Yorkshire & Humber Region

Education for Sustainable Development

Strategy 20002010

executive summary
...a pioneering attempt to set out sustainable development education priorities at a regional level
David Blunkett John Prescott

Government Office for Yorkshire and The Humber Region Yorkshire and Humber Assembly The UK Government Sustainable Development Education Panel Environment Agency

executive summary
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Yorkshire & Humber Region Education for Sustainable Development Strategy 20002010
Summary of Key Objectives 1. Develop the sustainable development competence of the existing workforce to facilitate sustainable growth. 2. Promote the regions commitment to sustainable development to foster a modern regional identity. 3. Develop the sustainable development competence of the future work-force to ensure preparedness for the 21st century work-place. 4. Develop the sustainable development competence of all the regions citizens to facilitate social inclusion and active participation in sustainable development. 5. Increase opportunities for sustainable development volunteering to enable all citizens to contribute their time and/or expertise to improving the quality of life in the region. 6. Promote the sustainable management and use of the education communitys physical, cultural and environmental assets.

Summary of 20032006 Operational Plan for Yorkshire & Humber Region Education for Sustainable Development Strategy 20002010

A project supported by Yorkshire Forward, University of Bradford, Environment Agency and Government Office for Yorkshire and The Humber

Aim To build capacity to deliver innovative Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) partnerships in Yorkshire&Humber Region. This will be achieved by working with partners to implement key elements of the Regional ESD Strategy and Operational Plan, including the development of a co-ordinated communication and dissemination framework for regional ESD projects and programmes.

Objectives 1. Co-ordinate the compilation of current ESD practice from across Yorkshire&Humber Region in order to share and generate further good practice. Also to signpost national/international ESD priorities and trends that may be relevant to further development of regional ESD good practice (including evaluation and monitoring). 2. Work with key partners to help develop and promote new regional ESD good practice partnerships that support the Strategy including ESD partnerships featuring innovative SD policy and practice that is under development in Yorkshire&Humber businesses and regeneration programmes. 3. Work with key partners to identify funding sources for such ESD projects 4. Develop a co-ordinated communication and dissemination framework and plan for the Regional Strategy. Develop a regional ESD gateway website (one stop shop) and email newsletter to feature ESD news, ideas and good practice and compelling images of innovative SD policy and practice from Yorkshire & Humber. Facilitate and participate in regional and sub-regional events where information and experiences about ESD can be shared and disseminated eg ESD Trade Fair. 5. Co-ordinate the management and implementation of the Y&H Region ESD Strategy and manage the Operational Plan to deliver the Strategy. Review the Strategy and Operational Plan on an annual basis and report to Management Group of Regional ESD Forum. 6. Attend the Regional Sustainability Commission meetings when appropriate. Also attend other committees and groups when necessary, in order to keep abreast of ESD developments in the region/nationally. Key areas of work q co-ordinate compilation of current Education for Sustainable Development practice in Yorkshire &Humber q work with key partners to help develop and promote new regional ESD good practice partnerships q develop and implement the regional ESD communication and dissemination framework

Summary of Priority Actions 1. Establish a leadership for sustainable development programme. 2. Establish a Small and Medium Enterprises/student Learning Exchange programme with a sustainable development dimension. 3. Develop and promote compelling images of sustainable regional development. 4. Develop a regional sustainable development Indicator of the Month initiative. 5. Develop and promote sustainable development training opportunities for school teachers, teacher educators and school governors. 6. Promote sustainable development competence as an element of employability. 7. Develop and promote a series of IT-based, F&HE level Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) programmes targeted at key sectors. 8. Develop and promote Life Skills programmes for the socially excluded. 9. Establish programmes on key sustainable development issues in a range of new settings. Develop an ESD Strategy local authority sector guide. Establish a one-stop-shop for information on ESD good practice in the region.

Establish a region-wide Sustainable Development Volunteer Programme. Develop and promote a sustainable development management training programme for F&HE institution managers. Conduct research into the sustainable development implications of IT-based learning.

The ESD Strategy/Operational Plan in particular seeks to promote and help develop Yorkshire& Humber based ESD work focusing on one or more of the following priority areas: q innovative approaches to implementing the UK Government's ESD Panel Report (1998), UK Governments ESD Strategy (2003) and DfES Sustainable Development Action Plan for Education and Skills (2003). q ESD partnerships that feature innovative SD policy and practice under development in Yorkshire&Humber businesses and regeneration programmes. q active engagement of schools, further education and higher education institutions with local authorities, businesses, NGOs and other stakeholders involved in local/sub-regional SD partnerships within Yorkshire&Humber eg through Local Strategic Partnerships, Urban Regeneration Companies, Neighbourhood Renewal q ESD partnerships focusing on priority themes in the Yorkshire&Humber Regional Economic Strategy eg food and farming, energy/climate change, tourism q ESD partnerships that address social equity issues, with education activities that aim to simultaneously address the social, environmental and economic dimensions of ESD q ESD partnerships that address the concept of natural resource efficiency (the idea of doing much more with much less) q partnerships testing the potential of the internet to develop innovative and effective online ESD learning communities and resources q professional development of teachers and trainee teachers q whole-organisation practice within education institutions relating to issues such as reduction in waste and carbon dioxide emissions, increased use of renewable energy sources q evaluation/monitoring and approaches to effective dissemination of ESD good practice

For further information about Yorkshire & Humber Region ESD Strategy please contact: Craig Johnson Yorkshire & Humber Regional Co-ordinator Education for Sustainable Development Tel +44 (0)1756 700778 Email craig.johnson6@btinternet.com www.yorkshireandhumber.net/esd
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