Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Vision for an education network for sustainable development in Western Australia. 

The Faculty of Natural & Agricultural Sciences at The University of Western Australia is very keen to work with others in the education sector to develop a network that supports education for sustainable development, and to link this network to the program operated by the United Nations.  This would be through the formation of a regional centre of expertise on education for alternative and sustainable futures within Western Australia.  It would be the first such United Nations endorsed centre in Australia. 

United Nations Education stresses the need to reorient existing education towards sustainable development.  This requires that values that motivate and encourage people to live sustainably within the limits of their environment are embedded in their everyday lives.  Education has a key role to play in fostering these values.  Thus, our vision for the RCE WA is to:

• engender a sustainable approach to social and economic development in Western Australia that takes full account of the impacts of these developments on the urban, rural and coastal environment
• provide local people with the knowledge and support needed to effect changes in their own lives by raising their awareness and understanding of sustainability and the need to protect the natural resource base.  A particular focus will be to work with young people on issues of environmental justice, social responsibility and stewardship
• to create the opportunity for every young person to experience a learning environment beyond the classroom as an essential part of learning and personal development, whatever their age, ability or circumstances
• contribute to regional development and economic regeneration
• ensure a sustained commitment to Education for Sustainable Development through a flexible management structure combined with a robust system of governance

We believe that the best way of delivering this vision is through a broad and inclusive partnership of regional stakeholders engaged in promoting the region’s future through new forms of education research.  The RCE will help realize this vision by providing a framework for strategic thinking and action on sustainability and stewardship of the region’s natural capital. 

This will be done by engaging with the diversity of education stakeholders in the region (both formal through schools, colleges and universities and also in collaboration with organizations involved in life-long learning such as museums, local volunteer groups etc).

The RCE will draw these different players together to share examples of good practice and to develop new initiatives in order to achieve our common aims.  The network we have now begun to establish combines current research with best practice and brings together educators, designers, business and the corporate sector, cultural practitioners, researchers, scientists, engineers, policy makers and young people from across Western Australia.

Please find attached some general information about the “Education for Sustainable Development” program conducted by the Institute of Advanced Studies at the United Nations University in Japan.