EfSD, the RCEs and EfSD, the RCEs and the Global Learning Spacethe Global Learning Space

an Opening Address an Opening Address

Global RCE meeting 2012TONGYEONG 21-24 September

Hans van GinkelFaculty of Geosciences

Utrecht University

BACK TO THEBACK TO THE

BEGINNINGBEGINNING

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Increasing numbers of Increasing numbers of crises:crises:

• Increasing numbers of visible Increasing numbers of visible indications of (the impact of) climate indications of (the impact of) climate change;change;

• Growing energy security concerns;Growing energy security concerns;• Intractable armed conflicts/violence;Intractable armed conflicts/violence;• Increase in number and magnitude of Increase in number and magnitude of

natural and humanitarian disasters;natural and humanitarian disasters;• Increase in short term Increase in short term “here and “here and

now”, “us and they”, “black and now”, “us and they”, “black and white” white” thinking; leading tothinking; leading to

• Economic and Financial crises of a Economic and Financial crises of a magnitude never seen in more than magnitude never seen in more than half a century.half a century.

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Why do we struggle so Why do we struggle so much?much?

• ReductionistReductionist tendencies (e.g. focus on tendencies (e.g. focus on GHG emission controls, on energy GHG emission controls, on energy demand but not supply).demand but not supply).

• • Tendency Tendency to over-simplify to over-simplify ( focussing ( focussing

on the problem, not the cure)on the problem, not the cure)

• Always Always looking backwards looking backwards (not asking (not asking what kind of world we want to live what kind of world we want to live in).in).

• Fear to looseFear to loose rather than to gain by rather than to gain by sharing.sharing.

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AN OIL TANKER:AN OIL TANKER:SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THISSOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THIS

We are traveling We are traveling on an oil tanker on an oil tanker on the edge of a on the edge of a hurricane. hurricane. How quickly can How quickly can a tanker change a tanker change course?course?

7

A BREAKTHROUGHA BREAKTHROUGH The Decade of Education for Sustainable The Decade of Education for Sustainable

Development (DESD), 2005-2014Development (DESD), 2005-2014

Proposed in Johannesburg Plan of Proposed in Johannesburg Plan of Implementation in 2002Implementation in 2002

Adopted by UN General Assembly in Adopted by UN General Assembly in December 2002 December 2002

The International Implementation The International Implementation Scheme (IIS) for DESD was approved in Scheme (IIS) for DESD was approved in September 2005.September 2005.

Governments are invited to consider the Governments are invited to consider the measures to implement DESD in their measures to implement DESD in their educational strategies and action plans.educational strategies and action plans.

8

WHAT ARE WE AIMING AT?WHAT ARE WE AIMING AT? What is What is EEffSDSD, really?, really?

Sustainable Development is a Sustainable Development is a political compromisepolitical compromise: its relevance : its relevance however can easily be argued when we look at both extremes: however can easily be argued when we look at both extremes: sustainability without development or development that is not sustainability without development or development that is not sustainable. Both are impossible, both in developed sustainable. Both are impossible, both in developed and and in in developing countries.developing countries.

Therefore, education Therefore, education forfor sustainable development is a broader sustainable development is a broader concept than environmental education.concept than environmental education.

EEffSD is thus also more than sustainable development education: it is SD is thus also more than sustainable development education: it is educationeducation forfor sustainable development - education to enable all sustainable development - education to enable all people to better contribute to sustainable development.people to better contribute to sustainable development.

THE AIMS OF DESDTHE AIMS OF DESD

The DESD aims at changing the approach to education; The DESD aims at changing the approach to education;

to break down traditional educational schemes and promotes:to break down traditional educational schemes and promotes:

1. interdisciplinary and holistic learning;1. interdisciplinary and holistic learning;

2. values-based learning;2. values-based learning;

3. critical thinking rather than memorizing;3. critical thinking rather than memorizing;

4. multi-method approaches, incl. art, drama, 4. multi-method approaches, incl. art, drama, debate, etc. debate, etc.

5. participatory decision-making;5. participatory decision-making;

6. locally relevant material rather than national;6. locally relevant material rather than national;

7. transformative approaches in teaching and 7. transformative approaches in teaching and learning;learning;

8. tertiary education supporting primary and 8. tertiary education supporting primary and secondary.secondary.

9

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FUTURE PERSPECTIVESFUTURE PERSPECTIVES

The ‘Knowledge TriangleThe ‘Knowledge Triangle’’Knowledg

e

Education

Innovation

N.B.‘Knowledge’ = all scientific knowledge, incl. from social sciences and humanities‘Innovation’ includes technological and social innovations

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The The ‘Knowledge Triangle’ ‘Knowledge Triangle’ and and Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

All education All education (formal and non-formal) at all (formal and non-formal) at all

levels and in all sectorslevels and in all sectors must be reconsidered must be reconsidered

and transformed and transformed as to prepare the present as to prepare the present

and next generations to better contribute to and next generations to better contribute to

the sustainable development of their the sustainable development of their

societies: societies:

EEffA and EA and EffSD areSD are two sides of the same coin two sides of the same coin; ;

EEffSD cannot just be a different subject next to SD cannot just be a different subject next to

all already existing subjects, but all already existing subjects, but all existing all existing

subjects must be transformedsubjects must be transformed to reflect E to reflect EffSD.SD.

PrimarySchools

SecondarySchools

Universities

PrimarySchools

SecondarySchools

Universities

Community leaders

Local Governments

Botanical gardens

(Science) museums

(Research centers)

Laterallinks

Horizontal links

Ver

tica

l lin

ksREGIONAL CENTRES OF EXPERTISE REGIONAL CENTRES OF EXPERTISE (RCE’s)(RCE’s)

Formal education Non-formal education

Local businesses

Knowledge-relatedinstitutions

Local NGOs

Nature parks

Media

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Regional Centers of Expertise in Regional Centers of Expertise in EfSD:EfSD:

Vehicles to Build Winning Vehicles to Build Winning AlliancesAlliances,,

characterised bycharacterised by

A A multi-disciplinarymulti-disciplinary approach approach Research onResearch on ‘hard’ ‘hard’ – meaning infrastructure and – meaning infrastructure and

‘soft’ ‘soft’ – meaning non-structural measures, to – meaning non-structural measures, to develop develop effective policies effective policies and and innovative innovative solutionssolutions

An An educated public educated public supporting long term supporting long term measuresmeasures

Community participation and support Community participation and support in the in the strategic development agenda that incorporates strategic development agenda that incorporates disaster risk reduction disaster risk reduction in development planningin development planning

What About Rio? RCEs beyond 2015!!What About Rio? RCEs beyond 2015!!

RCEs a lasting tool to transform our lives:RCEs a lasting tool to transform our lives:

1. portfolio’s of projects1. portfolio’s of projects2. flagship projects2. flagship projects3. ‘common wisdom’ on SD through study3. ‘common wisdom’ on SD through study4. sharing and applying knowledge 4. sharing and applying knowledge in the region in the region5. Global Learning Space5. Global Learning Space

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Starting Points for Discussion Starting Points for Discussion about Research to Support EfSDabout Research to Support EfSD

1.1. Sustainable Development rests onSustainable Development rests on 3 pillars: 3 pillars:a)a) the environmental/ecologicalthe environmental/ecologicalb)b) The economicThe economicc)c) The socialThe social

2.2. The aim is not to teach sustainable The aim is not to teach sustainable development but to prepare present and next development but to prepare present and next generations to better contribute to sustainable generations to better contribute to sustainable developmentdevelopment

3.3. The aim is not to replace all existing education, The aim is not to replace all existing education, but to improve the programmes and ways of but to improve the programmes and ways of teaching, so as to achieve better (2)teaching, so as to achieve better (2)

4.4. All concepts, theories, knowledge, etc. can be All concepts, theories, knowledge, etc. can be taught to children/students at all levels, though taught to children/students at all levels, though in appropriately adapted formsin appropriately adapted forms

5.5. EEffSD should include: 3 pillars, WEHAB, MDGsSD should include: 3 pillars, WEHAB, MDGs

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environmental economic social

concept/theory

- ecosystem - growth - democracy

- global warming, etc.

- equality, etc. - gender, etc.

issues

- emissions - employment - elections

- land degradation etc.

- productivity, etc.

- participation, etc.

cases- many (place-based)

- many (place-based)

- many (place-based)

Sustainability

Com

ple

xit

y

Development Scheme for EfSD

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DESD VISIONDESD VISION

To create a world where To create a world where everyone has the opportunity to everyone has the opportunity to benefit from quality education benefit from quality education and learn the values, behavior and learn the values, behavior and lifestyles required for a and lifestyles required for a sustainable future and for sustainable future and for positive societal transition.positive societal transition.

The Ultimate Goal of the DESD is:

The Creation of a Global Learning Space

for EfSD, based on RCEs, in order

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Global Learning Space

Redefine the web as a

2020

Global Learning SpaceGlobal Learning Space

I have been talking about the I have been talking about the need to create aneed to create a Global Learning Global Learning Space Space on the topic of sustainable on the topic of sustainable development over the past 15 development over the past 15 years.years.

There are two important There are two important precursorsprecursors to create this Global to create this Global Learning Space.Learning Space.

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This Development Has Already This Development Has Already Been Been Discussed for Some Time:Discussed for Some Time:

RossmanRossman e.g. calls for the terms: e.g. calls for the terms:

“ “cyberspace”, “the Internet”, “virtual cyberspace”, “the Internet”, “virtual space” space” and and “hyperspace” “hyperspace” to be blended to be blended together into atogether into a “Global Learning “Global Learning Space”.Space”.

He also anticipates:He also anticipates:

the emergence of more ”the emergence of more ”humanhuman” forms of ” forms of online education.online education.

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A Space for Global LearningA Space for Global Learning

RimmingtonRimmington states that states that Global Learning Global Learning is the:is the:

"combination of global reach"combination of global reach using modern using modern communication technologies, with communication technologies, with global global perspectives; perspectives;

is achieved through the interaction of is achieved through the interaction of students and faculty living students and faculty living in different in different geographic locations with diverse cultural geographic locations with diverse cultural backgroundsbackgrounds, to produce the “global , to produce the “global graduate.” graduate.”

∴ The word “global” may be replaced by “glocal.”

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One Billion People Have Internet One Billion People Have Internet AccessAccess

(15% of the world population)(15% of the world population)

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Internet Access is Unevenly Internet Access is Unevenly DistributedDistributed

So: How to Bridge the Digital Divide or So: How to Bridge the Digital Divide or better still…better still…

How to Share Knowledge?How to Share Knowledge?

in the most optimal ways?in the most optimal ways?

An Information Society Open to An Information Society Open to ALL!ALL!

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• Interlinkages:Interlinkages: how are issues and how are issues and solutions interconnected?solutions interconnected?

• Knowledge sharing: Knowledge sharing: if we know what if we know what we need to know, how do we share we need to know, how do we share that knowledge?that knowledge?

• Multi-lateralism and institutional Multi-lateralism and institutional collaboration: collaboration: working collectively working collectively we can achieve more!we can achieve more!

HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS?BY COOPERATION AND KNOWLEDGE- SHARING:

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Global Learning SpaceGlobal Learning Space

Asia Pacific InitiativeAsia Pacific Initiative: Linking : Linking universities in the US, Japan, Fiji, universities in the US, Japan, Fiji, Samoa, India and Thailand.Samoa, India and Thailand.

UN Water Virtual Learning CentreUN Water Virtual Learning Centre: : Linking with universities in Canada, Linking with universities in Canada, Ghana, Thailand and Fiji.Ghana, Thailand and Fiji.

REDMESOREDMESO: Collaboration with 25 public : Collaboration with 25 public universities in Mexico, Belize, Costa universities in Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras and Guatemala. Honduras and Guatemala.

Asia Pacific Initiative University Partners

National University of Samoa

University of Hawaii

Keio University

Aoyama Gakuin University

Waseda University

Okayama University

University of the Ryukyus

Asian Institute of Technology

Gadja Mada University

TERI University

UN University

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THE POWER IN OUR HANDSTHE POWER IN OUR HANDSMAYBE WE WOULD PREFER TO FEEL LIKE MAYBE WE WOULD PREFER TO FEEL LIKE

THIS:THIS:

Holding such Holding such power power in our hands: in our hands: Human Human ingenuity ingenuity and and imagination; imagination; Enhanced by Enhanced by

properproperEducation.Education.