Tomorrow Today

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tions. There are plans to hold annual researchers’ schools in different

regions, with the first hosted by the RMIT International University

Viet Nam (RMIT Viet Nam) in 2010. It is hoped that

ProSPER.Net

will contribute to the creation of a network of sustainability scholars

and professionals representing biophysical sciences, social sciences

and humanities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Capacity development of policymakers

Policymakers are among the stakeholders who are particularly significant

for HESD efforts. Member universities of

ProSPER.Net

have agreed to

engage with capacity development of policymakers in the Asia-Pacific

region to empower them to link science, policy and economics, to

practise sustainable development and to become inclusive thinkers. A

multidisciplinary online programme, hosted by TERI University (India)

and supported by the expertise of other

ProSPER.Net

member universi-

ties, brings together, in a virtual space, participants representing different

levels of governments from more than a dozen countries in the Asia-

Pacific region. Participants completing all modules will be awarded a

Diploma in Sustainable Development Practices in Public Policy.

Leading local partnerships for ESD: university-community

collaboration

Many RCEs around the world have universities as their leading

members. In fact, including at least one local higher education insti-

tution as a network partner is a prerequisite for acknowledgement as

an RCE. This requirement is based on the UNU’s belief that stronger

engagement of higher education institutions with other societal

stakeholders creates a fertile ground where important transbound-

ary (transdisciplinary, cross-sectoral and intergenerational) learning

and actions will take place. Many RCEs show a remarkable degree

of collaboration between universities and communities for ESD and

sustainable development.

For example, Rhodes University, which holds the secretariat of RCE

Makana and Rural Western Cape (South Africa), initiated a number

of community-based, grassroots and participatory projects. Its faculty

of education, in collaboration with the local municipality, the Adult

Basic Education Training Centre and the Institute

for Water Research, established a workplace learning

research programme in the context of service delivery

and sustainable development programmes and projects.

Three universities that are members of the RCE

Saskatchewan (Canada) facilitated the reframing of ques-

tions regarding the possibility of building a nuclear

power plant for inclusion in the broader discussion of

Saskatchewan’s energy future. Subsequently, they were able

to provide an input to the question of how the government

can best meet the energy needs of the province through

actions that include energy conservation, renewable energy

generation, energy storage and upgrading to smart-grid

technology. Input to the long-termenergy planning strategy

was provided froman interdisciplinary perspective andwith

contributions from other regional partners.

University Sains Malaysia (USM) – the facilitator of

the RCE Penang (Malaysia) – has initiated a Malaysian

Citizenship Project that aims at enabling high schools

to address sustainable development challenges in

their vicinities. In consultation with the authori-

ties relevant to particular challenges (such as the city

council, members of parliament, health agencies and

environmental agencies of the districts), the students

analysed the problems and developed possible solu-

tions. Beginning with the schools in the home region

of Penang, the USM faculty facilitated engagement of

students from at least 120 secondary schools from five

different states in Malaysia.

In 2007, the University of Graz (Austria) initiated the

RCEGraz-Styria to enhance cooperation between university

and society, together with regional partners such as NGOs,

schools and public institutions. Projects undertaken by this

RCE include the development of a sustainability trail in

cooperation with students and a youth centre; an intergen-

erational course focusing on sustainability processes, which

Signboard on Water Resources, Sustainability Trail, Trofaiach, RCE Graz-Styria