Presentation by Karen Adshead University of East London/London RCE

1. Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development and Social Work Education:developing synergies Presentation by Karen Adshead University of East London/London RCE for the 2nd Joint World Conference on Social Work Social Development 2012: Action and Impact

2. outline • Link with Global social agenda for SWSD • Education for sustainability • UN Global RCE system • Case example • London RCE • International Social Work at UEL

3. Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development • Engagement agenda • Linking social well-being, economic equality and stability, and physical environment • Impact within social work education • Global and local implications • differentiated responses

4. Decade of Education for Sustainable Development • UN initiative – political, social and technical expertise • Johannesburg 2002 World Summit • Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2015 • UN Institute for Advanced Studies • Regional Centre for Expertise for Education for Sustainable Development • Inclusive and diverse dialogue

5. Regional Centres for Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development • Global movement • Formal and informal education • UNU-IAS • Now 101 recognised RCEs • RCE Global Service Centre http://www.ias.unu.edu/sub_page.aspx?catID=108&ddlID=183 • Local and global focus • Sustainability, development, environment, education

6. Points to consider • Where do crisis and disasters responses fit within remit for social work capabilities • Importance of social work values and ethics form part of synergistic response at national and international levels • Linking values and ethical frameworks to sustainability domains

7. Several areas of overlap for Education for Sustainable development and global agenda for social work and social development: Local level expertise Technical capabilities RCE mechanism Interdisciplinary projects desd Proactive engagement sustainability Involving local communities Disasters (natural and human) Protecting physical environment Link social, human and ecological development

8. Social work education and environment • Emerging area (green, ecological, environmental) • International social work education • formal and informal • Professional capabilities framework (England) • Professionalisation of the environmental, humanitarian sector • Embedding global social agenda and environment and sustainability within curriculum

9. Organisation of Regional Centre of Expertise for ESD

10. London Regional Centre Eexpertise • Bring together institutions to jointly promote Education for Sustainable Development • Build informative platforms to share information • community level events, conferences, seminars, field trips • Promote dialogue for sd interdisciplinary • Build local support for esd actors, students • Create local ,regional knowledge base for esd • London, Europe, global links

11. Global RCE network • Global RCE conference participation • Scaling up projects • Links across globe • Influence on agenda setting priorities • Sharing supporting esd actors

12. UN • Eating Disorder Units • Personality Difficulty/Disorder • Forensic (Regional Secure Units) • CAMHS Admission Units • Residential Care Facilities

13. Case example

14. UEL programme– international social work, community development, refugee studies, humanitarian consultation • RCE London– represents how norms and values are transmitted through various social institutions (e.g. families, religious orgs, schools, media outlets) • DESD – Level of institutionalized social divisions and power relations (e.g. age, class, race , gender)

15. UEL Programmes • MA International Social Work & Community Development • MA International Social Work & Refugee Studies • Environment and sustainability themes in core modules and electives

16. Internationanl Social work edcuation at University of East London • Student interest and engagement • Research themes: IDPs, forced migration, climate change, human & food security, gender & development issues • Conferences as assessments • Networking in and through London RCE (network of networks)

17. London RCE • Only RCE in a capital city in Europe • Network of networks • Universities and colleges, schools • community groups, civil society organisations, private sector • Connected to European and global RCEs Projects: • Place based learning • Community and social development groups • Teachers network • Business practices • Social work educatio

18. A little bit about me… Education • B.A. Anthropology and Bachelors in Social Work (BSW) • Masters in Social Work (MSW) - international social work , child protection and rights, HIV/AIDS, health and human security • Practice educator /assessor qualification • Post grad qualification in international development • Doctoral studies in international social work

19. Professional Background • Experience in Canada , the UK (England), Tanzania, South Africa, Mozambique, Indonesia and Trinidad and Tobago • Program development and researcher • Social worker - statutory, voluntary and non profit settings • Community organizer and community development • Consultant and advisor • Senior lecturer