Organised by the School of Education, Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (HNBGU), Srinagar, Garhwal, a six-day training programme on 'Reorienting education towards sustainability for higher education teachers' was held from 5-10 December, 2019 in Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India. RCE Srinagar helped the School of Education to design the training programme.

More than 36 teachers from various universities and postgraduate colleges from across the state of Uttarakhand were invited to attend. The aim of the programme was to transform young minds; those on the threshold of becoming active participants in society as citizens, decision makers and the leaders of tomorrow. It highlighted the important role of ESD and GCED as key elements of quality education and a crucial enabler for achieving SDGs, specifically SDG 4.7. 

The specific objectives were to develop and explore innovative ideas and understanding of ESD; understand global, regional environment problems humanity is faced with such as global warming, natural disasters, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, forest fires, climate change and outmigration; strengthen the role of education for inculcating attitudes and behaviour for taking positive action for a better quality of life and environment leading to the achievement of SDGs and creating a sustainable world for all; embed ESD and global citizenship education (GCED) in elementary and secondary education; online teaching approaches for engaging and reaching out to students in remote areas; using ESD and GCED as potential tools to enhance education and training systems for local youth; and ESD and GCED in early childhood care and education.  

Dr. Abdhesh Kumar Gangwar, RCE Srinagar was invited to take two sessions on 7 December, 2019. He focused on linking classroom teaching and learning with the outdoor environment, ‘Umang’ and ‘Anandshala’ programmes for making teaching and learning interesting, joyful and locally relevant, and the greening of education, which included: green teachers, green textbooks, green games, green schools, sustainable campuses of schools, colleges and universities, and becoming disaster resilient, sustainable and climate smart. Find out more in the programme brochure here.

(Photo credit: RCE Srinagar)