European Foundation for Education and Sustainable Development

European ESD-Net

CEEE 2008 conference workshops

Workshop sessions

Here are details of the themes of the workshop sessions taking place during the conference.

 

First set of Workshop Sessions (Thursday 16^th October)

These workshops will focus on:

The transformative nature of environmental education

WS 1: Environmental education and personal development

Successful implementation of sustainable development depends on a personal commitment of individuals who contextualise sustainable principles in their lifestyles. Environmental education needs to focus primarily on the holistic development of the individual as a person. Contributions for this category should focus on initiatives that have promoted or explored the development of personal skills, attitudes and values related to sustainable living.

WS 2: Institutional change provoked by environmental education

Society is organised in a variety of institutions that guarantee the general wellbeing of the community by providing specific services. Institutional structures help ensure that this function is maintained. Consequently institutions tend to be conservative and reproduce values that may not be sustainable. Promoting sustainable development requires a transformation of the praxis and ideologies of institutions. Contributions for this category should focus on initiatives that have resulted in institutional change or have documented such developments.

WS 3: Community-based environmental education

The community is the site where the social dimension of sustainable development becomes particularly evident. Environmental education needs to cater for the various interests of the community and manage to focus them towards a common and mutually beneficial sustainable goal. Contributions for this category should present examples of programmes, projects and initiatives targeting communities and promoting sustainable lifestyles and decision making.

WS 4: The role of education for sustainable development in vocational education

The vocational sector is particularly important in any sustainable development discourse because it ensures the preparation of a work force that is at the basis of any economic development.  Therefore, environmental education programmes targeting this sector should aim to develop a work force that is knowledgeable about sustainable alternatives, equipped with the relevant skills required by sustainable technologies and having the attitudes and values that support sustainable decision making. Contributions for this category should focus on initiatives that have promoted or explored the development of similar initiatives.

Second set of Workshop Sessions (Friday 17^th October)

These workshops will focus on:

Empowering individuals and communities through environmental education

WS 1: Empowering children towards a sustainable society

In schools children are thought to conform to ‘accepted’ norms and consequently they are gradually moulded into accepting specific roles for the future. Environmental education considers children as citizens of today and sharing in the collective responsibility of making sustainable choices. Contributions for this category need to address initiatives promoting or exploring educational programmes intent in developing children who are actively involved in the decision making fora of their communities.

WS 2: Empowering citizens to participate in and be committed towards environmental decision making

Societal structures have overtly and covertly consented that decision making concerning development are entrusted to the nations’ authorities. Public consultation and participation was usually deemed as a waste of time and consequently not given due importance. However, relatively recent events have put on the forefront the need to actively involve citizens in the shaping of a sustainable future. Contributions for this category are expected to report, explore  or document environmental education programmes that have been developed to cater for this emergent need.

WS 3: Empowering disadvantaged and marginalised groups

Unsustainable practices have characteristically fostered inequalities in the economic, social and environmental spheres. The unsustainable use of resources has resulted in the impoverishment of regions and human communities resulting in stark economic contrasts between societies. These inequalities can be observed both on a macro scale (i.e. countries) and on a micro scale (i.e. communities). Contributions for this category are expected to address environmental education initiatives aimed at actively involving disadvantaged and marginalised groups in the development of their sustainable future.

 

The Free Market Session is a forum of exchange and presentation of posters, videos, CDs, projects, publications or any other material that may not fit neatly in the sessions of the Conference.