RCE Srinagar - 2020

Engaging our region: The Asia-Pacific RCE webinar series
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Engaging our region: The Asia-Pacific RCE webinar series
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Srinagar
Contributing organization(s) : 
RCEs Greater Western Sydney,
East Kalimantan,
East Java (candidate)

This project was in the form of series of webinars that were co-hosted by RCE Srinagar, RCE Greater Western Sydney, RCE East Kalimantan and RCE East Java (candidate). The RCE Awards 2020 application has been jointly prepared by RCE Greater Western Sydney and RCE Srinagar and being submitted by both the RCEs. It may please also be considered for RCE East Kalimantan. RCE East Java (candidate) was also one of the co-hosts however they are still not acknowledged as an RCE.
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Dr. Abdhesh Kumar Gangwar
Organizational Affiliation: 
Coordinator & Focal Point
E-mail: 
abdhesh.gangwar@gmail.com
Format of project: 
Manuscript
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Web link: 
www.rcenetwork.org
Additional resources: 
https://westernsydney.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1749331/ESD_COVID_Report_Final.pdf
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
Disaster Management Acts, Sustainable Consumption and Production, Climate Change Action Plans, s,
At what level is the policy operating?: 
International
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Asia-Pacific
Location(s): 
Asia-Pacific Region
Address of focal point institution for project: 
House 037, Stadium Colony-A, Baramulla, Jammu & Kashmir, India 193 101
Ecosystem(s):
Agricultural, Coastal, Forest, Fresh water, Grassland, Mountain, Urban/Peri-urban, Wetlands
Target Audience:
Community, Higher, Teacher Ed., Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Decades of high economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region have transformed its socioeconomic landscape – lifting a billion people out of extreme poverty in the past two decades and raising living standards of even greater numbers. However, such growth has been accompanied by growing inequality of income and opportunity and is beginning to breach planetary limits, thus endangering the well-being of future generations. (UN ESCAP, 2020)
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
COVID-19 has brought with it a lot of uncertainty for our collective future. It has caused significant economic, social and cultural impacts around the world causing major disruptions to our lives. It has also seen the gap in inequality grow. Many are at a risk of being left behind in education and economic opportunities, as well as impacting us on health and wellbeing, particularly our youth and vulnerable communities. It underlines the vital importance of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 in supporting a recovery that leads to greener, more inclusive economies, and stronger, more resilient societies.
Contents
Status: 
Completed
Period: 
March, 2020 to October, 2020
Rationale: 
The COVID-19 global pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020 and has deeply challenged nation states in responding to the pandemic itself and to cascading health, social and economic crises. In response to this crisis RCE Greater Western Sydney, RCE Srinagar and RCE East Kalimantan organized a series of webinars to reconnect with the RCE community and to learn from each other about how each RCE is responding to this pandemic through varying themes. Through the webinar series, the RCE Network has proved to be an excellent platform from which to collaborate, respond, support each other and build an inclusive society where all can live with pride and purpose. RCEs must continue to discuss pandemic-related issues and further cultivate intra- and inter-RCE collaboration. The initiatives and insights shared in all webinars could usefully be taken up in other communities and thus potentially influence policymaking. Through these webinars the RCE community may well have built a foundation for what might evolve as the RCE.
Objectives: 
The aim of this webinar series was to connect/reconnect the RCE community of the Asia-Pacific, and share learnings and stories during the global pandemic. Each webinar was themed around the impact of COVID in relation to ESD activity, indigenous communities, youth, and further webinars will look at food security and disaster and risk reduction.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
The entire Asia-Pacific RCE community attended the webinars. Over half of all A-P RCEs (37 out of 62) participated. The demand to participate and present was so high, multiple events for the first ESD series were held. A total of 8 webinars were held: “ESD Action in COVID-19 Era: Experiences of RCEs of Asia Pacific Region” (as a 3-part series) in May and June, "2020 International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples: COVID-19 and indigenous peoples’ resilience" in August and "International Youth Day 2020: Youth and Sustainability in a COVID Era" in August. “Making Right Choices, Becoming A Responsible Consumer” Towards Sustainable Consumption and Production (SDG 12) marking Green Consumer Day 2020 in September 2020 and “Disaster Risk Reduction Preparedness, COVID-19 and Sustainability” (SDGs 9,11,13) marking ‘International Day for Disaster Reduction’ 2020 on 13 October 2020.
Size of academic audience: 
Over 2,000+ directly and another over 10,000 indirectly
Results: 
The 'ESD Action in COVID' webinar was attended by 220 with 16 countries and 39 RCEs represented through 37 presentations. The 'Indigenous People in COVID Era' by over 200 participants, including 37 RCEs within the Asia-Pacific Region. 'Youth and Sustainability' was attended by just over 100 participants. The webinar featured 17 youth presenters. ‘Making Right Choices, Becoming A Responsible Consumer’ to mark Green Consumer Day 2020 (held across two webinars) was attended by 595 virtual participants collectively. The webinar's first day consisted of a panel discussion by experts and practitioners, followed by a Q&A session. The webinar consisted of a panel discussion by experts and practitioners and a presentation from RCE representatives from several regions, followed by a Q&A session. The final webinar ‘Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Preparedness, COVID-19 and Sustainability' was attended by 250 participants. Considering RCEs engagement in the 13th Asia-Pacific RCE Regional Meeting presentations by the RCEs were not required in this webinar, instead external representative made up the speakers for this session. The final webinar ‘Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Preparedness, COVID-19 and Sustainability' was attended by 250 participants. Considering RCEs engagement in the 13th Asia-Pacific RCE Regional Meeting presentations by the RCEs were not required in this webinar, instead external representative made up the speakers for this session.
Lessons learned: 
The webinars created a ripple effect and enthused and recharged the RCE community. There are repeated requests from several RCEs to hold more such webinars. The challenges always come with such varying time zones for the A-P region, but all participating RCEs were enthusiastic regardless. It provided greater opportunity for RCEs to participate that are under resourced due to the flexibility of being online and no cost in travel. It kept the community connected while travel is banned, and helped share stories to inspire one another. It was successful as it was RCE-led, and the organisation that went into making the events run smoothly was paramount.
Key messages: 
The COVID-19 global pandemic has deeply challenged us in responding to the pandemic. In response to this crisis RCE Greater Western Sydney, RCE Srinagar and RCE East Kalimantan hosted a series of virtual webinars to reconnect with the RCE community and to learn from each other about how each RCE is responding to this pandemic through varying themes of sustainable development.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
The webinars were a collaborative activity between the three hosts, and also engaged a further 37 RCEs in our region through multiple webinar series, 3 RCEs outside of the A-P (representing each of the 3 other regions).
Funding: 
There was no funding the support this project. All aspects, including the Zoom platform, was donated in kind by the RCE hosts.

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon Session in progress. Photo Credit RCE East Kalimantan.jpg (55.87 KB) International Day for Disaster Reduction webinar in progress RCE East Kalimantan
Image icon Group Screen Shot. Photo RCE East Kalimantan.jpg (203.2 KB) Indigenous Peoples webinar session in progress RCE East Kalimantan
References and reference materials: 
File Background Reading Material.IYD 2020.docx
File IDRR 2020 Some Background Reading Material.docx
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Indirect
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Indirect
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Indirect
SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
Indirect
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Indirect
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Indirect
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Indirect
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Direct
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Direct
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Indirect
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Direct
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Indirect
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Indirect
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Direct
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Direct
Traditional Knowledge  
Direct
Agriculture 
Indirect
Arts 
Indirect
Curriculum Development 
Indirect
Ecotourism 
Direct
Forests/Trees 
Direct
Plants & Animals 
Direct
Waste 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
No