi is a religious festival celebrated every spring in India. As part of the celebration, people across the country smear themselves and others in different shades of the most vibrant, scented colours. Unfortunately, many of those colorings contain toxic elements that can lead to blindness, cancer or respiratory diseases, among others. Click here to read what RCE Srinigar is doing to make Holi a safer and healthier event for all.
(posted 16 Apr)
Open Call for RCE Applications 2012
The United Nations University is now calling for applications for new Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development. Please check out more information of the requirement by clicking here .
(posted 10 Feb)
Check out the latest issue of RCE Saskatchewan's ESD Newsletter
Welcome 11 new RCEs!!
- RCE Gippsland, Australia
- RCE Greater Western Sydney, Australia
- RCE Greater Dhaka, Bangladesh
- RCE Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- RCE Tantramar, Canada
- RCE Greater Shangri-la, China
- RCE Chandigarh, India
- RCE East Arunachal Pradesh, India
- RCE Mumbai, India
- RCE Lesotho
- RCE Khomas-Erongo, Namibia
(posted 25 Jan)
New Sustainability Science Course
As part of the COMPETENCE (Comprehensive Programme to Enhance Technology, Engineering and Science Education in Asia) project, UNESCO Jakarta together with Center for Sustainability Science (CENSUS), Hokkaido University, Japan, will deliver a new course, “Sustainability Science”. The course is expected to provide a model for sustainability education among higher educational and governmental institutions. It covers the comprehensive framework of sustainability, such as concepts, sustainable resource use (energy, water, food, materials, etc), institution, economy, social capital and human capital.
The course will be broadcast through CONNECT-Asia partner networks. University/participants connected to our partner networks will receive the course through video conference. Meanwhile other participants can follow the lecture via live streaming. More information is available on the CONNECT Asia website: http://connect-asia.org/index.php/partner-courses/84-new-course-sustainability-science