EMSU NODES Invitation to RCEs and others to participate in EMSU December 2007

1.Introduction 2.EMSU history 3.EMSU 2008 overview 4.EMSU nodes –Activities –Benefits –Criteria –Commitments 6. Calendar 7. Contacts

1. INTRODUCTION Universities have a catalytic role in creating new knowledge and attitudes to face the current global challenges to sustainability. EMSU 2008 aims to share experiences and provoke debate on the role of universities in facing these challenges, through online surveys, workshops in different parts of the world, an active web portal and a 2 day conference in Barcelona, October We invite you to participate in the EMSU process and this presentation explains how.

2. EMSU HISTORY 4 international conferences on universities and sustainability (EMSU: Environmental Management for Sustainable Universities) 2006 >Transforming ideas into action: building sustainable communities beyond university campuses (University Wisconsin-Stephens Point, USA) 2004 > Sustainable Development Education: Holistic and Integrative Educational and Management Approaches For Ensuring Sustainable Societies (Tecnólogico de Monterrey, México) 2002 > The role of higher education in Sustainable Development (Rhodes University, South-Africa) 1999 > Environmental Management for Sustainable Universities (Lund University, Sweden)

3. EMSU 2008 Overview Global changes In the context of the vision for a new knowledge culture to build sustainable societies, EMSU2008 is focused on 5 key global changes Climate change and resource scarcity Production and consumption patterns Governance and changing responsibilities Poverty reduction and equity Urban systems Universities facing sustainability EMSU2008 aims to explore new cultures and attitudes to face these changes in the following areas of university activity: Education Applied and interdisciplinary research Organizational change and outreach Operations

TO FACE GLOBAL CHANGES… A NEW KNOWLEDGE CULTURE… EducationApplied & Interdisciplinary research Organisational change & outreach Operations Climate change and resource scarcity Production and consumption patterns Governance & changing responsibilities Poverty reduction and equity Urban Systems

EMSU2008 ORGANIZERS Scientific committee (SC): Don Huisingh (EMSU I, JCP), Mark Hazell (EMSU II, Rhodes), Francisco Lozano (EMSU III,Tec Monterrey), Victor Phillips (EMSU IV, UWSP), Rietje Van-Dam (Lieden, OU, UNU-IAS, RCE Rhine Meuse), Johan Woudstra (THU), Maria Rosa Rovira, Pere Ysern (UAB), Miquel Barceló, Didac Ferrer (UPC) Local organization committee (LOC): Didac Ferrer (UPC), Pere Ysern (UAB), Heloise Buckland (RCE Barcelona), Carme Hidalgo (UAB), Francisco Esteban (UPC) EMSU Regional Coordinators (to be defined)

EMSU Target audience “People interested in universities facing global changes for sustainability” 1.Universities: professors, researchers, managers, green campus offices, student networks, university decision-makers, university networks 2.University stakeholders: NGOs, community groups local and regional government, schools, colleges, businesses, professional organisations 3.RCEs: Regional Centres of Expertise in education for sustainable development involved with universities in their regions

EMSU Nodes “Groups of people in different parts of the world participating in EMSU from their region” Benefits: Survey facilitated to seek opinion on universities role in sustainability in your region Dissemination of organisations activities via web Workshop formats to provoke debate on role of university in key global changes Participation in global network on universities and sustainability

EMSU Nodes “Groups of people in different parts of the world participating in EMSU from their region” Activities: 1.Survey: Disseminate online survey in your region and feedback results (December - February) 2.Workshop: Host EMSU workshop in your region with local stakeholders to explore the role of universities in global changes and feedback results (February – July) 3.Web : Use EMSU web to disseminate information of relevant events, publications and other news about universities and sustainability 4.Conference: Send contributions (scientific paper, poster, video, photos or other) to conference for review by scientific committee, report back on results of survey and workshop

1. Survey We ask EMSU Nodes to distribute an online survey about the role of universities in sustainability within their region. The survey is targeted at students, professors, and others working at the University as well as external organisations (NGOs, government, business, etc) who may have an interest in the university. We will process the results of the survey for your region as well as globally Please send the following link in an (this version in English) to your contacts and ask them to respond to the survey by February. If you need the survey translated into your language we can help do this, currently it is in Spanish, Catalan and English

2. Workshop We ask EMSU Nodes to organise a workshop on the role of universities in sustainability for University representatives (students, professors and others) and outside organisations The survey results can be used as a starting point for discussion at the workshop, as well as the documents posted on We suggest the workshop of minimum 3-4 hours and to base discussions around the key global changes discussed in the survey and the role of the University in each of these areas in it´s teaching, research, management and external relations We ask you to send us a report (including one page summary) of the key conclusions of your workshop by June 30 th. These will be posted on and highlights will be selected for the final conferencewww.emsu.org We will send suggestions for the workshop dynamic.

3. Web We hope that will become a useful resource and space for debate for those working to promote sustainability in Universitieswww.emsu.org The website is currently being developed and will include a blog on which the survey reports, news, reports, videos, photos, publications, details of upcoming events and any other material can be posted. The web will also be a key element of the online event opportunities for those not wishing to travel to the final conference, and the contributions to EMSU (scientific papers and others) will be posted on the web Free open-source software is being used and the intention is for to be a resource for future emsu eventswww.emsu.org

3. Conference We invite all EMSU nodes to share the experience of their survey results, workshops and other contributions at the final conference October 2008 in Barcelona To encourage participation from a wide audience EMSU welcomes scientific papers as well as videos, photos or other artistic contributions to be showcased at the conference All contributions require to submit a one page summary (or abstract) by February 28 which will be used as a basis for selection by the EMSU Scientific Committee. Selected contributions will be included in the EMSU gallery on the website, as well as on a CD distributed to all assistants EMSU nodes will also be encouraged to participate in the conference via video-link or other available on-line means.

NODES Criteria -Organisations with network capacity, able to reach university stakeholders in their region -Capacity and experience in organising workshops -Resource to facilitate survey and workshop -Initial selection of 5/10 nodes to cover global regions NODES Commitments -Institutional commitment (agreement from senior management) -Contact coordinator -Translation to local language (if necessary) and distribution of survey -Host workshop and feedback workshop report -Contribute to web (send information about events, reports etc) -Contribute to conference (optional) through paper, poster, video, presentation etc)

Activity/Month novdecjanfebmarabrmayjunjulausepoctnovdec Registration Survey Workshops Contributions (papers&other) Web Committee meetings Pre/registerRegistration discount Survey Pre/conf workshops R R Results of survey & workshops to be fed into web and selections presented at final conference R B AbstractsSelectionFull submission v1v2v3Handover B NODE workshop Brazil CALENDAR Reg.full price Oct Conference

Contact details: skype: heloisebuckland (Spain GMT +1)