Description

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) aims to transform education globally by reorienting formal education and training systems to prioritize sustainable development. This approach seeks to enhance public awareness and understanding of the complex sustainability challenges humanity faces. Over time, various frameworks and programs have focused on ESD, with the most recent being the ESD for 2030 Roadmap (UNESCO, 2020). This roadmap highlights the transformative power of ESD as an essential component of quality education and a key enabler of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

The ESD for 2030 Roadmap, alongside the newly adopted Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development (UNESCO, 2023), focuses on how teaching and learning must evolve in the 21st century to promote lasting peace, reaffirm human rights, and advance sustainable development in response to contemporary threats and challenges. It provides clear guidance and recommendations for countries on educational principles, learning outcomes, and priority actions.

To support member states and partners in implementing the ESD for 2030 framework and the Agenda 2030, the project Transforming Futures: Enhancing Practice for ESD for 2030 through Action Research will generate evidence and technical guidance tools in critical areas of ESD and transformative education. The project will be carried out through the global ESD for 2030 Network (ESD-Net), engaging members such as UNESCO Chairs, higher education institutions, APE-Net institutions, and countries.

The development of guidance tools on key topics will be carried out through action research. In this process, selected institutions—including UNESCO Associated Schools (ASPNet), education planners, and practitioners in 11 countries (among them Slovenia) —will test and review the tools. In return, they will share their experiences, contribute evidence, and provide case studies. The project is generously supported by the Government of Japan.

This project seeks to strengthen the knowledge and capacity of institutions and individuals to transform practices that promote sustainability and quality education in alignment with the SDGs, with the focus on 1) whole-institution approaches in ESD, 2) transversal sustainability competencies and pedagogies, and 3) learning assessment for ESD. The project will empower education stakeholders, foster innovative teaching practices, and facilitate the integration of sustainability principles in educational institutions and systems.

This project is planned to be implemented in the following stages:

First stage: global Orientation Meeting for researchers and ASPnet representatives from 11 coutries was held in UNESCO HQ Paris. Slovenia was represented by dr. Gregor Torkar (UL) and Sara Remžar (ASPnet).

For more information about the implementation in Slovenia contact Gregor Torkar, gregor.torkar@pef.uni-lj.si