Event Summary: #WeChampion Greening Education Systems through Partnerships
On January 31, 2023, Mission 4.7 hosted an official side event of the UN 2023 ECOSOC Partnership Forum titled “#WeChampion Greening Education Systems through Partnerships.”
The virtual side event included representatives of all Mission 4.7 founding institutions, as well as mission-aligned “Friends of Mission 4.7” such as The Red Door, Mahashakti Seva Kendra, Education for Sharing, and The World’s Largest Lesson. This convening was designed to champion UNESCO’s Greening Education Partnership. The panel explored the types and levels of partnerships required for Greening Education including those through the lens of intersectionality, gender norms, civic-participation, local governance and school support systems.
The webinar focused on UNESCO’s Greening Education Partnership and touched upon its four pillars: Greening schools, Greening learning, Greening capacity and readiness and Greening Communities. Acknowledging the fact that meeting this goal requires partnerships, deliberations and collaborations, the panel gave a flavor of how this can happen to boost SDG 4.7.
The webinar reflected on various ways in which ESD and the SDGs can enter K-12 classrooms and Higher Education. The workshop was true to the vision of SDG 4.7, which includes Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship Education. Facilitators and speakers discussed the potential of experiential- learning and play-based methods in the delivery of ESD in formal classrooms. For a lifelong learning approach, panelists shared resources and case studies on ESD and dwelt on the aspirations and needs of young individuals.
Recommendations
The main outcome of the discussion was to reiterate that true green partnerships are required for greening education. No one organization can deliver this transformation. Therefore, non-profits, Higher Education Institutions, community-based organizations, and think tanks need to form coalitions and networks to push the greening education agenda forward.
Partnerships between government, NGO and educators can deliver playful interactive learning that helps K-6 learners identify the ways they can reduce their impact on our planet’s resources. Education for Sharing demonstrated this through an interactive game.
Education should not be limited to schools and classrooms alone, involving families and the wider community in a focus on local sustainable development.
Supporting educator capacity with creative resources and networks that enable peer exchange helps educators develop appropriate approaches for their context yet feel connected to a wider mission.
Rethink pedagogy so that it is student-driven and focused rather than syllabus focused.
Understanding the needs of the students and incorporating Social-Emotional Learning (focus of The Red Door) in all aspects of learning should be a part of learning at all ages.
Education for Sustainable Development can be delivered through a continuum, both formally and non formally and over time. Online programs, like the Masters in Development Practice, provide an opportunity for free, organized classes that can be taken globally by mid-career professionals.
Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship Education are two sides of the same coin to achieve quality education, to foster community action and taking care of each other with a global citizen mindset. Courses, as well as scholarships and mentorships offered for young people and aspiring changemakers by the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, help to bridge this gap.
Non-profits and social enterprises like Mahashakti Seva Kendra play a role in ESD and should be considered by the formal education system to educate on the environment and support green livelihoods.
A suggested framework is given below.
Watch the session below or on YouTube.