Society and schools for Sustainability Lars Rydén Baltic University Programme & CSD Uppsala Uppsala University, Sweden The Baltic University Programme Uppsala MedIes ESD conference 6-10 October 2008

School in the midst of society - Göteborg – a secondary school with greenhouse is selling products to the residents -Africa – a school may be the only “local common” -Nacka – kids become messengers to the parents. May be parents continue to influence their workplace, e.g. to introduce EMS and CSR.

Small educational activities to foster change for SD 1. Games (BUP student games, role plays). 2. Small physical games (Linda Sweeney and Dennis Meadows). 3. Computer games (original Dennis Meadows fish bank and the Poznan BUP group). 4. Project Based Learning, PBL (various BUP experiences)

Role playing in the BUP The island – peace and conflict game, 1994 Riga Building cities, Borki 1999, 2000 Building cities along rivers – city cooperation, Borki 2001.

General experiences from role playing The situations should be described in some detail and based on real cases. Students represent different roles (disciplines, cultures) and thus illustrates how to deal with the intercultural communication challenge in practice. In the games the students needs methods how to work with the problems.

Established interdisciplinary arenas 1.The Clinics meeting between doctors. Agreeing on what to do. 2. Model building between researchers Agreeing on how things work. 3. Negotiation table between diplomats Agreeing on what are the future rules.

Problem based learning - Case 1 Situation: A town in central Baltic Sea region, mostly forests, some lakes, much wilderness. Old steel industry town. Problem. The major industry in the town has announced that it will cut its number of employees by 1000 due to new technologies and competition. What do the unemployed do? People start to move out. Economy goes down. Roles: The city council, business, Green NOG and labours union.

Problem based learning - Case 2 Situation: At your university the costs for energy (heating and electricity) is going up and less money is spent by the Rectorat on education. Quality of education goes down. Problem: The question is how to decrease costs of energy use. Your department offers to set up a system for that. The agreement with the Rectorat is that of future savings 50 % will go to your department for its use for education. But how to carry out this programme? Roles: The head of department, researchers, teachers and students.

Management of National Park Educational game Computer games for ESD Drs Arnold Bernaciak & Tomasz Branka Poznan, Poland

What is special about ESD? Part of it is traditional (learning about SD). In addition There is a cognitive part – understanding limits, systems thinking; it is very interdisciplinary. There is an ethical part – concern for other humans (future and present), for other forms of life (nature). There is an action-oriented part – competence to work in projects, to get things done politically, and to work with others.

Skills needed for the teachers Not only teaching, rather organise learning (and create a rich learning environment) Not only teaching, but facilitating Not only talking but doing, e.g. games, exercises Not only in school but also outside school (study visits and recruiting people from outside to the class)

How students can be active Towards families Towards the political bodies – GREEN GREEN, Global Rivers Environmental Education Network Towards business

Networking for ESD

Regional university networks, examples: Baltic University Programme BUP, UniAdrion, Adriatic Sea Universities network, BSUN, Black Sea Universities Network, School networks, examples: Baltic Sea Project, GREEN, Global Rivers Environmental Education Network Life-Link Friendships-Schools,

CEC, The Commission on Education & Communication Connecting communication and education professionals for knowledge-sharing, learning & strategic advice Advice to Conventions, governments, NGOs communities for biodiversity management and sustainable livelihood professionals globally Created the World Conservation Learning Network for distance education Place image inside this space, or choose one of the following title slide options Global - IUCN and its Commission on Education and Communication

World Conservation Learning Network, WCLN Making the connection between real-life learning needs of practitioners and knowledge and learning resources available worldwide –Supported by a dynamic, online portal with refined search, interactivity, other learning support functions –Features online learning and face-to-face opportunities –Working with the United Nations University to develop an ‘Institute’ with degree granting capabilities (MoU signed Oct 06). –Active sub-regional networks established: Mesoamerica & Southern Africa, Middle East & Oceania (being developed).

BUP University – School cooperation One project started in Lodz, Poland The school has a Baltic Sea region agenda, including SD BUP supports the school with material The university takes responsibility by assisting the school through visits and inviting the school The school has a more interesting program The university improves their recruitment

The BUP Internet site consists of six sub-sites

Thank you for your attention