RCE GREATER SHANGRI-LA

Regional Centre of Expertiseon education for sustainable development

Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE)

An RCE is a network of existing formal, non-formal and informal education organisations, mobilised to deliver ESD to local and regional communities. A network of RCEs worldwide will constitute the Global Learning Space for Sustainable Development. RCEs aspire to achieve the goals of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD, 2005-2014), by translating its global objectives into the context of the local communities in which they operate.

RCE Vision:

The creation of a global learning space.

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) ESD seeks to empower people of all ages to assume responsibility for creating a sustainable future. The four major thrusts of ESD are:

• public awareness and understanding

• access to quality basic education

• reorienting existing education

• training programmes for all sectors (UNU RCE General Factsheet)

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Contact Us:

rce@shangrilainstitute.org

www.shangrilainstitute.org

Mailing Address:Shangri-la Vocational College, Dazhuan Building, 4th FloorShangri-la County, Diqing Prefecture, Yunnan, China 674400

Tel: +86-887 828 9190

RCEs Around the World

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Who is the Greater Shangri - la RCE?

• Educational InstitutionsUniversities, teaching colleges, schools as well as a nature reserve, monastery and nunnery not only provide experts in education and sustainable development, but also strong links to indigenous communities. By facilitating shared learning, contributing to the development of resources and providing training opportunities, both formal and non-formal learning institutions are essential partners of this RCE.

• Community Learning CentresCommunity Learning Centres serve as a platform for building local capacity by enhancing knowledge, skills and values at the individual level through a range of training and activities. ESD activities at the centres include: eco-tourism and small enterprise development and training, sustainable water management, language and cultures classes, and local biodiversity surveys.

• Businesses, Enterprises and Media; Grass Roots Organisations; Government PartnershipsThe inclusion of local ESD practitioners and researchers, representatives from business, government institutions and NGOs means that the RCE can provide a broad range of stakeholders the opportunity to discuss and further their underst anding of ESD, in order to inform sustainable actions.

What is the Greater Shangri - la RCE?

The Greater Shangri-la RCE acts as a regional hub linking diverse ESD stakeholders in the region, in order to document, collate, share learning and practice of ESD, and link with other ESD organizations nationally and internationally.

Where is the Greater Shangri - la RCE?

The “Greater Shangri-la Region” incorporates the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the multi-ethnic northern counties of Yunnan province, the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the mountainous regions of western Sichuan. At the heart of the Greater Shangri-la region lies the UNESCO world heritage site of the Three Parallel Rivers (Yangtze, Mekong and Salween). As the water source for much of the population of Asia, and the home to some of the earth’s most diverse eco-systems, this region is of global ecological importance.

Objectives:

The goal of the Greater Shangri-la RCE will be achieved through the following objectives:• Contribute to the research and documentation of the important role of

culture and indigenous knowledge within sustainability.• Facilitate social learning for ESD through the implementation of a broad

range of activities and publications that promote the development of knowledge, skills and values at the individual, community and societal level.

• Provide opportunities and training, which will enhance the skills and capacities of local residents in the Greater Shangri-la region to participate in decision-making processes, build sustainable livelihoods and protect eco-systems.

• Enhance and expand on existing educational opportunities by supporting the development of ESD in formal and non-formal settings.

• Involve a wider audience in ESD in the region and beyond.

Greater Shangri - la RCE Stakeholders:01. Shangri-la Institute for Sustainable Communities02. Shangri-la Vocational College03. Institute of Sustainable Development: Tibet University04. ESD Center, Qinghai Normal University05. Mianyang Teachers College, Sichuan06. Southwest University (Chongqing)07. Kesong Community Learning Centre, Shangri-la08. Bazhu Community Learning Centre and Community Nature Reserve09. Angrong Lille Community Learning Centre, Qinghai Province10. Diqing Tibetan Middle School,11. BMXS Tibetan Community School12. Bazhu Primary School13. Baimaxueshan Nature Reserve14. Dongzhulin Monastery15. Dongzhulin Nunnery16. Shangri-la Organic Produce Enterprise17. Shangri-la Retreat Hotel and Conference Centre18. Tibetan Children’s Newspaper (Gangjian Shaonianbao)19. Shangri-la Association of Preservation and Conservation of Tibetan Culture20. Napahai Community Association of Wetland Protection21. Wild Yak Society for Environmental and Culture Protection22. Ministry of Education (National Centre of Curriculum and Textbook

Development)23. People’s Education Press24. Education Bureau of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (TAP)25. Forestry Bureau of Diqing TAP26. Forestry Bureau of Yunnan Province (Wildlife Protection and Nature Reserve

Management Office)27. Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Diqing TAP

Greater Shangri - la RCE Areas of Activity:

01.ESD Research and DevelopmentRCE partners will continue and expand on ongoing ESD work in the Greater Shangri-la region. In Year 1 this may focus on:

- The contribution of traditional Chinese philosophy and indigenous knowledge to global ethics and ESD

- Alternative development paths for China and alternative relations between China and the rest of the world

- The relationship between Buddhism and ecology, and how this links to ESD

02.Transformative Educational Activities - Expand the Education for a Sustainable China (ESC) Network to 21 universities around China - Draft a new set of ESD Guidelines for China, designed to be incorporated into the existing

national curriculum - Develop, publish and distribute a set of ESD resources and materials for China, and

regionally specific resources for the Greater Shangri-la region. - Initiate an ESD training programme at the Shangri-la Vocational College - Establish a Community ESD library

03.Collate and Disseminate Regional ESD LearningLearning and regional ESD processes will be documented, collated, analyzed and then shared with broader formal and informal ESD and educational networks.

This may take the form of publications, journals, short films, a website with regional ESD updates and an interactive application to encourage dialogue between local practitioners and outside organizations, as well as a quarterly newsletter.

Attendance of regional, national and international conferences, exchange visits (both physical and online) by a range of ESD stakeholders in the region will be supported, in order to share learning and experiences from the RCE and to learn from others.

04.Engage Businesses and Media in ESDA series of educational trips for corporate/business people, Media, government officials, NGO workers, and other (particularly under-represented) stakeholders will be offered to help promote knowledge, skills and values for ESD among broader stakeholders.

05.Annual Shangri-la ForumAn annual interactive forum will be held simultaneously in Shangri-la, Southwest China and via the internet to provide a broad range of stakeholders including local communities, schools, international and local ESD practitioners and researchers, representatives from businesses, government institutions, NGOs and nature reserves the opportunity to discuss and further their understanding of ESD.

RCE Greater Shangri-la

CHINA

Shangri-la

Goal:

To facilitate partnerships to research, develop and promote Education for Sustainable Development and broader social participation in SD so that ESD, sustainable development ethics and knowledge is integrated into the social framework of the Greater Shangri-la Region (and beyond).”

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