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Perspectives on higher education for sustainable
development: transformation for sustainability
Zinaida Fadeeva, United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies
R apid changes at all levels and pressing local and global
sustainability issues require rethinking of how knowl-
edge is generated, transmitted and utilized and how
future decision makers and professionals are trained to address
the compound challenges of sustainable development. As intellec-
tual leaders and major contributors to the capacity development
required for global transition to sustainability, institutions of
higher education are expected to respond strongly and holisti-
cally to societal challenges. In order to do so, they must embark
on the daunting task of transforming themselves and bringing
about desired changes to society at large. The United Nations
University (UNU) has responded to the UN Decade of Education
for Sustainable Development (DESD) by launching international
networks designed to strengthen the role of institutions of higher
education in sustainable development and education for sustain-
able development (ESD), as well as developing postgraduate
programmes in these subjects and other related fields.
Creating higher education for sustainable development (HESD)
networks
The ESD Programme of the UNU Institute of Advanced Studies
(UNU-IAS) fosters the involvement of academia globally in applied
research, education and continued learning to resolve the press-
ing global problems that are the concern of the United
Nations and its Member States.
This work is carried out by:
• The network for Promotion of Sustainability in
Postgraduate Education and Research )1
• The Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for
Sustainable Development (RCEs).2
is an academic consortium for ESD that
was launched in 2008 to reorient postgraduate education
and research in the universities of Asia-Pacific towards
more sustainable development. Currently 21 members
strong and growing, the network brings together leading
universities from the Asia-Pacific region that have signif-
icant education and research programmes in sustainable
development and related fields.
Working closely with a number of important part-
ners – the Ministry of the Environment of Japan, UNEP
Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific,
UNESCO Bangkok (Asia-Pacific Regional Office) and
the Institute for Global Environment Strategies (IGES)
– serves as a platform for collaboration
among its members and other ESD actors, regionally
and globally.
Launching Ceremony of under the auspices of UNU-IAS, Hokkaido University, Japan, 21 June 2008
Image: UNU-IAS