Workshop Partners

Background

Recent years have witnessed a sharp growth in the number of environment oriented postgraduate and professional courses being offered, mainly in response to international trends and market demand. The recent UGC directive to universities to introduce a compulsory undergraduate course on Environmental Studies beginning the 2004 academic year to comply with the 1991 Supreme Court ruling is another development. But to make EE/ESD an integral part of higher education (HE) and to ensure quality would need the support of academic and administrative decision makers. To provide the necessary support, they must understand the importance of EE/ESD in Higher Education, and be aware of the developments and opportunities.

In the above context, an invitational event for vice chancellors of Indian and South Asian universities is being organized at the ESF conference. The event is being cosponsored by the Washington-based Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (ULSF), and the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU – IAS).

Objectives

The event seeks to broaden the understanding of the vice chancellors beyond environmental education into a more encompassing understanding of education for sustainable development. It will provide an opportunity for the leadership of Indian and South Asian universities, in dialogue with other ESD leaders, to explore, discuss, share experiences and ideas, and hence become better equipped to lead and support EE/ESD initiatives in their respective universities.

Specifically, the participants will

1. Share an understanding of the role and importance of EE/ESD in HE
2. Share experiences on integrating EE/ESD in HE (through curriculum development, capacity building, action projects, etc.)
3. Discuss and be exposed to educational and other resources, support services and facilities available for EE/ESD
4. Discuss institutional structures and institutional leadership needed for EE/ESD
5. Showcase best practices and discuss strategies for campus sustainability
6. Discuss policy interventions necessary at various levels to support EE/ESD
7. Discuss the role and value of collaboration between institutions of higher education and a) NGOs/Local communities, b)other levels of formal education
8. Identify areas requiring special focus

Expected Outcome

By the end of the event we hope to be able to set up a consortium of Indian and South Asian universities committed to providing quality environmental, ecological and sustainability literacy in higher education. A preliminary strategy and plan of action for this consortium will also be worked out.

Expected Additional Outcomes

Clarity on

• Priorities for CEE to focus on
• Specific role/s CEE can play in promoting ESD in HE
• Universities that it would be useful for CEE to partner with
• Clarity among participants about the value of partnering with community and NGOs in different ways

Preparatory processes before the workshop

• Identification of 30 – 40 VCs who will take the ESD challenge seriously so as to benefit their
• universities as well as CEE by attending this workshop, as funds are limited
• Identification of examples from Indian universities/HE institutions that can be showcased
• Development of input documents through a consultative process among the cosponsors

Workshop Committee

Rick Clugston, Executive Director, ULSF
Katsunori Suzuki, UNU-IAS
Zinaida Fadeeva, UNU-IAS
MK Prasad, former VC Calicut University and CEE Governing Council Member
Daphne DeRebello, formerly UNESCO and MHRD