THE SUSTAINABLE PROJECT

Sustainable transition(s) (covering social, economic, political, and educational dimensions) is a world-wide challenge. Since this transition concerns all dimension of our modern life, the answer to these challenges should be holistic and global. It’s crucial “to understand” before “acting”, that’s why we think that sustainable transition(s) is also a question of education.

Education contributes to the development of a culture of change and sustainability, creating the background for effective sustainable transition actions. A human rights-based approach to adult learning and education (ALE) aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is one of our aims.

Education for Sustainability and Education for Sustainable Development have been under discussion for some two decades. The UN Decade for Education for Sustainable Development 2004–2014 has provided a most important focus for this issue, and for its facilitation. However, while the Decade raised awareness of the need for Education to Sustainable Development, particularly in Higher Education, discussion of how this education can be effectively delivered to trainees in adult education settings is still at an initial phase.

Sustainability is a main concern of the EU explicitly expressed in its communication to the European parliament, the European Council , the European economic and social committee and the Committee of 11.12.2019 – COM(2019)/640, the EU said: ” …The European Green Deal is a response to these challenges. It is a new growth strategy that aims to transform the EU into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050 and where economic growth is decoupled from resource use“, The EU said also: “It also aims to protect, conserve and enhance the EU’s natural capital, and protect the health and well-being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts. At the same time, this transition must be just and inclusive.” concluding that “The EU has the collective ability to transform its economy and society to put it on a more sustainable path.”

Although sustainability has become a key focus in higher education, developing a better understanding of how sustainability competencies can be cultivated in college and university courses and programs in adult training settings is still needed. Adult trainers who are to become capable of affecting holistic sustainable change, transforming values and culture, healing the earth and human communities, and designing creative solutions, must have the opportunity to engage in learning processes that reflect and emphasise these learning outcomes/objectives.

Adult educators and teachers can play a central role in providing learners with knowledge and practical information to help them understand the challenges and act as active citizens in their local communities, individually or collectively. We believe that Transformative learning theory and ecological design principles offer promising opportunities to create meaningful learning experiences that can develop the personal, intellectual, and socio-cultural skills necessary to create resilient and regenerative systems.

SUSTAINABLE partners noticed that changing our ways of producing and consuming is notoriously difficult, but believing that education is a powerful tool in empowering individual and groups, boosting voluntary action and helping people and organisations through the transition so they understand and enhance sustainability in Everyday life.

The following Intellectual Outputs will be developed:

IO1 – LET’S UNDERSTAND: a guide on sustainable topics education including climate change, theoretical background and more (addressed to trainers/teachers/counsellors…)

IO2 – LET’S PLAN IT: guide step by step to make training green addressed to trainers/teachers/counsellors to improve awareness about green topics by trainers starting from their personal life and going to their professional life. A quick and effective guide about good/bad habits/behaviours with effects on the environment in the training settings and in work areas, and how to design effective training contents to counter them.

IO3 – LET’S BE PRACTICAL: Curricula, tools, methods, and training materials on green topics to teach/train our target groups. The materials could be adapted to each national context according to the needs.

IO4 – E-education Hub addressed mainly to the trainers/teachers including the above IOs’ contents and more, to raise awareness and develop knowledge on different elements related with Sustainability and SDGs.

The partnership is composed by: