The document discusses the significant role of universities in promoting sustainable development within their communities, emphasizing the integration of sustainability into education, research, and campus operations. It outlines responsibilities of universities to foster awareness of economic, social, and ecological interdependence while equipping students with knowledge and skills for sustainable practices. Additionally, it presents strategies for community outreach, service, and partnership to address environmental and social issues through education for sustainable development.

1. Fostering The Roles of Universities
In Implementing The Sustainable
Development of The Surrounding
Community
Mohamed Labib Salem, PhD
Professor of Immunology
Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Egypt
Medical University of South Carolina, USA
2nd Int. Environment Forum: New Environmental Horizons
of Sustainable Environment
27-29 November, 2008, Tanta University, Egypt

2. Sustainable Development
University
Community

3. What is Sustainability?What is Sustainability?
From: World Summit on Sustainable Development brochure, 2002From: World Summit on Sustainable Development brochure, 2002
Economic Growth:Economic Growth:
Foster responsible long-term growth while ensuring that noFoster responsible long-term growth while ensuring that no
nation or community is left behind.nation or community is left behind.
Conserving Natural Resources and the Environment:Conserving Natural Resources and the Environment:
For future generations, reduce resource consumption, stopFor future generations, reduce resource consumption, stop
pollution and conserve natural habitats.pollution and conserve natural habitats.
Social Development:Social Development:
Throughout the world, people need jobs, food, education,Throughout the world, people need jobs, food, education,
energy, health care, water and sanitation.energy, health care, water and sanitation. People alsoPeople also
need respect forneed respect for cultural and social diversitycultural and social diversity andand the rightsthe rights
of workers. All members of society need a role inof workers. All members of society need a role in
determining their futures.determining their futures.

4. Needed action for sustainableNeeded action for sustainable
development in all sectorsdevelopment in all sectors
EducationEducation
SocietySociety
BusinessBusiness
GovernmentGovernment
ConsumptionConsumption
InvestmentInvestment

5. Sustainable Development
Source:
World Commission on Economic Development.
(1987). Our Common Future. England: Oxford
University Press.
“meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs”

6. The 3 Pillars of Sustainable Development
Society
Environm
ent
Economy
Sustainable
society

7. • “Environmentally responsible citizens accept
responsibility for what happens in their
community – not only environmentally but also
politically, and socio-economically”
Education for not bout Sustainable Development
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

8. “enables people to develop the knowledge, values
and skills to participate in decisions …, that will
improve the quality of life now without damaging
the planet for the future.”
Source: Sustainable Development Education Panel (1999),
First annual Report 1998, London Department of the
Environment, Transport and the Regions, p. 30.
Education for a Sustainable Development

9. The United NationsThe United Nations
has declared ahas declared a
Decade of Education forDecade of Education for
Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development
2005-20142005-2014

10. Where CAN ESD be delivered?
UNIVERSITY…………..UNIVERSITY…………..

11. • Universities make a large economic entity
consuming a big amount of resources,
purchasing products and services.
• Universities must make sustainability an integral
part of the institution’s daily operations:
- consumption,
- waste management,
- use of water, energy, and paper
- attempt to reduce their ecological footprint.
• These efforts should be tied to the formal
Curriculum and Research
ESD and Universities

12. Education and ESD:
Responsibilities of Universities
• To foster clear awareness of, and concern about
economic, social, political and ecological inter
dependence in urban and rural areas.
• Train the leaders and teachers of tomorrow the idea of
sustainable development
• Encourage students to gain knowledge and think about
what to do, individually and socially.
• Communicating this knowledge to decision-makers and
the public-at-large.
• Help people to find new solutions to the environmental,
economic, and social issues.

13. KEY CONCEPTS of ESDKEY CONCEPTS of ESD
Educators have a responsibility to prepareEducators have a responsibility to prepare
all students to be:all students to be:
socially and environmentally responsiblesocially and environmentally responsible
active global citizensactive global citizens
A national partnership withA national partnership with ULSFULSF will helpwill help
make this task happen.make this task happen.

14. (ULSF) The Association of University Leaders(ULSF) The Association of University Leaders
for a Sustainable Futurefor a Sustainable Future
A leading international non-profit organizationA leading international non-profit organization
strengthening higher education’s capacity tostrengthening higher education’s capacity to
make sustainability and environmental literacy amake sustainability and environmental literacy a
major focus of teaching, research, service, andmajor focus of teaching, research, service, and
operations.operations.
www.ulsf.orgwww.ulsf.org

15. ULSF – continuedULSF – continued
ULSF pursues its mission throughULSF pursues its mission through::
Research and publicationsResearch and publications
Campus assessmentCampus assessment
Online resources and in person supportOnline resources and in person support
International partnerships (e.g. GHESP) toInternational partnerships (e.g. GHESP) to
advance education for sustainability.advance education for sustainability.

16. Mission and
Planning
Curricula
Community
Outreach and
Partnerships
Operations
Research
Student Life
Professional
Development
Purchasing
Universities and ESD
Responsibilities Toward Community

17. ESD and Universities
Areas of Integration
Education
Research
University
Community
& Operations
External
Community
& Collaborators

18. Community-based ServiceCommunity-based Service
CleaningCleaning
Health (Infection, Substance abuse, Smoking, etc..)Health (Infection, Substance abuse, Smoking, etc..)
IlliteracyIlliteracy
LawLaw
CultureCulture
HousingHousing
Saving energy, water, etc…Saving energy, water, etc…
RecyclingRecycling
TrafficTraffic
Small businessSmall business
PlantationPlantation

19. ESD & TeachingESD & Teaching
On campus ServiceOn campus Service
o Orient teaching courses to be based on ESD.Orient teaching courses to be based on ESD.
o Involve students in teaching ESD.Involve students in teaching ESD.
o Dedicate the 1Dedicate the 1stst
lecture in each course tolecture in each course to
explain how the course (contents) serves ESD.explain how the course (contents) serves ESD.
o Invite community members to contribute andInvite community members to contribute and
present in the campus.present in the campus.
o Assign a prize (award) for students for ESD-Assign a prize (award) for students for ESD-
related subjects.related subjects.

20. ESD & TeachingESD & Teaching
Off campus ServiceOff campus Service
o Outreach Religion scholars with the most recentOutreach Religion scholars with the most recent
knowledge in ESD.knowledge in ESD.
o Convey ESD to the entire community members throughConvey ESD to the entire community members through
workshop and working groups.workshop and working groups.
o Outreach Elementary, Middle, and High School studentsOutreach Elementary, Middle, and High School students
to educate ESD.to educate ESD.
o Dedicate one day to serve the surrounding environmentDedicate one day to serve the surrounding environment
by performing ESD related aspects.by performing ESD related aspects.

21. ESD & ResearchESD & Research
On campus ServiceOn campus Service
Each department to define the researchEach department to define the research
projects.projects.
At least 25% of these projects has to beAt least 25% of these projects has to be
ESD-based.ESD-based.

22. ESD & ResearchESD & Research
Off campus ServiceOff campus Service
Define the community based on theirDefine the community based on their
needs.needs.
Establish research centers in rural area.Establish research centers in rural area.
Introduce research to communityIntroduce research to community
Involve community in research ideaInvolve community in research idea
Discuss research results non-technicallyDiscuss research results non-technically
with communitywith community
Apply the outcomes to benefit theApply the outcomes to benefit the
communitycommunity

23. ESD & MarketESD & Market
On campus ServiceOn campus Service
Make a list of the potential market jobs.Make a list of the potential market jobs.
Arrange a annual job fair in whichArrange a annual job fair in which
graduates can interact with stakeholders.graduates can interact with stakeholders.
Graduate to spend a 2-month workingGraduate to spend a 2-month working
service in a relevant market.service in a relevant market.
Periodical invitation of relevantPeriodical invitation of relevant
stakeholders to give talks to students.stakeholders to give talks to students.

24. ESD & MarketESD & Market
Off campus ServiceOff campus Service
Outreach the stakeholders and convince them toOutreach the stakeholders and convince them to
dedicate specific # of jobs to graduate students.dedicate specific # of jobs to graduate students.
Make a club for the graduates.Make a club for the graduates.
Follow up and analyze the nature, the numbers,Follow up and analyze the nature, the numbers,
location, requirements, and satisfaction of their job.location, requirements, and satisfaction of their job.
Analyze the feedback from the graduates who areAnalyze the feedback from the graduates who are
already in the market.already in the market.
Invite them to give talks about their own experienceInvite them to give talks about their own experience

25. What else???What else???
Whatever we can do….Whatever we can do….
we should just do it….we should just do it….
Thank youThank you
Mohamed Labib SalemMohamed Labib Salem
Prof. of Imunology, Faculty of Science, TantaProf. of Imunology, Faculty of Science, Tanta
UniversityUniversity