EAUC Annual Conference 2010 Workshop – Wednesday 24 th March

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

2. Workshop Outline • The global network of RCEs • RCEs in the UK • RCE North East • RCE Severn • RCE Wales • The EU perspective • Opportunities for involvement in RCEs • The way forward

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. RCE North East • Background • Opportunities • Challenges

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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: • Businesses and sustainability • Young People and Sustainable Schools • Local Food Initiatives • Media and Communications

11. Flagship projects Soundings in Sustainability - November 2008 • Event to generate insights into the sustainability skills required for graduates in the 21st 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 UoG action plan and academic publication

12. 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

13. RCE Wales A Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC)

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Opportunities for involvement in RCEs Discussion: • How can HE institutions benefit? • How can individuals benefit? • How can RCEs become more visible?

23. Thank you