Strategies and challenges of education for sustainable development in higher education Riga, 13.9.2007 Strategies and challenges of education for sustainable

Strategies and challenges of education for Strategies and challenges of education for sustainable development in higher educationsustainable development in higher education

Riga, 13.9.2007Riga, 13.9.2007

Paula LindroosPaula LindroosDirector, PhDDirector, PhDCentre for Continuing Education, Åbo Akademi Centre for Continuing Education, Åbo Akademi UniversityUniversity

- Senior Adviser to Finnish Lead Party for - Senior Adviser to Finnish Lead Party for Baltic21EducationBaltic21Education- Chair of the Baltic 21 Ad-hoc working group on ESD- Chair of the Baltic 21 Ad-hoc working group on ESD

Strategies and challenges of education for sustainable development in higher Strategies and challenges of education for sustainable development in higher educationeducation

The Finnish vision and strategic lines for ESD in the The Finnish vision and strategic lines for ESD in the education system are based on national education policy education system are based on national education policy documents, the Baltic 21E programme, the ESD strategy of documents, the Baltic 21E programme, the ESD strategy of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and the University Charter for Sustainable (UNECE), and the University Charter for Sustainable Development. Development.


• Finland´s national Commission on SD, led by Prime Minister Finland´s national Commission on SD, led by Prime Minister Vanhanen, adopted a revised national strategy on sustainable Vanhanen, adopted a revised national strategy on sustainable development in June 2006. development in June 2006.

• In March 2002 the Ministry of Education appointed a Committee In March 2002 the Ministry of Education appointed a Committee on Education for SD: A national plan for launching the Baltic21E on Education for SD: A national plan for launching the Baltic21E programme in Finland. programme in Finland.

• Strategy on ESD in February 2006, which serves as Finlands Strategy on ESD in February 2006, which serves as Finlands national action plan for the UN Decade of ESD (2005-2014, national action plan for the UN Decade of ESD (2005-2014, DESD). DESD).

• This was the first national DESD strategy in Europe. This was the first national DESD strategy in Europe.

Strategies and challenges of education for sustainable development in higher educationStrategies and challenges of education for sustainable development in higher education

• In line with the Baltic 21E, the promotion of SD In line with the Baltic 21E, the promotion of SD has been incorporated in the following norms in has been incorporated in the following norms in the education sector:the education sector:- the Development Plan for Education and - the Development Plan for Education and Research 2003-2007. Research 2003-2007. - the national core curricula in basic and general - the national core curricula in basic and general and vocational upper secondary educationand vocational upper secondary education- the performance/target agreements between - the performance/target agreements between ministry of education and universities and ministry of education and universities and polytechnics for the period 2004-2006polytechnics for the period 2004-2006

The Finnish National Strategy of Education for Sustainable Development

Guidelines for Finland’s strategy for the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

Proposals for implementation

Basic and secondary education

Vocational upper secondary education

Polytechnics UniversitiesLiberal adult education

Research and development

Baltic 21E Programme UNECE ESD-Strategy

Copernicus Charter


Short overview of ESD in Finnish HE:

•EE in all universities

•SD Study programmes in polytechnics

•Courses, lectures at universities•Masters´Programmes

•Focus on natural sciences – challenge: to involve humanities, social and economic sciences

Challenges - Bologna process:Bachelors and Masters´programmes


• The university perspective on ESD (1)The university perspective on ESD (1)

ESD – just a new label on Environmental Education?ESD – just a new label on Environmental Education?• Focus is still very much on Focus is still very much on environmentalenvironmental issues issues• Difficulties to involve i.e. humanities, social scienceDifficulties to involve i.e. humanities, social science

ESD – course arrangements at universityESD – course arrangements at university• Multidisciplinary rather than interdisciplinaryMultidisciplinary rather than interdisciplinary• Too many courses at the introduction level, and too few Too many courses at the introduction level, and too few

specialization courses. specialization courses. • Problems: materials, teaching and learning methods, and - Problems: materials, teaching and learning methods, and -

traditionstraditions


• The university perspective on ESD (2)The university perspective on ESD (2)

ESD – learning outcomes at universityESD – learning outcomes at university• In education for SD, the cIn education for SD, the competencies needed include ompetencies needed include

resource management, demand management and resource management, demand management and competence to handle conflicting interests competence to handle conflicting interests ANDAND

• Communication of uncertainty and riskCommunication of uncertainty and risk, , whereas traditional whereas traditional evolution of knowledge aims at minimizing uncertainty.evolution of knowledge aims at minimizing uncertainty.

ESD – as part of the 3rd mission?ESD – as part of the 3rd mission?• In line with national legislation for HE, or eg. the In line with national legislation for HE, or eg. the

Copernicus charter universities have a third mission parallel Copernicus charter universities have a third mission parallel with research and education and which commits them to with research and education and which commits them to knowledge and technology transfer to other target groups. knowledge and technology transfer to other target groups.


• SWOT for ESD in universitiesSWOT for ESD in universities

StrengthStrength WeaknessWeakness

-- closeness to - absence of academic closeness to - absence of academic development in society traditions, lack of materials development in society traditions, lack of materials

OpportunityOpportunity ThreatThreat

-new teaching and - status of non-academic activities-new teaching and - status of non-academic activities learning approacheslearning approaches


Baltic University ProgrammeBaltic University Programme

• The Programme promotes and supports universities and The Programme promotes and supports universities and corresponding institutions in the development of the Baltic corresponding institutions in the development of the Baltic Sea Region towards peaceful cooperation, democracy and Sea Region towards peaceful cooperation, democracy and economic, social and ecological sustainable development.economic, social and ecological sustainable development.

• Is a network of universities in all BSR countries, and all Is a network of universities in all BSR countries, and all countries contribute to the production of courses and study countries contribute to the production of courses and study materials. materials.

• www.balticuniv.uu.sewww.balticuniv.uu.se• www.bup.fiwww.bup.fi

http://www.balticuniv.uu.se/

http://www.bup.fi/


• Baltic 21 Education - Haga declaration 2000

• Definition of ESD:

• ”ESD should be based on an integrated approach to economic, environmental and societal development and encompass a broad range of related issues such as democracy, gender equity and human rights. This broad approach should be recognised in both natural science and social science, and should complement and build on existing initiatives on environmental education.”


Baltic 21 Education sector Lead Parties, Finland and Lithuania, have Baltic 21 Education sector Lead Parties, Finland and Lithuania, have advocated for Baltic University Programme to become a permanent advocated for Baltic University Programme to become a permanent expert organ for the expert organ for the wholewhole Baltic21. Baltic21.

Baltic University Programme has national focal points/centres in all Baltic University Programme has national focal points/centres in all countries . The centres coordinate the activities in their countries and countries . The centres coordinate the activities in their countries and participate in the development of the programme together with the participate in the development of the programme together with the secretatiat at Uppsala University. Over the years the centres have secretatiat at Uppsala University. Over the years the centres have developed considerable expertise in SD. Centres are supported by developed considerable expertise in SD. Centres are supported by hosting university. hosting university.

Strengthening of centres in each country will increase impact and Strengthening of centres in each country will increase impact and visibility of ESD and the centres could become ESD resource centres visibility of ESD and the centres could become ESD resource centres in HE. Finland has supported the centre with project funding 2004-06 in HE. Finland has supported the centre with project funding 2004-06 and 2007-09. and 2007-09.


Baltic21 Working Group on ESD:Baltic21 Working Group on ESD:

Strategic project: Strategic project: Learning Arenas Learning Arenas

Proposal to be submitted to Interreg IV Proposal to be submitted to Interreg IV BSR BSR


Interreg IV BSR Programme Interreg IV BSR Programme Priority nr 1 Activity lines:Priority nr 1 Activity lines:- Facilitation of networking and exchange of good practices on Facilitation of networking and exchange of good practices on

education and other policieseducation and other policies- Srengthening of educational facilities and structures in higher Srengthening of educational facilities and structures in higher

educationeducation- Developing good practice examples.Developing good practice examples.

Examples of strategic projects:Examples of strategic projects:- Providing higher societal involvement to and raising Providing higher societal involvement to and raising

awareness for innovationsawareness for innovations- Adapting education and further education systems to support Adapting education and further education systems to support

sustainable BSR development.sustainable BSR development.- Developing a long-term perspective on innovation culture in Developing a long-term perspective on innovation culture in

BSRBSR

Thank you for your attention! Thank you for your attention!

Documents

Strategies and challenges of education for sustainable development in higher education Riga, 13.9.2007 Strategies and challenges of education for sustainable