United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 1 United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 6th Asia and Pacific Experts’ Consultation on Reorienting Teacher Education to Address Sustainability Penang, Malaysia August 22-25, 2006 Sheldon Shaeffer UNESCO Bangkok

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 2 Development that can:  “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” Brundtland Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987 Sustainable Development

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 3 Requires: Balancing environmental, societal, and economic considerations in the pursuit of development and an improved quality of life Promoting the ideals of gender equity, just and peaceful societies, human rights, environmental preservation and restoration, cultural diversity, and poverty alleviation. Sustainable Development

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 4 What is Education for Sustainable Development? ESD uses a partnership approach that engages multiple sectors and stakeholders – including media and the private sector – and utilises all forms and methods of public awareness-raising, education, and training to promote sustainable development. It encourages people to understand: (1) the complexities of, and synergies between, the issues threatening planetary sustainability and (2) their own values and those of the society in which they live.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 5 Domains of Education for Sustainable Development ESD is about learning rather than teaching and therefore requires: Reforming the structure and nature of basic education Reorienting existing education programmes Developing public awareness about what sustainability means Building capacity within education systems and across all other ESD partners

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 6 Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Three Pillars of Sustainable Development Environment – an awareness of natural resources and the fragility of the physical environment Society – an understanding of social institutions and their role in change and development Economy – a sensitivity to the limits and potential of economic growth and its impact on society and on the environment with Culture – ways of behaving, believing, and acting which differ according to context, history and tradition -- as an underlying and critical dimension

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 7 Environmental Issues Conservation of natural resources Control of climate change Transformation of rural societies and environments Sustainable urbanization Disaster prevention and mitigation Core Issues

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 8 Economic Issues Poverty reduction Corporate responsibility and accountability A “benign” market economy Core Issues

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 9 Core Issues Socio-Cultural Issues Fulfillment of human rights Guarantee of peace and human security Gender equality Good health (e.g., HIV/AIDS prevention) Good governance Reinforcement of intercultural/international understanding Preservation of cultural diversity

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 10 Interdisciplinary and holistic Values-driven Focused on critical thinking and problem solving Multi-methodological Participatory in decision-making Locally relevant Key Characteristics of ESD

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 11 UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) VISION A world where everyone has the opportunity to benefit from education and learn the values, behaviours, and lifestyles required for a sustainable future and for positive societal transformation.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 12 UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) “ The UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) is the overarching framework, but, from the outset, we must not confine ourselves to an over-narrow view of what ‘education’ means in this regard. In effect, it embraces knowledge and how it is shared in a global context where the operative word is ‘interdependence’ – between humankind and nature; between nations and cultures and between the present and the future.” Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO reinstallation ceremony on 21 October 2005

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 13 UNESCO ’ S Role in Implementing DESD Building capacity Promoting international cooperation Leading coordination at the international level  Catalyse new partnerships  Encourage monitoring and evaluation  Encourage research on ESD  Bring together important stakeholders  Share good ESD practices Ensuring intersectoral cooperation within UNESCO

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 14 International Implementation Scheme (IIS) Contents: Overview of ESD and the Decade Goals and objectives of the Decade Relation to other international initiatives Strategies for implementation Roles of stakeholders Monitoring and evaluation

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 15 Objectives of the Decade Facilitate networking, linkages, exchanges, and interaction among stakeholders in ESD Foster an increased quality of teaching and learning in Education for Sustainable Development Help countries make progress toward and attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through ESD efforts Provide countries with new opportunities to incorporate ESD into education reform efforts

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 16 Strategies for Implementation Vision-building and advocacy Consultation and ownership Partnership and networks Capacity-building and training Research, development and innovation Use of ICTs Monitoring and evaluation

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 17 Asia-Pacific Regional Strategy for ESD Working Paper A guide to ESD implementation in the region An open document adaptable for revision Focused on collaboration and networking  Around the core issues for ESD  By clarifying the roles of stakeholders  Through stronger coordination, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms Based on consultation with different stakeholders

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 18 DESD in Asia-Pacific Asia-Pacific Regional UN Interagency Steering Committee Coordinates ESD efforts among UN agencies Advocates for ESD Promotes communication and networking Asia-Pacific Regional Consultative Group Comprises experts representing stakeholder groups/geographic interests Promotes research and knowledge exchange Activates networks and projects

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 19 DESD Outcomes: Cooperation among ESD partners, including the private sector, strengthened Increase awareness of stakeholders towards ESD issues Prepare communication materials for media and private sector professionals Build alliances/networks with INGOs, media and the private sector Support development of ESD initiatives with new stakeholder groups

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 20 DESD Outcomes: Capacities of stakeholders consolidated and strengthened Improve integration of ESD into the curriculum Develop an ESD model teacher training programme and associated classroom and teacher training materials based on innovative ESD curricula Identify and disseminate best-practices on ESD issues Promote and support the establishment of ESD Higher Education courses and programmes Develop ESD modules and toolkits that illustrate the linkages among different ESD issues

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 21 DESD Outcomes: Evidence-based monitoring and assessment frameworks established Provide assistance to develop and publish national ESD guidelines Support development of M&E processes  Set targets for the Decade  Divide responsibilities for M&E  Ensure appropriate mechanisms for monitoring and reporting  Develop a prototype DESD monitoring system

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 22 DESD Outcomes: Contributions to the DESD developed and implementation begun Substantively collaborate on education with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) programme - focus on Pacific Islands Extend collaboration through the other Asia- Pacific sub-regions Highlight core ESD issues to be engaged Highlight appropriate delivery mechanisms Mainstream ESD issues into EFA and MDG efforts

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 23 The Delors Report: The Four Pillars of Learning In order to help modern society cope with the challenges in the world around it, the Delors report, Learning: The Treasure Within, recommends four goals of learning: Learning to know – acquiring the instruments of understanding, or learning how to learn Learning to do – applying learned knowledge in daily life, to be able to act creatively and responsibly in one’s environment

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 24 The Delors Report: The Four Pillars of Learning Learning to be  acquiring universally shared values  developing one’s personality, self-identity, and self-knowledge  becoming immersed in one’s culture and its wisdom  being empowered to learn about oneself and become more fully human

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 25 The Delors Report: The Four Pillars of Learning Learning to live together – education for international and inter-cultural understanding  the social dimension of human development  the basis for cohesion and harmony, conflict avoidance, non-violence, and peaceful coexistence  the recognition that difference and diversity are opportunities rather than dangers and are a valuable resource to be used for the common good  the ability to tolerate, respect, welcome, and even celebrate difference and diversity in people and in their histories, traditions, beliefs, values, and cultures, and to use this diversity to enrich our lives

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 26 ESD and the Four Pillars Both are concerned with the development of knowledge and skills, values and attitudes, and behaviours. Learning to live together – including between faiths and cultures – is an essential part of ESD. ESD offers the possibility of serving as a larger framework for all values-related education, including inter-faith, inter-cultural education and international understanding

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 27 ESD and the Four Pillars If ESD is defined broadly enough as a general framework, then supporters of a particular values education approach should ensure: that any ESD-related curricula include the desired focus that the curricula related to a specific values education programme are developed in the broader context of ESD

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 28 ESD and the Four Pillars But ESD, in a sense, adds a “fifth” pillar – learning to transform society and change the world – to work toward a gender-neutral, non- discriminatory society to act to achieve social solidarity and international understanding to live sustainably

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Bangkok 29 For more information on ESD in the Asia- Pacific region: Visit our website Or us Or attend our conference  “Learning Together for Tomorrow: Education for Sustainable Development”  6-8 December, Queens Park Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand   Web: