Higher education institutions play two key roles in sustainable development according to a 2005 UNESCO report. First, they serve as places of research and learning about sustainable development, with issues like environmental economics and green energy being areas of focus. For example, Oberlin College provides a course on environmental economics. Second, higher education institutions act as initiators within their communities, through practices like purchasing green energy and offering sustainable development courses to students. Chalmers University of Technology gives lectures to students on sustainability and their role. Education is seen as fundamental to achieving sustainable development goals.

1. SPACES OF
LEARNING IN ESD
HIGHER EDUCATION

2. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
•“Development which meets the needs of the
current generation without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their
needs” (UN, 1989).

3. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
 prominent after the Rio Earth Summit in
1992.
-Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development advocated the role of education in
preventing ecological degradation.

4. UN adopted a Decade of Education for
Sustainable Development (DESD)
(UNESCO, 2005)
• GOAL:
“Integrate the principles, values, and practices of
sustainable development into all aspects of education
and learning.”

5. Education was identified as
fundamental to the successful
achievement of sustainable
development.

6. 2 ROLES OF HIGHER
EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS(HEIs) IN
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(DESD, 2005)

7. 1. PLACE OF RESEARCH AND
LEARNING FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE THE
CENTRAL PREOCCUPATION IN DETERMINING AREAS
OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

8. 2. INITIATORS AND POLES OF
ACTIVITY IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND
NATIONALLY.

9. 1.PLACE OF RESEARCH AND LEARNING
FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
GLOBAL HIGHER EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY
PARTNERSHIP (GHESP) WITH THE SUPPORT OF UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY
Initiated the development of the TOOLKIT/RESOURCE CENTRE
PROJECT for Higher Education for Sustainable Development.
1. Enables student exchange on innovative projects.
2. Provides a forum for cooperative and exchange of
experiences.

10. 2.INITIATORS AND POLES OF ACTIVITY IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES AND NATIONALLY
Practicing what they teach through sustainable purchasing, investment and
facilities that are integrated with teaching and learning.
Emphasize experiential, inquiry based, problem and solving, interdisciplinary
systems approaches and critical thinking.
Curricula need to be developed including content, materials and tools such as case
studies and identification of best practices.

11. 1. Developing new economy
• Examples: research, high human creativity economy
Oberlin College, USA – provided a course in Environmental Economics.
-The college puts this dedication to valuing natural capital into practice in many
ways, with the most direct example of this being the college’s decision to
purchase 60% of its electricity from green sources.

12. 2. Providing quality student experience
• Examples: be a values led organization; ensure healthy working culture and
physical environment; enhance employability of graduates; ensure sustainable
literacy for all
Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden –
- offered open lectures to incoming undergraduate and graduate
students on sustainable development and their role.

13. THANK YOU!