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RCE Bulletin

Issue 99: November 2019
MESSAGE FROM THE GLOBAL RCE SERVICE CENTRE:

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Greetings from the Global RCE Service Centre!

Thank you to all who submitted entries for the RCE Awards - once again it has been very exciting to see such innovative projects that have been conducted throughout the Global RCE Network over the past year. Stay tuned as the award winners will be announced on the RCE Portal and the Global RCE Network Facebook page in December!

With only one more month to go of 2019, attention now turns to next year, and the planning of 2020 RCE events. An open call has been announced for hosts of regional RCE meetings, as well as for the Global RCE Conference. See below for further details on how to apply.

As always, if your RCE would like to contribute news, an upcoming event, or an open call to an upcoming bulletin, please complete this form and email your submission to the Global RCE Service Centre at rceservicecentre@unu.edu (submissions close on the 15th of each month).

Sincerely,
The Global RCE Service Centre

Open Call to Host RCE Events in 2020

The Global RCE Service Centre gladly announces an open call to host RCE events in 2020!

The Regional RCE Meetings in Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe, and the Global RCE Conference continue to be important mechanisms to create synergies within the network and specifically within and across regions. These events provide a platform for discussion, networking, the sharing of knowledge, and learning.

RCEs interested in hosting either a regional meeting or the Global RCE Conference are encouraged to apply. Applications are currently being accepted to host the following events:

  • 13th Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting
  • 10th African Regional Meeting
  • Europe Regional Meeting 2020
  • 9th Americas Regional Meeting
  • 12th Global RCE Conference

To find out more about the process, view the open call here. The deadline for applications is Friday 31 January, 2020.

Upcoming Events

15th ASEF Classroom Network Conference 'Education for Sustainable Development and AI: The Role and Readiness of Teachers'
25-29 November, 2019, Tokyo, Japan

What roles do teachers need to play in classrooms to transform teaching and learning practices for ESD in the AI era? What level of knowledge on ESD and AI do teachers need to develop appropriate pedagogies? What kind of capacity building and partnership support do teachers need to integrate ESD meaningfully in the school curriculum and to enhance their readiness for the AI era? This conference will address these three questions and more, as it aims to promote deeper discussion on ESD and provide a brief introduction on emerging AI technologies in education. Read more

Roundtable Discussion on the Role of Higher Education to Pursue Sustainability
4 December, 2019, 9:30 - 12:00, Sapporo, Japan

Organised by Hokkaido University and its Inter-University Exchange Project, this roundtable discussion aims to exchange views on the future role of international education programs in higher education as well as on its role to pursue sustainability. Director Shinobu Yamaguchi, UNU-IAS, will make a keynote presentation on 'The Role of Higher Education in Promoting SDGs' and participate in the roundtable discussion. This event will be held in Japanese, except for Director Yamaguchi's presentation, which will be in English. The event will be held at the Frontier Research in Applied Sciences Building, Hokkaido University. Register for the event here (information available in Japanese only).

Open Calls

RCE Asia-Pacific SDG Youth Challenge 2020: EOI Open Now!

The 2020 RCE SDG Youth Challenge 'Youth for the Goals' is an exciting and unique youth-led initiative focused on delivering the SDGs at a local level. This year, the Challenge will be focusing on SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 15: Life on Land. Projects are welcome from any RCEs interested in participating.

Conceived by Asia-Pacific youth leaders at RCE Greater Western Sydney (Australia) and RCE Yogyakarta (Indonesia), the Challenge uses a peer-to-peer learning model coupled with virtual mentoring support to empower and enable youth leaders to engage with each other and to deliver grassroots projects that matter to them and their communities.

The Challenge invites young people to get empowered and engaged in their local communities and RCE networks. Youth are invited to either create their own or build on an existing project, with support from their RCE or an organisation, that will make a difference for them, their community, and the planet. Projects could include creating a video documentary, youth camps, leadership programme, school workshops, clean-up events, art installations and more - the choice is yours as long as it is in line with the Challenge theme (SDG 11, 12 and/or 15, underpinned by SDG 4). Projects must be led by a youth lead (35 years or younger), can be run by an individual or team (team doesn't have to be youth exclusively) who are committed to the project from February - October 2020.

To date, the challenge has engaged directly with over 19,000 youth and delivered 39 individual sustainability youth-led projects across nine countries. In 2018, the focus was on SDGs 13 and 14, whilst in 2019, it was SDGs 1, 6 and 10 - all underpinned by SDG 4.

Find out more and download the flyer here.

To participate, submit an expression of interest here. The deadline is 25 January, 2020.

Job Vacancy: Secretary-General of ASPBAE

The Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education (ASPBAE) is a non-profit regional, membership-based network which works for the promotion and advancement of the right to education, and for transformative basic, youth and adult education for all, within a lifelong learning framework. ASPBAE is searching for its next Secretary-General who should be a dynamic and inspiring leader, one who will competently implement and articulate the Organisation's vision, objectives, and direction. View the job description here. Applications close on 13 December, 2019.

Latest News

New Framework 'ESD for 2030' Adopted; Save the Date for UNESCO World Conference on ESD

The Education Commission of the 40th Session of the UNESCO General Conference officially adopted a new framework, 'ESD for 2030', covering the period 2020-2030, at the UNESCO General Conference held this month. To launch this new programme for ESD, UNESCO is organising an international conference in Berlin, Germany next year, from 2-4 June, 2020. The meeting will raise global awareness on sustainable development challenges and the crucial role of ESD as a key enabler for the successful achievement of all SDGs and provide impulses for strengthening ESD in education policy and practice. See UNESCO's event page for more details here.

UNU-IAS Runs Workshops on Climate Action in Education and Community Engagement in ESD at the 10th WEEC in Bangkok

(Photo credit: UNU-IAS)

The 10th World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC) was held 3-7 November, 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand, under the theme 'Local Knowledge, Communication and Global Connectivity', and was jointly hosted by the Faculty of Environment, Kasetsart University, the Thailand Global Warming Academy under the patronage of the Nabhamitra Foundation, and the World Environmental Education Congress Network. This biannual event, and the first to be held in Asia, brought together delegates from across the globe, focusing on education for the environment and sustainability, with the aim to enhance local knowledge within the global spotlight in terms of environmental education.

UNU-IAS ran a number of workshops at this year's event, along with co-hosting a side event with UNESCO Bangkok on 'Environmental Education and Assessment Practices in Asia' on 4 November, 2019, whereby representatives from universities within the Asia-Pacific region presented their environmental assessment initiatives.

On 5 November, 2019, two workshops were held back-to-back; one on climate action in education, and one on community engagement in ESD. The first workshop used the RCE model (with presentations from RCE Georgetown, RCE Iskandar, and RCE Sakon Nakhon) to examine how multi-stakeholder networks can provide a more coordinated and effective approach for educating communities about meaningful actions to take in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The second workshop discussed the challenges in localising SDGs in community-based ESD practices, as well as how to overcome the issues of ESD and the SDGs being diluted when interpreted in local community contexts. Read more

Forum Highlights ESD City-Wide Initiatives Within Dobong, South Korea

(Photo credit: Ms. Lee Yong eun, Dobong-gu Office)

The Dobong ESD Forum, hosted by the Dobong Metropolitan Government, was held from 29-30 October, 2019, in Seoul, South Korea. This event was the first ESD forum hosted in Seoul focused around cross-sectoral engagement with ESD through an RCE model. With over 300 community members in attendance, as well as members from RCE Kitakyushu, RCE Tongyeong, and RCE Changwon, participants were able to learn about Dobong's city-wide initiatives that have been planned around ESD and the SDGs. Read more

RCE Kitakyushu Runs Korea Study Tour

(Photo credit: UNU-IAS)

Organised by RCE Kitakyushu and hosted by RCE Inje, the 12th Korea Study Tour was held from 25-28 October, 2019 in Inje-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea. Members from RCE Kitakyushu, youth members, NGOs, and other associated members attended, along with participants of the RCE Japan Youth International Exchange programme (from RCE Okayama), a new initiative that supports RCE Japan youth members to reach out to RCEs globally. The Korea Study Tour is a main part of RCE Kitakyushu's Worldwide Research & Study Project, one of the five pillar activities of the RCE, and allowed participants to observe and learn from RCEs in Korea in terms of their ESD activities. These focused on peace, the conservation of nature and biodiversity, and the conservation of traditional culture.

Kiran Bir Sethi of India Wins the Earth Prize International 2019

Ms Kiran Bir Sethi of India has been awarded the Earth Prize International 2019 for the Design for Change project which she founded. Design for Change (DFC) is a global movement that started in 2009 at the Riverside School in Ahmedabad, India, and has now been implemented in 65+ countries and regions. The project gives children a platform to express their ideas for a better world and put them into action. The Earth Prize is promoted by the Permanent Secretariat of the World Environmental Education Congress Network (WEEC Network) and the Luino Administration. Read more about the Design for Change project here.

11th ASEAN+3 Leadership Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production

(Photo credit: UNU-IAS)

The 11th ASEAN+3 Leadership Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production took place from 11-14 November, 2019 in Bandung, Indonesia. Organised by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Indonesia, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (Jakarta and Hanoi Offices), this annual programme (run since 2008) has provided leadership training to key target groups, including government officials to raise awareness and inspire action on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP).

Senior Visiting Professor Mario Tabucanon, UNU-IAS delivered a keynote plenary presentation on 'Redefining Education for Sustainable Consumption and Production' and moderated the plenary session presenting the group discussions on 'SCP opportunities' and 'SCP solutions'. Participants learned about the concepts, policy and actions (sharing of country practices) on SCP in the context of the UN SDGs and the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

ESD BOOKS, PUBLICATIONS AND OTHER

The Future of Asian and Pacific Cities 2019: Transformative Pathways Towards Sustainable Urban Development

The cities of 2030, 2050 and 2100 will be very different from today. The challenges of building cities sustainable enough to meet the changing needs of the future will require new ways of thinking and working, as well as new kinds of multi-stakeholder initiatives and partnerships. The Future of Asian and Pacific Cities report 2019 makes the case for four priorities and four approaches to realise a sustainable urban future in Asia and the Pacific. The report was jointly developed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, Centre for Liveable Cities Singapore, the European Union, The Rockefeller Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme. Download the report here.

Youth Solutions Report 2019

Published by SDSN Youth, the youth initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), this report features 50 youth-led projects that are accelerating global progress on the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on the role of young people in improving access to quality education, promoting decent work for all, reducing inequality, combating climate change, promoting peaceful societies, and supporting a renewed global partnership for sustainable development. Download the report here.