European RCEs in the context of UN DESD

1. European RCEs in the context of UN DESD Jos Rikers, Rietje van Dam-Mieras, Jos Hermans, RCE-Heerlen, the Netherlands

2. Historical background • WSSD 2002 in Johannesburg • UN DESD with UNESCO as the leading agency • Higher Education: GHESP, Ubuntu Alliance and UNU

3. GHESP and UN DESD • UNESCO Higher Education for Sustainable Development Information Brief • GHESP Resource Project • RCE’s • Development of global learning space for SD during UN DESD

4. Regional Centres of Expertise LfSD • RCEs organise their activities locally and are part of a global network • RCE’s enhance collaboration between different levels of formal education • RCE’s facilitate relations between formal education and local actors relevant for ESD

5. Some reflections on SD • Connectedness between the global level of eco- and climate systems of ‘Planet Earth’ and the economy and the local level of human daily life • Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility are two sides of the same coin • A new system of checks and balances between public, private, NGOs and world citizens is needed

6. Learning • Learning is the result of the continuous interaction between an individual or a group and its physical and social environment • Learning takes place in formal, non-formal and informal environments and continues life long • Only 5–10% of learning takes place in formal environments

7. Education • An institutionalised process aimed at realising defined learning objectives for defined target groups • An infrastructure that facilitates the learning process of individuals to prepare them for functioning in society

8. Learning for world citizens • The importance of the local and the global scale • Disciplines and competences • Individual cognitive and social processes • Physical and virtual learning environments • A broad range of learning environments during a life long learning process

9. Learning for SD in urban environments • Daily life experiences make learning relevant • The urban environment offers a broad spectrum of meaningful learning environments • In complex urban environments inter- and transdisciplinarity and stakeholder participation are real life experiences

10. A typical European urban area

11. Rhine-Meuse + region

12. Rhine-Meuse+ region • 7 research universities • 15 universities for applied science • Multinationals • SME’s • Regional governments with plans for SD

13. RCE Rhine-Meuse+ objectives • Support learning for SD in all learning environments • Initiate network activities between actors in the region • Co-operate with other RCEs in EU and the world

14. RCE Rhine-Meuse+ organisation • Foundation created by Open Universiteit Nederland and Hogeschool Zuyd • Very small co-ordinating office • Steering Committee of societal stakeholders • Scientific Committee

15. A European RCE network

16. More information on GHESP and RCEs • Session on Saturday April 23 • 11.15 - 13.30 hours in Room B • Lunch will be served during the session