Fostering The Roles of Universities In Implementing The Sustainable Development of The Surrounding

Community

Mohamed Labib Salem, PhD

Professor of ImmunologyFaculty of Science, Tanta University, EgyptMedical University of South Carolina, USA

2nd Int. Environment Forum: New Environmental Horizons of Sustainable Environment

27-29 November, 2008, Tanta University, Egypt

Sustainable Development

University

Community

What is Sustainability?What is Sustainability?From: World Summit on Sustainable Development brochure, 2002From: World Summit on Sustainable Development brochure, 2002

Economic Growth:Economic Growth: Foster responsible long-term growth while ensuring that no Foster responsible long-term growth while ensuring that no nation or community is left behind.nation or community is left behind.

Conserving Natural Resources and the Environment:Conserving Natural Resources and the Environment: For future generations, reduce resource consumption, stop For future generations, reduce resource consumption, stop pollution and conserve natural habitats.pollution and conserve natural habitats.

Social Development:Social Development: Throughout the world, people need jobs, food, education, Throughout the world, people need jobs, food, education, energy, health care, water and sanitation. energy, health care, water and sanitation. People also People also need respect for need respect for cultural and social diversity cultural and social diversity and and the rights the rights of workers. All members of society need a role in of workers. All members of society need a role in determining their futures.determining their futures.

Needed action for sustainableNeeded action for sustainabledevelopment in all sectorsdevelopment in all sectors

EducationEducationSocietySocietyBusinessBusinessGovernmentGovernmentConsumptionConsumptionInvestmentInvestment

Sustainable Development

Source: World Commission on Economic Development. (1987). Our Common Future. England: Oxford University Press.

“meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future

generations to meet their own needs”

The 3 Pillars of Sustainable Development

SocietyEnvironment

Economy

Sustainablesociety

• “Environmentally responsible citizens accept responsibility for what happens in their community – not only environmentally but also politically, and socio-economically”

Education for not bout Sustainable Development

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

“enables people to develop the knowledge, values and skills to participate in decisions …, that will improve the quality of life now without damaging

the planet for the future.”

Source: Sustainable Development Education Panel (1999), First annual Report 1998, London Department of the

Environment, Transport and the Regions, p. 30.

Education for a Sustainable Development

The United NationsThe United Nationshas declared ahas declared a

Decade of Education forDecade of Education forSustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

2005-20142005-2014

Where CAN ESD be delivered?

UNIVERSITY…………..UNIVERSITY…………..

• Universities make a large economic entity consuming a big amount of resources, purchasing products and services.

• Universities must make sustainability an integral part of the institution’s daily operations:

- consumption, - waste management, - use of water, energy, and paper- attempt to reduce their ecological

footprint.

• These efforts should be tied to the formal Curriculum and Research

ESD and Universities

Education and ESD: Responsibilities of Universities

• To foster clear awareness of, and concern about economic, social, political and ecological inter dependence in urban and rural areas.

• Train the leaders and teachers of tomorrow the idea of sustainable development

• Encourage students to gain knowledge and think about what to do, individually and socially.

• Communicating this knowledge to decision-makers and the public-at-large.

• Help people to find new solutions to the environmental, economic, and social issues.

KEY CONCEPTS of ESDKEY CONCEPTS of ESD

Educators have a responsibility to prepare Educators have a responsibility to prepare all students to be:all students to be:socially and environmentally responsiblesocially and environmentally responsibleactive global citizensactive global citizens

A national partnership with A national partnership with ULSFULSF will help will help make this task happen.make this task happen.

(ULSF) The Association of University Leaders (ULSF) The Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Futurefor a Sustainable Future

A leading international non-profit organization A leading international non-profit organization strengthening higher education’s capacity to make strengthening higher education’s capacity to make sustainability and environmental literacy a major sustainability and environmental literacy a major

focus of teaching, research, service, and operations.focus of teaching, research, service, and operations.

www.ulsf.org

ULSF – continuedULSF – continued

ULSF pursues its mission throughULSF pursues its mission through::Research and publicationsResearch and publicationsCampus assessmentCampus assessmentOnline resources and in person supportOnline resources and in person supportInternational partnerships (e.g. GHESP) to International partnerships (e.g. GHESP) to advance education for sustainability.advance education for sustainability.

Mission andPlanning

Curricula

Community Outreach andPartnerships

Operations

Research

Student LifeProfessionalDevelopment

Purchasing

Universities and ESDResponsibilities Toward Community

ESD and UniversitiesAreas of Integration

Education

Research

University Community & Operations

External Community & Collaborators

Community-based ServiceCommunity-based ServiceCleaningCleaningHealth (Infection, Substance abuse, Smoking, etc..)Health (Infection, Substance abuse, Smoking, etc..)IlliteracyIlliteracyLawLawCultureCultureHousingHousingSaving energy, water, etc…Saving energy, water, etc…RecyclingRecyclingTrafficTrafficSmall businessSmall businessPlantationPlantation

ESD & TeachingESD & TeachingOn campus ServiceOn campus Service

o Orient teaching courses to be based on ESD.Orient teaching courses to be based on ESD.o Involve students in teaching ESD.Involve students in teaching ESD.o Dedicate the 1Dedicate the 1stst lecture in each course to lecture in each course to

explain how the course (contents) serves ESD.explain how the course (contents) serves ESD.o Invite community members to contribute and Invite community members to contribute and

present in the campus.present in the campus.o Assign a prize (award) for students for ESD-Assign a prize (award) for students for ESD-

related subjects.related subjects.

ESD & TeachingESD & TeachingOff campus ServiceOff campus Service

o Outreach Religion scholars with the most recent Outreach Religion scholars with the most recent knowledge in ESD.knowledge in ESD.

o Convey ESD to the entire community members through Convey ESD to the entire community members through workshop and working groups.workshop and working groups.

o Outreach Elementary, Middle, and High School students Outreach Elementary, Middle, and High School students to educate ESD.to educate ESD.

o Dedicate one day to serve the surrounding environment Dedicate one day to serve the surrounding environment by performing ESD related aspects.by performing ESD related aspects.

ESD & ResearchESD & ResearchOn campus ServiceOn campus Service

Each department to define the research Each department to define the research projects.projects.At least 25% of these projects has to be At least 25% of these projects has to be ESD-based. ESD-based.

ESD & ResearchESD & ResearchOff campus ServiceOff campus Service

Define the community based on their Define the community based on their needs.needs.Establish research centers in rural area.Establish research centers in rural area.Introduce research to communityIntroduce research to communityInvolve community in research ideaInvolve community in research ideaDiscuss research results non-technically Discuss research results non-technically with communitywith communityApply the outcomes to benefit the Apply the outcomes to benefit the communitycommunity

ESD & MarketESD & MarketOn campus ServiceOn campus Service

Make a list of the potential market jobs.Make a list of the potential market jobs.Arrange a annual job fair in which Arrange a annual job fair in which graduates can interact with stakeholders.graduates can interact with stakeholders.Graduate to spend a 2-month working Graduate to spend a 2-month working service in a relevant market.service in a relevant market.Periodical invitation of relevant Periodical invitation of relevant stakeholders to give talks to students.stakeholders to give talks to students.

ESD & MarketESD & MarketOff campus ServiceOff campus Service

Outreach the stakeholders and convince them to Outreach the stakeholders and convince them to dedicate specific # of jobs to graduate students.dedicate specific # of jobs to graduate students.

Make a club for the graduates.Make a club for the graduates.

Follow up and analyze the nature, the numbers, Follow up and analyze the nature, the numbers, location, requirements, and satisfaction of their job.location, requirements, and satisfaction of their job.

Analyze the feedback from the graduates who are Analyze the feedback from the graduates who are already in the market.already in the market.

Invite them to give talks about their own experienceInvite them to give talks about their own experience

What else???What else???

Whatever we can do….Whatever we can do….we should just do it….we should just do it….

Thank youThank youMohamed Labib SalemMohamed Labib SalemProf. of Imunology, Faculty of Science, Tanta Prof. of Imunology, Faculty of Science, Tanta

UniversityUniversity