RCE North Texas[type]

Localizing the UN SDGs through Education, Training, and Collaboration
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Localizing the UN SDGs through Education, Training, and Collaboration
Contributing organization(s) : 
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
RCE North Texas
RCE Georgetown, South Carolina
RCE Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
RCE Saskatchewan, Canada
RCE Puerto Rico
RCE Greater Atlanta
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Meghna Tare
Organizational Affiliation: 
University of Texas at Arlington
E-mail: 
mtare@uta.edu
Name: 
Jennifer Hirsch
Organizational Affiliation: 
Georgia Institute of Technology
E-mail: 
jennifer.hirsch@gatech.edu
Format of project: 
Audio Visual, White Paper, Designs
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Sunday, July 23, 2023
Web link: 
https://www.aashe.org/calendar/advancing-sdgs/
Additional resources: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkWouUMH8JRG41hm5v_7H82f-3IjvuCHU
https://mailchi.mp/b1725d359008/rce-north-texas-news-winter-welcome-17054673
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
Education for Sustainable Development
At what level is the policy operating?: 
International
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Americas
Country: 
United States
Location(s): 
Texas and Georgia
Address of focal point institution for project: 
University of Texas at Arlington
601 W. Nedderman Drive # 105
Box 19333
Arlington Texas 76019
USA
Ecosystem(s):
Dryland
Target Audience:
Community, Higher, Primary, Secondary, Youth (Informal)
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) was born from the need for education to address growing sustainability challenges. ESD employs action-oriented, innovative pedagogy to enable learners to develop knowledge and awareness and take action to transform society into a more sustainable one.Universities and colleges around the world are making commitments to advance the UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) through their teaching, research, operations, and partnerships. One proven model for making good on this commitment is to establish a United Nations-affiliated RCE network. RCEs – Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) – are regional multi-stakeholder networks, grounded in higher education, that advance the SDGs through education and training. RCEs are proliferating, with over 180 networks around the world, including 27 in the Americas.
Contents
Status: 
Completed
Period: 
January, 2023
Rationale: 
Universities and colleges around the world are making commitments to advance the UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) through their teaching, research, operations, and partnerships. One proven model for making good on this commitment is to establish a United Nations-affiliated RCE network. RCEs – Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) – are regional multi-stakeholder networks, grounded in higher education, that advance the SDGs through education and training. RCEs are proliferating, with over 180 networks around the world, including 27 in the Americas.

Through this learning cohort, we share how RCEs bring together institutions at the regional/local level to jointly promote ESD. They build innovative platforms to share information and experiences and to promote dialogue among regional/local stakeholders through partnerships for sustainable development. They create a local/regional knowledge base to support ESD actors, and promote four major goals of ESD in a resource-effective manner. Additionally, we will introduce the “Localizing the UN SDGs through Education,Training and Regional Collaboration” course and the instructors from the different RCE networks participating from Canada and the U.S. This learning cohorts provided a strong foundation for maximizing learning through case studies, project implementation, and sharing of best practices.
Objectives: 
The course will:
• Identify and connect those interested in SDG localization with peers from across the US and Canada
• Engage subject-matter experts to identify promising practices and useful resources
• Identify potential areas for additional research and development
• Share best practices.
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
• Have built relationships with peers who can continue to support their work advancing the SDGs through education and training moving forward
• Understand the importance of community/citizen-centred planning and collaborative goal setting
• Network and consult with peers around North America who can continue to support their work

Activities and/or practices employed: 
This virtual course included the following sessions:
• Introduction to the Regional Centres of Expertise as a Model for ESD Integration
• Optional pre-event networking
• Food Policy Councils and Alliance as a Tool for Equitable and Resilient Food Systems (RCE North Texas)
• Building Community Sustainability and Resilience through SDG Data, Dashboards, and Assessments (RCE Georgetown, South Carolina)
• Integrating SDGs into Higher Ed for Robust Student and Community Engagement (RCE Shenandoah Valley, Virginia)
• Educating for Responsible Consumption and Production and Transformative Technologies (RCE Saskatchewan, Canada)
• Building Bridges for Change (RCE Greater Atlanta & RCE Saskatchewan, Canada)
• Community-based, collaborative action for sustainable natural resource management (RCE Puerto Rico)
• Concluding Immersive Reflection
Size of academic audience: 
70
Results: 
Dissemination of information and case studies through webinar and discussions
https://www.youtube.com/@utaofficeofsustainability4881/videos
Lessons learned: 
Attached report with summary of lessons learned for each session
Key messages: 
By committing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), countries pledge to pursue progress on economic, social, and environmental targets, in a balanced and integrated manner. The SDGs are cross-cutting and ambitious, and require a shift in how we work in partnership. They also push us to significantly change the level of both public and private investment in all countries.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
Universities and colleges around the world are making commitments to advance the UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) through their teaching, research, operations, and partnerships. One proven model for making good on this commitment is to establish a United Nations-affiliated RCE network. RCEs - Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development - are regional multi-stakeholder networks, grounded in higher education, that advance the SDGs through education and training. RCEs are proliferating, with over 180 networks around the world, including 27 in the Americas.

In this short course, offered in Spring Semester 2023, leaders from # RCE networks from the U.S. and Canada will share experiences, case studies, and lessons learned on how universities and colleges can help lead multi-stakeholder collaborations that localize and advance the SDGs in their regions. The course will:
Identify and connect those interested in SDG localization with peers from across the US and Canada
Engage subject-matter experts to identify promising practices and useful resources
Identify potential areas for additional research and development

Upon completing this course, participants are be able to:
Reach out to multiple stakeholders around their region to collaborate to advance the SDGs through education and training moving forward
Understand the importance of community/grassroots planning and collaborative goal setting and how this leads to innovative approaches to sustainability
Consult with peers around North America who can continue to support their work
Funding: 
In kind funding ( time and efforts) of all the participating RCE Americas and Association for Advancement of Sustainability In Higher Education (AASHE)
References and reference materials: 
PDF icon SESSION SUMMARIES - Localizing the UN SDGs through Education, Training and Regional Collaboration.pdf
PDF icon RCE AASHE Presentation.pptx.pdf
PDF icon Localizing SDG Flyer.pdf
PDF icon Ses. 1 February 21_ Food Policy Councils and Alliance - RCE North Texas Slides.pdf
PDF icon Ses. 2 March 21_ Building Community Sustainability and Resilience - Georgetown Slides.pdf
PDF icon Ses. 2 March 21_ Building Community Sustainability and Resilience - Shenandoah Slides.pdf
PDF icon Ses. 3 April 4 Educating for Responsible Consumption and Production - Roger Petry.pdf
PDF icon Ses. 5 May 9 - Community-based, collaborative action - Puerto Rico.pdf
PDF icon Ses. 5 May 9 - Concluding Remarks.pdf
PDF icon Ses. 5 May 9 - Immersive Reflection.pdf
PDF icon Ses. 4 April 25 - Building Bridges for Change- Slides.pdf
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Indirect
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Indirect
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Indirect
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
Indirect
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Indirect
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Indirect
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Indirect
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Indirect
SDG 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries 
Indirect
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Indirect
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Indirect
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Indirect
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Indirect
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Indirect
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Indirect
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
No
I acknowledge the above: 
Yes