EAUC Annual Conference 2010 Workshop – Wednesday 24 th March

EAUC Annual Conference 2010

Workshop – Wednesday 24th March United Nations University Regional Centres

of Expertise in Sustainability EducationAidan Doyle - RCE North EastCarol Rabbette – RCE SevernYvonne Jones – RCE Wales

EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

Workshop Outline• The global network of RCEs• RCEs in the UK• RCE North East• RCE Severn• RCE Wales• The EU perspective• Opportunities for involvement in RCEs• The way forwardEAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

The UNU network of RCEs• RCEs are acknowledged by the United Nations

University• A RCE is a network of existing formal, non-formal and

informal education organisations, mobilised to ESD to local and regional communities.

• A RCE should have four elements: – 1. Governance– 2. Collaboration– 3. Research and development– 4. Transformative education


Global Learning space• The worldwide network of RCEs constitutes the

Global Learning Space for Sustainable Development

• 74 RCEs around the world March 2010:– 12 in Africa– 28 in the Asia Pacific region– 23 in Europe and Middle East– 8 in North and Central America– 3 in South America and Caribbean


RCEs in the UK


6 RCEs established in the UK 2007-9: • RCE East Midlands

• RCE North East • RCE Severn • RCE Yorkshire and Humberside • RCE Wales• RCE London

Gaps – North West, Eastern and South East

RCE North East• Background • Opportunities

• Challenges



RCE Severn Promoting transformational learning and

change in the West Midlands and South West

• Inaugural meeting October 2008 • Hosted by University of Gloucestershire,

based in Cheltenham• Part-time coordinator in post since March

2009• Email [email protected]


RCE Severn OpportunitiesTo build capacity to implement change to address

global and local sustainability challenges

• A consortium of 95 partner organisations, spanning two administrative regions of the UK

• Facilitating shared learning across a range of sectors (HE and FE; businesses; schools; NGO and charities; local government and media)

• Collaborating on joint projects and fund-raising initiatives • Supporting opportunities for volunteering and work

placements• Complementing and adding value to existing networks


RCE Severn – the regionRCE named after the River Severn, the

longest river in the UK• West Midlands

– Population of 5.3 million– Industrial heartland of the UK

• The South West – Population of 4.9 million– Large rural area with attractive

coastline


Management Structure • Steering Group and Terms of Reference approved

March 2009• Representatives from 6 sectors sit on Steering Group• Four working Groups established July 2009:

1. Businesses and sustainability

2. Young People and Sustainable Schools

3. Local Food Initiatives4. Media and

Communications

Social and Environmental

JusticeLow

Carbon Economy

Well Trained

Workforce

Resilient Communities

Engaging with businesses

Carbon Reduction

Transition Universities

Sustainable Food

Climate Change

Adaptation

Citizenship Skills

Knowledge creativity and application

Embedding sustainability

into the curriculum

Multi-modal learning through

digital media

Employability and green

skills

Joined-up thinking

RCE SEVERN – Core Values, Key Outcomes and Vehicles for Change

CORE VALUES

KEY OUTCOMES

VEHICLES FOR CHANGE


Flagship projectsSoundings in Sustainability - November 2008 • Event to generate insights into the sustainability skills

required for graduates in the 21st century• 'The Handbook of Sustainability Literacy: skills for a

changing world’ ,see http://sustainability-literacy.org/

Student Engagement Forum – November 2009• National forum to share good practice to improve student engagement in

sustainability within higher education • Leading to UoG action plan and academic publication

RCE Severn - Challenges

• No core funding for projects• Everyone too busy doing the day job to come

up with new project ideas• Difficult to add value• Limited involvement of HE and FE sectors• Very large geographical area


RCE Wales

A Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable

Development and Global Citizenship

(ESDGC)

RCE Severn – 3rd European meeting at Graz, December 2009


RCE Wales - establishment

• Initial consultative meetings Nov 2008 • SG set up; application supported by the Welsh

Assembly Government and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales

• Application submitted Jun 2009• RCE Wales established Feb 2010• Secretariat hosted by Swansea University• Managed by Swansea University’s ESDGC team• Email [email protected]

RCE WalesFacilitating collaboration to research, develop and promote

ESDGC, so that this learning is central to the emergence of a sustainable Wales

RCE Wales’ work should:• Add value to existing activities• Be collaborative and transformative• Include a research component• Share learning about ESDGC practice


RCE Wales• An open network of ESDGC stakeholders

• Stakeholders – anyone interested or active in ESDGC including: FHE, Local Authorities, NGOs, businesses, WBL, schools…

• Research – pedagogy, impact

• Develop – projects, embedding processes

• Promote – communication, advocacy


RCE Wales – the region

• 160 miles (258 km) long, 60 miles (97 km) wide.

• Population 4 million approx.• Welsh Language speakers 500,000 -

18.5%• Devolved government since 1999

(WAG)• Predominantly rural • Rich cultural heritage• Industrial history that is significant

on a world scale.


RCE Wales Organisation• Secretariat currently carried by Swansea University ESDGC

Team• Regular SG meetings• Representatives from different sectors sit on Steering Group• WAG and HEFCW observers• Terms of Reference approved • EDEN and the website• Next – formation of the working groups!


RCE Wales at work

• The Dyfi Footprint Project • Welsh Fisheries Predator Project• Real World Learning Cymru Partnership • Sustainable Development community Toolkit• Water in the 21st Century', the ‘Dream of

Water Game• ClimArt

RCE Wales - Challenges

• Lack of core funding• Effective and sustainable engagement of wide

range of stakeholders• Insecure , short-term or projectised ESDGC funding• ESDGC processes complex• RCE concept poorly understood; RCEs invisible• Limited stakeholder capacity for involvement


The European Union Perspective• 23 RCEs in the EU• EU RCE conferences held annually• Seeking to create a EU association of RCEs to

coordinate activities across the EU• Scope to bid for EU funding, using RCE

network to find partners• Platform for joint projects• Copernicus Alliance


Opportunities for involvement in RCEs

Discussion: • How can HE institutions benefit?• How can individuals benefit?• How can RCEs become more visible?


Thank you

EAUC Annual Conference 2010 Workshop – Wednesday 24 th March

Documents

Transcript of EAUC Annual Conference 2010 Workshop – Wednesday 24 th March