UNESCO Chairs Join Forces

for Sustainability An Initiative of Leuphana University, Lüneburg

Maik Adomßent

Global University Network for Innovation

UNESCO Chairs Working Group Meeting,

Barcelona

29 September 2015

UNESCO Chairs stocktaking – evolvement and actual

situation of ESD-oriented chairs

Nagoya meeting of dedicated UNESCO Chairs – GAP

Launch Commitment

From Nagoya to Lüneburg – designing a common layout

for a „Joining Forces“-Conference

What medium and long time goals do we want to

achieve with our network?

Discussion of a joint declaration / document

Getting our network idea off the ground: project proposal

for seed money

1

Emergence of the network

30 September 2015

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco-world-conference-on-esd-2014/esd-after-2014/global-action-programme/launching

30 September 2015 3

UNESCO ESD website and GAP ESD Clearinghouse

30 September 2015 4

http://en.unesco.org/gap/

A joint initiative of UNESCO Chairs to strengthen sustainability in higher

education as part of the Global Programme of Action (Global Action

Programme) "Education for Sustainable Development“

Central points:

Establishing and vitalizing an international network of UNESCO chairs

dedicated to ESD

Combining expertise of chairs for concerted action

Strengthening students’ potential within and for higher education for

sustainable development: stock-taking, open contest, long-term perspective

International Conference “Joining forces” with focus on active networking

Scholarly consultancy and support: identifying leverage points for

organisational change

Philosophy

Passing the torch

Duration: 2 years

5

Initiative »Joining Forces for Sustainability«

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT (Version as of 4 May 2015)

of UNESCO Chairs contributing to the Global Action Programme

on Education for Sustainable Development (2015-2019)

6 30.09.2015

Of the 660 UNESCO Chairs promoting the work of UNESCO, 130 are engaged

in sustainability-related issues, and more than 30 of these Chairs are

addressing education for sustainable development. Within the framework of the

UN Decade "Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014" more than 60

new UNESCO Chairs with sustainability-related issues have been established,

providing UNESCO with a significant opportunity to contribute to the

implementation of ESD.

Good examples of ESD can be found in all sectors and levels of education but

are far from being enough and mainstreamed to achieve the needed far-

reaching transformation. Higher education institutions should have a leading

role in moving ESD from pilot to policy, from small scale to large scale, and

from margin to mainstream.

Therefore we, the first undersigners are taking the initiative to establish a

Network of UNESCO Chairs to further contribute to the success of the five

priority areas of the GAP.

(…)

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT (Version as of 4 May 2015) (cont’d)

7 30.09.2015

We, the undersigned UNESCO Chairs acknowledge our individual and collective

obligation to support the goals of the GAP, and commit to actions such as:

actively seeking cooperation with other UNESCO Chairs and networks in

order to strengthen collaboration,

initiating joint projects in which the priorities of the GAP are central,

sharing experiences and knowledge online and at regular meetings and

conferences,

promoting research on ESD,

developing the network’s portal to function as a forum and means for

exchanging, sharing, and disseminating ideas, examples of good practice,

and other opportunities.

We hereby invite other Chairs to join the network

First signatories of this statement of commitment are following Chairs:

UNESCO Chair for Re-orienting Teacher Education for Sustainability Canada

UNESCO Chair in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in ESD

UNESCO Chair for Education about Sustainable Lifestyles (Norway)

UNESCO Chair on the Interplay of Tradition and Innovation in ESD (Latvia)

UNESCO Chair on SD Management and Education in the Mediterranean (Greece)

UNESCO Chair for Higher Education for Sustainable Development (Germany)

30 September 2015 8

UNESCO Chair Conference on HESD with reference the GAP

9

5th Conference

Policy support: Integrating ESD into

Higher Education frameworks

Whole-university approaches: Embracing

ESD at all levels and in all settings

Educators: Instilling capacity and agency

for change in teacher education

Youth: Unleashing genuine student

participation

Local communities: Advancing

sustainability on universities’ doorsteps

UNESCO Chair Conference (September 17-19, 2015)

10

•GAP

1

•Regional Perspectives

•Collaboration Space

•Day 1

•Day 2

•Day 3

•…?

•GAP

2

•GAP

3

•GAP

4

•GAP

5

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT (Version as of 4 May 2015)

of UNESCO Chairs contributing to the Global Action Programme

on Education for Sustainable Development (2015-2019)

11 30.09.2015

Of the 660 UNESCO Chairs promoting the work of UNESCO, 130 are engaged in

sustainability-related issues, and more than 30 of these Chairs are addressing education

for sustainable development. Within the framework of the UN Decade "Education for

Sustainable Development 2005-2014" more than 60 new UNESCO Chairs with

sustainability-related issues have been established, providing UNESCO with a significant

opportunity to contribute to the implementation of ESD.

Good examples of ESD can be found in all sectors and levels of education but are far

from being enough and mainstreamed to achieve the needed far-reaching

transformation. Higher education institutions should have a leading role in moving ESD

from pilot to policy, from small scale to large scale, and from margin to mainstream.

Therefore we, the first undersigners are taking the initiative to establish a Network of

UNESCO Chairs to further contribute to the success of the five priority areas of the GAP.

These areas are

Strengthening the integration of education for sustainable development in international

and national policies.

Promoting whole-institution approach of ESD at all levels and in all settings.

Expanding the capacity of educators, trainers and other change agents to become

learning facilitators for ESD.

Supporting youth in their role as change agents for sustainable development through

ESD.

Accelerating the search for sustainable development solutions at the local level.

We, the undersigned UNESCO Chairs acknowledge our individual and collective

obligation to support the goals of the GAP, and commit to actions such as:

actively seeking cooperation with other UNESCO Chairs and networks in order to

strengthen collaboration,

initiating joint projects in which the priorities of the GAP are central,

sharing experiences and knowledge online and at regular meetings and conferences,

promoting research on ESD,

developing the network’s portal to function as a forum and means for exchanging,

sharing, and disseminating ideas, examples of good practice, and other

opportunities.

We hereby invite other Chairs to join the network

First signatories of this statement of commitment are: