Regional Centre of Expertise Saskatchewan

1. RCE Overview Regional Centre of Expertise Saskatchewan The Saskatchewan Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (SK RCE on ESD) seeks to transform education for sustainability in our region.

2. RCE Overview • RCE (defined): Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development • RCE Initiative Developed by the United Nations University (UNU)‏ • RCEs advance the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD; 2005-2014) • RCEs are networks of formal, non-formal, and informal educational and other institutions mobilized to deliver and research ESD at regional (sub-national) and local levels • RCEs advance the DESD by translating its global objectives into regional contexts

3. RCE Overview 83 2011

4. RCE Overview

5. RCE Overview Connect Locally, Regionally, and Globally for ESD www.saskrce.ca

6. RCE Overview Regional Centre of Expertise - Saskatchewan Environmental Learning and Sustainability in Canada defines the three types of education as follows: Formal Education: Education through the school systems from kindergarten to the end of high school as well as some aspects in colleges and universities. Non-formal Education: Public awareness activities by organizations outside of the school system (eg. Environmental Street Theatre). Informal Education: Educational activities provided by media (eg. documentaries on radio and television)

7. RCE Overview Regional Centre of Expertise - Saskatchewan Six Thematic Issues: • Climate Change • Health • Farming and Local Food Production, Consumption, and Waste Minimization • Reconnecting to Natural Prairie Ecosystems Supporting • Bridging Cultures for Sustainable Living and Community

8. RCE Overview Regional Centre of Expertise - Saskatchewan Underlying Features of RCE Model: • Education as an ongoing process that includes both formal and informal education • Centrality of institutions of higher education (IHEs) in ESD • ESD programs must be locally relevant and culturally appropriate • Enable collaboration among local organizations engaged in ESD and between global RCEs • Integrating knowledge for ESD

9. RCE Overview Regional Centre of Expertise - Saskatchewan Focus of RCE on Regional Sustainability Issues: Goal of integrating environmental, social and economic perspectives simultaneously This integration is accomplished by: • Identifying challenges of sustainability faced by a region • Examining how each learning activity initiated by the RCE addresses particular sustainability challenges • Integrating what is learned back into traditional disciplines (e.g., use of local examples in science, mathematics, etc.)

10. RCE Overview Regional Centre of Expertise - Saskatchewan Core Elements of RCEs: • Governance and sustainability of RCE (vision, goals, assessment, reporting) • Collaboration (vertical, horizontal, and lateral) • Research and development in ESD (documentation, innovation, efficiency) • Transformative education (in relation to sustainable living and livelihoods in region)

11. RCE Overview Regional Centre of Expertise - Saskatchewan Transformative Expectations/ESD Outcomes of SK RCE: • Literacy and access to quality basic education for all within the region • Identification of key issues of sustainability and sustainability projects in the region • Open networks for knowledge sharing • Public awareness about sustainability in the region • Ongoing opportunities for collaborative work on ESD projects • Integration of sustainability into formal education curricula

12. RCE Overview Regional Centre of Expertise - Saskatchewan Further ESD Outcomes: • Formal linkages promoting ESD between organizations • Identification of current research in ESD and coordination of new ESD research projects • Development and incorporation of science and technology for ESD • Acknowledgement and celebration of success • Ongoing advocacy for ESD outcomes