In-person meet-ups really are where the magic happens.

We recently had the privilege of contributing to ‘ESD Exchange’: a conference designed to provide a platform for dialogue, networking and sharing of research and practice related to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Green Skills in higher education across the UK – and internationally. 

Co-organised by RCE East Midlands; our sister Regional Centre of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development, DeMontfort University, Loughborough University, University of Leicester and Students organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK), the event emphasised student experiences and perspectives; ensuring that learners’ voices played a key role.

What was the event about?

ESD Exchange offered ‘a much-needed space for sharing practice, research or experience relating to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Green Skills in Higher Education, and a chance to take part in conversations about issues that matter for this work’.

What kind of themes were discussed?

The sessions at the conference consisted of presentations, ‘lightning talks’, and workshops; ‘clustered’ by theme, with ‘contributions informing facilitated dialogue around issues that matter to participants’. The organisers offered several potential themes for contributions as listed below, but anything and everything that participants saw as relevant for sharing or discussing were welcomed.

  • Engaging and Effective Teaching and Learning:
  • Green Skills and purpose-driven careers
  • Civic engagement on sustainability learning
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Decolonising, Equity and Inclusion
  • Strategy, processes, leadership
  • Monitoring and Evaluating ESD
  • Future of ESD

What was our contribution?

Learning for Sustainability Scotland was delighted to be selected to contribute to two of the Parallel Sharing Sessions during the conference. These sessions comprised groupings of related thematic inputs; and our first contribution was part of a Session that looked at ways in which to embed and sustain holistic ‘hearts, hands, and heads’ approaches to ESD. Our input consisted of an overview of the work of the global network of UN University-recognised Regional Centres of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development in weaving ESD across formal and informal learning worldwide, and a discussion around ways in which participants can become part of this international movement.

Our second contribution was part of a Session called ‘How do we know it’s working?’; during which participants shared methodologies and ideas for effective monitoring and evaluation of approaches to and the impact of ESD. Our input had a focus on Scotland’s National Framework for ESD in Initial Teacher Education; which aims to ‘create a single national approach to support LfS within Initial Teacher Education‘ as a key output of the Scotland’s national Learning for Sustainability Action Plan – ‘Target 2030: A movement for people, planet, and prosperity’

Continuing the conversations and collaboration…

Our warmest thanks goes to all of the organisers of this event – and we are looking forward to discussing next steps when it comes to continuing these much-needed collaborations and conversations.

Watch this space!