QUESTE-SI QR Training Session Paris, December 9-10 Introductory remarks Stanislaw Budkowski EFEED 1

Summary General view of the project aim and goals Opening remarks on social responsibility and sustainability Overview of the QUESTE-SI process Training session overview 2

QUESTE-SI Aim To support quality improvement of sustainable development education at Scientific and Technological Universities 3

QUESTE-SI Aim  Quality is defined in terms of institutional strategy and action with respect to sustainable development  Sustainable development education means the integration in education of dimensions that are beyond purely technical dimensions These additional dimensions includes: economical, social, environmental 4

UNESCO Decade of Education for Sustainable Development ( ) Education for sustainable development is a dynamic concept that utilizes all aspects of public awareness, education and training – to create or enhance an understanding of the linkages among the issues of sustainable development – to develop the knowledge, skills, perspectives and values which will empower people of all ages to assume responsibility for creating and enjoying a sustainable future. /131163e.pdf /131163e.pdf 5

UNESCO Decade of Education for Sustainable Development There is no universal model of education for sustainable development. – While there will be overall agreement on the concept, there will be nuanced differences according to local contexts, priorities and approaches. – Each country has to define its own priorities and actions. – The goals, emphases and processes must, therefore, be locally defined to meet the local environmental, social and economic conditions in culturally appropriate ways. – Education for sustainable development is equally relevant and critical for both developed and developing countries. 6

QUESTE-SI Goals To provide quality improvement guidelines for sustainable development aspects in education To provide a quality improvement tool (leading to a label) to demonstrate involvement of an institution unit or department in sustainable development education.  To provide means to enhance the visibility of institutions and programs which have a sustainability strategy in place or clearly under development 7

QUESTE-SI Focus/Target QUESTE-SI focuses on the realization of sustainability strategies  at institutional and program level QUESTE-SI is targeted towards an educational institution unit or department responsible for one or more programmes  all programmes of the unit may be included in the evaluation 8

QUESTE-SI Scope QUESTE SI evaluation is restricted to the sustainability aspects  QUESTE SI requests, as an eligibility prerequisite, for participation, evidence of a quality assurance implemented system that satisfies national QA requisites but makes no recommendation on the choice of a QA approach 9

What is not Queste-SI QUESTE-SI is not a form of accreditation – it does not assume a common or even minimum standard for sustainability – It does not work with a closed (frozen) set of dimensions, objectives and indicators to be evaluated – It does not focus on achievement but emphasises on development/ improvement/progress – It does not focus only on rating but also on rationales and significances – Etc., 10

Part 2 : Opening remarks on Sustainability Sustainable development Social responsibility 11

Sustainability Definition(s) (Wikipedia) Sustainability is : – the capacity to endure – the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, … 12

Sustainable Development Definitions (1) Brundtland Commission of the United Nations (1987) – and ISO : 2010  “sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” this requires (2005 World Summit) the reconciliation of environmental, social and economic demands - the "three pillars" of sustainability (called also triple bottom line, in short : TBL) 13

Sustainable Development ISO 26000:2010 “Sustainable development can be treated as a way of expressing the broader expectations of society as a whole” “The social, economic and environmental goals are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.” 14

Social Responsibility ISO Definition (2) ISO 26000: 2010; Guidance for social responsibility:  "Responsibility of an organization for the impacts of its decisions and activities on society and the environment through transparent and ethical behaviour that: Contributes to sustainable development, including health and the welfare of society Takes into account the expectations of stakeholders Is in compliance with applicable low and consistent with international norms of behaviour Is integrated throughout the organization and practised in its relationships” 15

Sustainable development vs Social responsibility endless battle over whether sustainable development or social responsibility is the overarching (overall, all-encompassing) concept – sustainable development is a component or form of social responsibility ? – social responsibility is simply social aspect of sustainable development or one of the so-called bottom lines in sustainability's triple bottom line (TBL) ? 16

Sustainable development vs Social responsibility This battle may be considered as terminated once ISO standard was adopted at the end of 2010 by so many countries the focus of social responsibility is on the organization, not the planet and society as a whole “An overarching objective of an organization’s social responsibility should be to contribute to sustainable development.” 17

Part 3 : Overview of the QUESTE-SI process Four phases: 1.Initial consultation and application for participation 2.Self-assessment 3.External assessment (audit) during site visit 4.Decision on recognition 18

Phase I : Initial consultation and application (1) Institution should review the QUESTE-SI documents (in particular QSI referential and QSI self-assessment template) to determine whether it is appropriate to apply to enter QUESTE-SI process There are two critical prerequisites : – evidence of an operational institution quality assurance system that satisfies national QA requisites but makes no recommendation on the choice of a QA approach – existence of an institutional sustainability strategy (preferably implemented, or least clearly under development) 19

Phase 1 : Initial consultation and application (2) Formal letter of intent to be sent identifying – participating programs – Quality referent to interface with QUESTE-SI – necessity (if any) for 1 day advisory site visit –... 20

Phase 1 : Initial consultation and application (3) 1 day advisory site visit – organized rather on demand to respond to institutional needs – organized by the quality referent nominated by the institution – intended to clarify with relevant personnel the implementation of the process, the objectives and criteria, the self-assessment, and information requirements 21

Phase II : Self-assessment organized around the Objectives and Indicators for Action identified in Self- assessment template document to be further detailed during next sessions 22

Phase III : External Assessment Organized during 1-2 day site visit Visiting audit expert team nominated (after consultations) by QUESTE-SI Validation of information whose prime source is the self-assessment and supporting documents Preliminary report for comment at the end Final report taking account, if needed, of factual errors and inaccuracies will then be prepared and sent to QUESTE-SI 23

Phase IV : recognition Based on the final audit team report and their recommendations and any institutional response, QUESTE-SI Awarding Body may recognize the effort and distinguish the institution with a label The form and levels (if any) of label is still under discussion 24

Labels (TBD) Medals (bronze, silver, gold, platinum) Stamp (like “Intel inside”)  ”committed to a sustainable future” with or without qualification “excellent”, “outstanding”, etc  “QUESTE-SI recommended” ?? 25