scholarly journals Regional case study of Sustainable Development Goals implementation: Informal education and third mission of universities

2020 ◽  
Vol 169 ◽  
pp. 05005
Author(s):  
Sayana Vologzhina ◽  
Natalya Ryazanova ◽  
Vasily Eroshenko

The aim of the study is to introduce practical experience and explore the possibilities of sustainable development ideology in the region and to involve youth activists in international processes of regional reflection. Objectives: research of possibilities of youth organizations and universities in realization of non-formal education for overcoming environmental problems in the region; development of practical experience in realization of environmental education for sustainable development (ESD); development of pedagogical technology for non-formal work; creation of pedagogical model of interaction of different segments of youth organizations. Methodology: creation of the World Water Forum youth model. Work directions: adaptation of the international agenda to the regional one (Baikal region) and creation of the pedagogical model of practice-oriented work of youth communities for implementation of the third mission of HEIs. Regional ministries, youth government of Irkutsk region, colleges and universities of the region were involved in the model development. As a result of the thematic groups’ work, an inventory of the region’s problems was made by the activities of each working group; lists of the most promising areas of work to improve the environmental and social situation in the region were compiled; and road maps to achieve the set goals for up to 5 years were developed.

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 94-108
Author(s):  
Martin Brestovanský ◽  
Janette Gubricová ◽  
Kristína Liberčanová ◽  
Naďa Bizová ◽  
Zuzana Geršicová

AbstractIntroduction: The aim of the study was to find out what is the understanding of relatively new terms coming into the cultures of Middle-European countries – inclusion, diversity, and equality (hereinafter referred to as IDE) – from the point of view of young people (n=30) and youth workers (n=16) in Slovakia.Methods: For data gathering, we used a method of focus groups (4 meetings). Data analysis was based on three criteria: consistency in understanding the terms, an overview of types of obstacles that keep young people from self-realisation and an explicit or implicit expression of understanding the basic principles of inclusion in education. The content of IDE terms was mostly from the area of the social field. The term diversity was closely explained in the psychological-personal fields.Results: The most frequent obstacles for applying IDE approaches were seen in the social, health and religious spheres. From the pedagogical and methodological point of view, the problem is also in the difficulty of preparing the projects based on the principles of IDE while the youth workers proclaim autonomy in solutions and do not trust the possibilities of using general methods because of specific need resulting from the specific context of their work. Also, they proclaim natural applying of the IDE principles and the existence of specific needs in the informal education does not represent any problem for the inclusion of the group members in the activities of the organisation.Limitations: Work with youth is very varied. Performs in different areas of life and also involves working with different groups of young people. The selected research sample consists of youth and youth workers who are only a partial sample of the sample. It is assumed that in a larger group of respondents (both youth workers and youths themselves), respondents' views may differ somewhat in some of the areas studied.Conclusions: This research provides information on understanding, implementation and obstacles to applying the principles of inclusion, equality and diversity in practice. We believe that the information we receive is very valuable as it opens the imaginative door to the specific kitchens of individual youth organizations where these principles are directly implemented. They show their nature of application in practice, they suggest some risks, as well as a certain bias towards the application of the terms emerging (probably?) from theory. As can be seen from the results of our research, the emergence of specific needs in non-formal education in practice does not pose a problem in the inclusion of group members in leisure activities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Anthoula Maidou ◽  
Katerina Plakitsi ◽  
Hariton M. Polatoglou

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is an important issue for the education of students worldwide becauseit offers knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary to ensure a sustainable future for humanity at local andglobal levels, which is nowadays becoming critical. The decade 2005-2014 called ‘Decade of ESD’ was an initiativeby the United Nations to promote ESD worldwide, followed currently by the Agenda 2030. ESD should be anongoing subject for students in formal and informal education, at all educational levels, and in life-long learningprograms, starting with early childhood education. This paper reports on the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes ofpre-service early childhood teachers of the University of Ioannina, Greece, on ESD using a quantitative approachutilizing a questionnaire. Our findings showed that most pre-service teachers had knowledge on environmentalaspects but did not consider societal and financial matters to be aspects of ESD. Furthermore, most students hadnever ESD lessons during their formal education. Our findings depict that pre-service students believe that ESD is animportant issue, that it should be included in the curricula and that lessons on EDS during their studies woulddevelop their ability to teach ESD to their students.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-151
Author(s):  
Fumiko Noguchi

The UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005–2014) aimed to take a socially critical and transformative approach to ESD through all forms of education. Unfortunately, it mainly focused on formal education and overlooked the informal education that is embedded in the community development process of tackling unsustainable problems in real life, especially from the perspectives of marginalized people. Besides the political and economic pressures that cause the gap, current theorizing in ESD, which draws from critical theory, focuses predominantly on formal education or schooling contexts. It offers little guidance on appropriate pedagogical practice in community development. Theorizing informal education for sustainable community development is needed to support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, and decoloniality is a potential theoretical approach to this issue.


2020 ◽  
Vol 169 ◽  
pp. 05002
Author(s):  
Natalya Ryazanova ◽  
Vladimir Naumov ◽  
Natalia Kamennykh

The aim of the study is to study approaches to localization of the topic of SDG in higher education in Russia and some tracks for implementation of environmental education for sustainable development (EESD). The objectives were: to formulate a goal setting for each of the approaches; to develop a methodology for the introduction of the SDG ideology into EESD; to implement the personal and collective role of research team members in working on the project; to create effective collaborations and introduce an interdisciplinary approach; to be able to present the results obtained in a visual and analytical form; to expand the professional outlook of environmentalists, to form a worldview based on the development of competencies for sustainable development. The research methodology in formal education was based on the hypothesis that modern environmental education should be based on the triad of SDG clusters, and all didactic units of university programs should be filled with this ideology. The information approach was implemented through the introduction of project laboratory technologies, case studies and youth models. Strategically, the higher education institutions participating in the experiment developed a methodology for tracking higher education for sustainable development and introduced methods for working with the subjects of SDG.


Author(s):  
Nijole Jurksaitiene ◽  
Laima Markeviciene ◽  
Donatas Misiunas

In Lithuania, as well as all over the world in developed countries, the society is starting to become a new kind of the information society. Under modern conditions it is increased the role of educated personality, personality capable of not only absorb the previously accumulated knowledge, but also to summarize, analyze, develop new and innovative ideas, information technologies, services and products. Implementing the EU common agricultural and rural development policy and adapting it to the local conditions, special attention must be paid to the qualitative aspects of human capital and education. Environment protection problems are deeply rooted in. The extensive agricultural policy of EU is in active formation process as a serious counterweight and feasible alternative to intensive, almost industrial farming [1]. According to this policy, farmers are supported for reducing negative impact on the environment and fostering an attractive landscape; therefore it is important to develop professional qualification. It is possible to distinguish three forms of education in formation of farmers' human resources: formal, non-formal and informal learning [2]. Formal education takes place in accordance with the statutory procedure, approved and registered training programs witch lead to the acquisition of a primary, secondary, or higher non-university education and qualifications. Non-formal education is learning through a range of educational needs, training, and acquisition of additional skills. It typically involves workshops, community or interest based courses, conference style seminars. Informal education is continuous self-learning, based on the person gaining knowledge from various sources and practical experience. Non-formal and informal education is relevant to farmers who already have some formal education and seek to continually enhance and update their knowledge. Professional development is important to the farmer during all the farming period. The paper deals with environment protection competencies and qualification development gained during non-formal education course of farming basics. The study found out environment protection motivation and tendencies of knowledge use in practical activities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 8733
Author(s):  
Gisela Cebrián ◽  
Mercè Junyent ◽  
Ingrid Mulà

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development reflects the urgency to embed the principles of education for sustainable development (ESD) into all levels of education. ESD, understood as an integral part of quality education and where all educational institutions, from preschool to higher education and in non-formal and informal education, can and should foster the development of sustainability competencies. This Special Issue entitled “Competencies in Education for Sustainable Development II” responds to this urgency and the papers presented deliver recent developments in the field of sustainability and ESD competencies. They focus on various perspectives: systematic literature reviews and conceptual contributions; curriculum developments and pedagogical approaches to explore competencies’ development, such as action research, serious games, augmented reality, multi-course project-based learning and group model building processes; testing and validation of assessment tools and processes for linking sustainability competencies to employability and quality assurance processes. The contributions show how the field of sustainability and ESD competencies has become a major focus in recent years and present emerging research developments. Further research efforts need to be put into operationalizing sustainability competencies and developing tools that help measure and assess students’ and educators’ competencies development.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (02) ◽  
pp. 285-292
Author(s):  
Tara M. McLane ◽  
Robert Hoyt ◽  
Chad Hodge ◽  
Elizabeth Weinfurter ◽  
Erin E. Reardon ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives To describe the education, experience, skills, and knowledge required for health informatics jobs in the United States. Methods Health informatics job postings (n = 206) from Indeed.com on April 14, 2020 were analyzed in an empirical analysis, with the abstraction of attributes relating to requirements for average years and types of experience, minimum and desired education, licensure, certification, and informatics skills. Results A large percentage (76.2%) of posts were for clinical informaticians, with 62.1% of posts requiring a minimum of a bachelor's education. Registered nurse (RN) licensure was required for 40.8% of posts, and only 7.3% required formal education in health informatics. The average experience overall was 1.6 years (standard deviation = 2.2), with bachelor's and master's education levels increasing mean experience to 3.5 and 5.8 years, respectively. Electronic health record support, training, and other clinical systems were the most sought-after skills. Conclusion This cross-sectional study revealed the importance of a clinical background as an entree into health informatics positions, with RN licensure and clinical experience as common requirements. The finding that informatics-specific graduate education was rarely required may indicate that there is a lack of alignment between academia and industry, with practical experience preferred over specific curricular components. Clarity and shared understanding of terms across academia and industry are needed for defining and advancing the preparation for and practice of health informatics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 8790
Author(s):  
Macarena Valenzuela-Zubiaur ◽  
Héctor Torres Bustos ◽  
Mónica Arroyo-Vázquez ◽  
Pablo Ferrer-Gisbert

Fab Labs as manufacturing laboratories that stimulate innovation and collaboration are nowadays proliferating within universities. Given the new social challenges, framed within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), we formulate the following research question: Are Fab Labs an effective tool for the promotion of social innovation from universities? To answer this question, a mixed analysis has been carried out focusing on the case of ProteinLab UTEM. The approach aims to generate a model for the promotion of social innovation from universities through Fab Labs, linking the quadruple helix actors. The objective of this model is to show how Fab Labs can become an effective instrument to promote social innovation from universities. The contribution of this article lies in linking Fab Labs with social innovation through the university’s third mission. Our approach considers Fab Labs as an instrument for the development of social innovations within the university, which contribute, through the third mission, to the social and sustainable development of its environment. As a result of this research, a model is presented for the development of social innovation from universities through Fab Labs. Our research concludes that Fab Labs are an effective instrument for the promotion of social innovation from universities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Meghna Tare

In 2003, in response to the United Nations (UN) Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, the United Nations University (UNU) Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability launched a global multi-stakeholder network of Regional Centers of Expertise (RCEs) on education for sustainable development (ESD). RCEs facilitate multi-sector collaboration and utilize formal, non-formal, and informal education to address sustainable development challenges in local and regional communities. In essence, RCEs are a tool for transformation to a more sustainable society, combining education and action for sustainable development. As we enter the new "ESD for 2030" decade, RCEs will continue to construct platforms for cross-sectoral dialogue between regional stakeholders and actors to promote and strengthen ESD at the local level. RCEs have committed to helping advance the five priority areas of action established in the Global Action Program on ESD and the new UN decade "ESD for 2030": advancing policy by mainstreaming ESD, transforming learning and training environments using whole-institution approaches, building capacities of educators and trainers, empowering and mobilizing youth, and accelerating sustainable solutions at the local level. RCEs are uniquely positioned to serve as shepherds in the realization of the new "ESD for 2030" decade. As of January 2019, 174 RCEs have officially been acknowledged by UNU worldwide, with eight RCEs in the United States: Georgetown, South Carolina; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Greater Atlanta, Georgia; Greater Burlington, Vermont; Greater Portland, Oregon; North Texas, Texas; Salisbury, Maryland; and Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. RCEs serve an essential role in the achievement of "ESD for 2030" goals by translating global objectives into the local contexts of our communities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktoriia V. Sydorenko ◽  
Alla B. Popova ◽  
Nataliia L. Rehesha ◽  
Oksana O. Sinenko ◽  
Olha I. Trynko

The article thoroughly describes the competency-oriented models of professional self-improvement and self-realization of teachers in terms of sustainable development. The educational and methodical support of professional development of teachers for lifelong learning through formal, non-formal and informal education according to innovative competence-oriented models of professional development has been developed and experimentally tested. The results of the study can be used in the process of modernization of the national education system, in particular in the activities of educational and methodological centers of vocational education in the development of curricula, educational programs, qualification requirements for professional activities of teachers, innovative teaching and methodological support.


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