Learning for Change A workshop to explore new methods for effective sustainable development projects
Ahmedabad, India, 13–15 September 2011 “Two main components of learning for sustainable development are transformation and action competence. It thus transcends the mainstream theories, methods and tools used for awarenessraising and knowledge transfer”.
We are delighted to invite you to participate on the workshop “Learning for Change”. This initiative is a collaborative event between three partners: the Swedish International Centre of Education for Sustainable Development (SWEDESD) and Global Action Plan (GAP) International, both based in Sweden, and the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), based in India. The workshop will provide participants with space to reflect on their own experience, and to share experiences of managing ESD projects. Through a series of exercises they will explore different layers related to their own cases and projects; and will be encouraged and coached to develop new solutions in co-‐operation with other practitioners, formulating concrete follow-‐up plans. The workshop will thus lay the basis for a new platform for learning and action. Objectives The workshop has three main objectives: • To create conditions for participants to assess and learn from/for their projects • To enable participants to experience a new approach, tools and models, for (E)SD projects • To support ESD educators and other stakeholders in South Asia to adopt the new approach, tools and models within their own projects and as a working tool for ESD • To promote exchange and cooperation between practitioners and stakeholders, not least through strengthening the existing CEE network Methods The overall approach and method was originally developed by GAP International. The method engages the participants in intensive interaction and reflection based on their own experience, resulting in (social) learning, thus enhancing their capacity to continue their work with greater effectiveness and longer term impact. Participation Participation is by invitation. Candidates are invited from among environment and sustainability education practitioners in universities/colleges of education and ministries, school teachers and education managers, and NGOs. They should have experience with change-‐ and action-‐oriented education for sustainable development (ecological, social, and economic). A maximum of 30 participants
from South Asian countries will be supported. All participants will be asked to submit in advance a brief description of the project they will use as a case study. After the event the organizers, especially CEE, will stay in touch with the participants in order to determine to what extent they are able to transfer their learning into their actual work and life situations; and to use this experience to propose improvements to the methods and tools. There will also be an opportunity to exchange experience with participants from other workshops in the series (see below). All expenses for supported participants will be covered by the organizers for the duration of the workshop, including round trip ticket, workshop materials and accommodation. Accommodation will be modest and participants should be prepared to share a room. A series of events 4–6 November 2009: SWEDESD and GAP International organized the “Pedagogy for Sustainable Development – Using the Pattern Laboratory Approach” workshop in Visby, Sweden. It attracted 53 participants from 25 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.. 26–27 April 2010: Hanoi National University of Education together with Action for the City, Vietnam and GAP International held an event in Hanoi with ESD practitioners and researchers from Vietnam. 19–22 October 2010: CEREPROD, Hanoi National University of Education, and Action for the City, Vietnam together with GAP International and SWEDESD organised a workshop in Halong Bay to support ESD educators, researchers and other stakeholders in ASEAN countries to engage with the new approaches and methods for ESD project review, and to look for ways to support each other. 29–31 March 2011: SADC REEP together with SWEDESD and GAP International organized a workshop in Howick, South Africa to support Regional Centres of Expertise, teacher educators and other stakeholders in East and Southern Africa to engage with the new approaches and methods in order to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of their projects. The success of these workshops led to the decision to organize another workshop for the South Asia region. Networking among participants and other educators in South Asia is expected to be strengthened as a consequence of the workshop.