FORUM № 3
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT OF SD PROCESSES IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND REGIONS
Goals:
Identification and discussion of problems, approaches, methods and tools for the integration of educational practices and developing regional processes to ensure sustainable development.
Discussion subjects:
Examples of initiatives for SD in Belarus:
— The activities of the science shop in Berezovsky and Shchuchinsky districts, which allowed to achieve visible results during the year;
— Project "Promotion of employment and self-employment in small and medium cities in Belarus";
— The concept of sustainable mobility in Novopolotsk, aimed at creating a new look and modernisation of the transportation
system;
— Vitebsk is the first Learning City in Belarus;
— Participation of the representative of Belarus in the international project PROJECT HUMANITY;
— The Green Schools Project in Belarus, which is improving and strengthening its position, including the support of the authorities.
Foreign Examples:
— European project BIG PICNIC, aimed at ensuring food security;
— The activities of the RCE Warsaw Agglomeration in the framework of inter-sectoral cooperation with scientific institutions, authorities, National Park and public organisations;
— Inter-Faculty Studies in Environmental Protection, implemented by the University Center for Environmental Studies and SD at the University of Warsaw, as well as the creation of a new master's program Sustainable Development.
Identified problems:
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The main problem of the implementation activities aimed at sustainable development in the regions is ignorance, lack of awareness of the local community;
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The development of entrepreneurship in the Belarusian regions is faced with the problems with lack of personnel for the implementation of business projects, as well as lack of initiative and conservatism of the local community in the matter of employment;
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Young people are leaving the regions due to lack of jobs, lack of leisure and entertainment facilities, and social infrastructure for a young families (kindergartens / schools / clinics);
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Regions do not have sufficient competencies to effectively implement SD;
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Implementation of the initiatives and goals for SD is mainly provided by a narrow interested group of people;
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International educational initiatives are dependent on state decisions, which makes impossible for them to be a voluntary part of the global network.
Conclusions:
Kseniya Zhuraukova,
UCBS University of Warsaw
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The main goal of the regional development methodology is to stop the outflow of the working-age population from the periphery and abroad.
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European models of the development of initiatives should be adapted to the Belarusian political, economic and sociomental system.
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Implementing projects in the interests of SD requires extensive promotion to raise public awareness about SD and the influx of new groups interested in SD.
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Small initiatives aimed at solving narrow local problems are able to move to the highest level and unite into regional initiatives covering several villages /district(-s) /region.
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In education for SD, one of the most important tools is the “self-education” of society, when project participants and concept supporters teach the environment acquired knowledge.
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The concept “equal teaches equal” is outdated, and different generations are able to teach each other in aspects which each age group has more experience and knowledge.
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ESD should have a complex, interdisciplinary context and be implemented continuously, throughout life, in formal and informalways for all ages and social groups.
Activation of community initiatives and potential of local communities
Possibility of using foreign models for the development of SD initiatives in Belarus
Science shop as a tool for networking between education and local communities
Development of enterprise as a driver of peoples and regions’ economic sustainability
The role of the university in achieving SDGs in developing regions
Ways to ensure food security through responsible researchers and innovations
Sustainable mobility and measures of educational institutions for its development and dissemination
Inclusive education and creative economy for improvements the quality of life