Åbo Akademi University - Domkyrkotorget Åbo1. Roadmap for the seminar

Åbo Akademi University - Domkyrkotorget Åbo2 Ea Maria Blomqvist, Åbo Akademi University  Env & SD/ESD-co-ordinator for Åbo Akademi University since 1999  Co-ordinator/co-worker for projects on national & international platforms for ESD (funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education & Culture, NCM, ÅAU etc.) supporting national SD strategies, UNECE, Baltic 21 E, The UN-DESD-process & Millennium Development Goals.  Member of the BUP-family: Center Director for the Finnish National BUP-centre located at ÅAU  Board member of the UniPID-network  Chairperson for the steering group for UniPID Virtual studies on Sustaianability in Development  Stearing group member for the FinCEAL initiative on Innovation transforming to Africa & the LAC-reg etc

This seminar will deal with the challenges regarding Education for Sustainability in higher education:  the need for holistic thinking,  interdisciplinary/ trans-disciplinary dialogues, holistic thinking,  problem-based active learning environments,  defining of expected learning outcomes; to support coherent action oriented competence development for sustainability among teachers & students Åbo Akademi University - Domkyrkotorget Åbo3

 Our Nordic project ”Development of the Nordic Higher Education Networks for Sustainable Development and Green Campus” ( ) (Summit)  Our involvement in the Baltic University Network (since 1991)  Our Finnish national SD-forum for HEI (Keke-foorumi), initiated 2008 as a joint partnership after several interactive national and international projects funded by the Finnish Ministry for Eduction & Culture etc Åbo Akademi University - Domkyrkotorget Åbo4 Serving 3 HEI networks

To summit & bring further our Nordic project* ”Development of the Nordic Higher Education Networks for Sustainable Development and Green Campus” ( ); enhancing a stronger platform for Nordic co-operation regarding ESD and strengthen the role of sustainability in policy making and campus greening. *coordinated by Åbo Akademi University (ESD) and by Aalto University (Campus greening, financed via the Nordic Council of Ministers) Åbo Akademi University - Domkyrkotorget Åbo5

Serving the BUP-family  Co-funding for this seminar is provided through Finnish BUP-project funding to ÅAU, via the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture.  Supporting the role that the Finnish national BUP-center at Åbo Akademi University has taken in arranging international “teachers training conferences on ESD” for the whole network in co-operation with the BUP secretariat in Uppsala (usually we gather in Poland with perfect logistic and management support from Lodz University (The Polish National BUP-center as the local partner)  Åbo Akademi University - Domkyrkotorget Åbo6

Åbo Akademi University - Domkyrkotorget Åbo7 With one year left of the UN-Decade ( ) for Education for Sustainable Development (DESD), furthering the Millennium Development Goals & National SD-Goals there is much to be done; locally nation-wise and as global responsible actors. Ea Maria Blomqvist, ÅAU Ea Maria Blomqvist, ÅAU

Åbo Akademi University - Domkyrkotorget Åbo 8 short films on: An agenda for global responsibility pB8r_xI

BUP-on-line interdisciplinary course material for studies on sustainaibility on uu.se/index.php/intro duction uu.se/index.php/intro duction

Åbo Akademi University - Domkyrkotorget Åbo10 Why are we here today? The main focus of this conference is: NOT TO:  review the present ecological-, socio-economical and cultural “un-sustainable development”,  review international, intergovernmental, national or regional declarations and strategies in detail. BUT TO:  evaluate and define the need for change,  review the framework for SD & ESD in Higher Education,  provide tools and motivation for a more holistic view; interconnecting environmental, socio-cultural, ethical and economic perspectives,  discuss & urge for actions to meet the challenges in Higher Education. VIA:  discussing & reviewing general incentives, obstacles and means for implementing ESD in Higher Education,  presenting some cases & good practice from different fields & research based evaluations of learning outcome. IN ORDER TO:  motivate and dedicate us to promote tools and skills for professional and personal actions for SUSTAINABILITY,  “Safeguard & Sustain Higher Education” (!?) Ea Maria Blomqvist, ÅAU Ea Maria Blomqvist, ÅAU

Åbo Akademi University - Domkyrkotorget Åbo11 Ea Maria Blomqvist, ÅAU Ea Maria Blomqvist, ÅAU How do we manage to interconnect the issues around ESD into research and curricula-development: i) since most researchers still lack the courage for and/ or experiences from interdisciplinary projects! ii) since many funding organization still consider these issues as ”risky investment” or as “a task of interest for someone else” iii) since many/ or most evaluators/reviewers still lack the courage or consider these issues as “non-scientific” or “weak”

Åbo Akademi University - Domkyrkotorget Åbo12 Goals… Our goals are comparable to The Portland State University Campus - wide expected learning outcome: ’’  Discliplinar and/or Professional Expertise  Creative and Critical Thinking  Communication skills (social, academic and professional)  Diversity  Ethics and Social Responsibility  Internationalization  Engagement  Sustainability (abilities to identify, act on, evaluate our professional and personal actions; and to interconnect environmental, social and economic perspectives)’’

Åbo Akademi University - Domkyrkotorget Åbo13 Some lessons learned & missions to follow: …will hopefully be evaluated during these two days… The organizers welcome you all to contribute to the discussions and to: Ea Maria Blomqvist, ÅAU Ea Maria Blomqvist, ÅAU

Åbo Akademi University - Domkyrkotorget Åbo14 … TAKE SOME STEPS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT…

Åbo Akademi University - Domkyrkotorget Åbo15 Welcome to this conference!