Develop a common understanding of ‘Sustainable Development’ and ‘Education for Sustainable Development’ (ESD).
Step 1: Develop a common understanding of the concept of ‘sustainable development’
Click here to open and read the Case Story. You can also listen to the Case Story below.
Reflect on the case study that you have just listened to. What is the link between Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Sustainable Development (SD) challenges or issues? Why do you think we need ESD in our communities, provinces, countries and more widely internationally?
As important as it is to begin to understand what we mean by sustainable development, so we also need to develop our understanding of Education for Sustainable Development, because it is a type of education that is focussed on transformation of education; it seeks to help to develop more healthy, sustainable and socially just societies where all can flourish, now and in future.
One way of developing a common understanding of the concept of ‘Education for Sustainable Development’ is to think about sustainable development as a learning process, as outlined in the previous session. Another way of thinking about Education for Sustainable Development is to think about it based on some of the definitions and descriptions of ESD that are provided by international documents such as the 2014 UNESCO Road Map for Implementing the Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development.
Education for Sustainable Development in its broadest sense is education for social transformation with the goal of creating more sustainable societies – and it must start today (UNESCO, 2014).
To create a world that is more just, peaceful and sustainable, all individuals and societies must be equipped and empowered by knowledge, skills and values as well as be instilled with a heightened awareness to drive such change. This is where education has a critical role to play. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is about shaping a better tomorrow for all – and it must start today (UNESCO, 2014:8)
Step 2 – Work with others in your Community of Practice to develop a common understanding of the concept of ‘Education for Sustainable Development’.
Work through your Learning Action 1: ESD Policy, Context and Competences Review course material (Pg. 9 to 17) to develop a common understanding of the concept of “ Education for Sustainable Development” and how this relates to sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals. After you have read through this section on the understanding of the concepts of “Education for Sustainable Development”, please reflect on the two definitions of Education for Sustainable Development while keeping the questions below in mind.
Figure 1 The 5 priority areas of ESD as stated in the UNESCO (2014).
Consider these five priority areas of ESD in relation to the education being offered in your TE/TVET institution and answer these questions below:
Now that you have developed a common understanding of SD and ESD, you can draw on these to critically review the Vision and Mission statement of your TE/TVET, to see if it reflects some of the principles and commitments of ‘strong sustainability’ and the Global Action Programme for ESD.
This session concludes with a task where you will examine the learning objectives and how they have been set in the publication, Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Learning Objectives (UNESCO, 2017)
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NOTE: This Task is not compulsory. You can continue without completing this task.
Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Learning Objectives
Complete this task where you will examine the learning objectives and how they have been set in the publication Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Learning Objectives (UNESCO, 2017a).