EAUC Annual Conference 2010 Workshop Wednesday 24 th

EAUC Annual Conference 2010 Workshop – Wednesday 24 th March United Nations University Regional Centres of Expertise in Sustainability Education Aidan Doyle - RCE North East Carol Rabbette – RCE Severn Yvonne Jones – RCE Wales EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

Workshop Outline • • The global network of RCEs in the UK RCE North East RCE Severn RCE Wales The EU perspective Opportunities for involvement in RCEs The way forward EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

The UNU network of RCEs • RCEs are acknowledged by the United Nations University • A RCE is a network of existing formal, non-formal and informal education organisations, mobilised to ESD to local and regional communities. • A RCE should have four elements: – – 1. Governance 2. Collaboration 3. Research and development 4. Transformative education EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

Global Learning space • The worldwide network of RCEs constitutes the Global Learning Space for Sustainable Development • 74 RCEs around the world March 2010: – 12 in Africa – 28 in the Asia Pacific region – 23 in Europe and Middle East – 8 in North and Central America – 3 in South America and Caribbean EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

RCEs in the UK 6 RCEs established in the UK 2007 -9: • RCE East Midlands • RCE North East • RCE Severn • RCE Yorkshire and Humberside • RCE Wales • RCE London Gaps – North West, Eastern and South East EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

RCE North East • Background • Opportunities • Challenges EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

RCE Severn Promoting transformational learning and change in the West Midlands and South West • Inaugural meeting October 2008 • Hosted by University of Gloucestershire, based in Cheltenham • Part-time coordinator in post since March 2009 • Email rcesevern@glos. ac. uk EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

RCE Severn Opportunities To build capacity to implement change to address global and local sustainability challenges • • • A consortium of 95 partner organisations, spanning two administrative regions of the UK Facilitating shared learning across a range of sectors (HE and FE; businesses; schools; NGO and charities; local government and media) Collaborating on joint projects and fund-raising initiatives Supporting opportunities for volunteering and work placements Complementing and adding value to existing networks EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

RCE Severn – the region RCE named after the River Severn, the longest river in the UK • West Midlands – Population of 5. 3 million – Industrial heartland of the UK • The South West – Population of 4. 9 million – Large rural area with attractive coastline EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

Management Structure • Steering Group and Terms of Reference approved March 2009 • Representatives from 6 sectors sit on Steering Group • Four working Groups established July 2009: 1. Businesses and sustainability 2. Young People and Sustainable Schools 3. Local Food Initiatives 4. Media and Communications EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

Flagship projects Soundings in Sustainability - November 2008 • Event to generate insights into the sustainability skills required for graduates in the 21 st century • 'The Handbook of Sustainability Literacy: skills for a changing world’ , see http: //sustainability-literacy. org/ Student Engagement Forum – November 2009 • National forum to share good practice to improve student engagement in sustainability within higher education • Leading to Uo. G action plan and academic publication EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

RCE Severn - Challenges • No core funding for projects • Everyone too busy doing the day job to come up with new project ideas • Difficult to add value • Limited involvement of HE and FE sectors • Very large geographical area EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

RCE Wales A Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC) RCE Severn – 3 rd European meeting at Graz, December 2009

RCE Wales - establishment • Initial consultative meetings Nov 2008 • SG set up; application supported by the Welsh Assembly Government and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales • Application submitted Jun 2009 • RCE Wales established Feb 2010 • Secretariat hosted by Swansea University • Managed by Swansea University’s ESDGC team • Email rcewales@swansea. ac. uk EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

RCE Wales Facilitating collaboration to research, develop and promote ESDGC, so that this learning is central to the emergence of a sustainable Wales RCE Wales’ work should: • Add value to existing activities • Be collaborative and transformative • Include a research component • Share learning about ESDGC practice

RCE Wales • An open network of ESDGC stakeholders • Stakeholders – anyone interested or active in ESDGC including: FHE, Local Authorities, NGOs, businesses, WBL, schools… • Research – pedagogy, impact • Develop – projects, embedding processes • Promote – communication, advocacy EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

RCE Wales – the region • 160 miles (258 km) long, 60 miles (97 km) wide. • Population 4 million approx. • Welsh Language speakers 500, 000 18. 5% • Devolved government since 1999 (WAG) • Predominantly rural • Rich cultural heritage • Industrial history that is significant on a world scale. EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

RCE Wales Organisation • Secretariat currently carried by Swansea University ESDGC Team • Regular SG meetings • Representatives from different sectors sit on Steering Group • WAG and HEFCW observers • Terms of Reference approved • EDEN and the website • Next – formation of the working groups! EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

RCE Wales at work • • • The Dyfi Footprint Project Welsh Fisheries Predator Project Real World Learning Cymru Partnership Sustainable Development community Toolkit Water in the 21 st Century', the ‘Dream of Water Game • Clim. Art EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

RCE Wales - Challenges • Lack of core funding • Effective and sustainable engagement of wide range of stakeholders • Insecure , short-term or projectised ESDGC funding • ESDGC processes complex • RCE concept poorly understood; RCEs invisible • Limited stakeholder capacity for involvement EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

The European Union Perspective • 23 RCEs in the EU • EU RCE conferences held annually • Seeking to create a EU association of RCEs to coordinate activities across the EU • Scope to bid for EU funding, using RCE network to find partners • Platform for joint projects • Copernicus Alliance EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

Opportunities for involvement in RCEs Discussion: • How can HE institutions benefit? • How can individuals benefit? • How can RCEs become more visible? EAUC Conference 2010 – RCE Workshop

Thank you