An intensive programme on education for sustainable development: the participants’ experience

Abstract

This paper presents the framework of an intensive programme (IP) organised by UNESCO and addressed to young graduate professionals to prepare them for a career in fields related to sustainability. The aims of the IP were to address participants’ environmental awareness and to develop attitudes and skills related to environmental planning and management. This paper focuses on the methodological aspects of the educational activities and on the setting in which the activities were delivered. Teaching methods based on a learner-centred approach were used in the training. During the activities, 17 participants were provided the opportunity to experience various aspects of environmental integration and sustainability principles in key sectors of planning procedures in the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park (Croatia). The activities were evaluated using quantitative and qualitative tools such as the environmental education questionnaire, the training quality and involvement questionnaire and two focus groups with participants. The results showed the relevance of the setting and the methods applied to develop environmental awareness and skills related to managing sustainability issues. Implications for future research about educational programmes based on the development of sustainability principles are discussed.

Keywords:

• education for sustainable development (ESD)
• education awareness
• professional development
• UNESCO
• learner-centred approach
• intensive programme

Acknowledgements

This work has been developed within the framework of the project ‘Environmental Education for Sustainable Development – A regional training project scheme for the Adriatic–Ionian Basin’, which was financed by the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and implemented by UNESCO Venice Office – Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, in cooperation with the University of Bologna ‘Institute for Central, Eastern and Balkan Europe’ and the University of Sarajevo ‘Regional Education and Information Centre’ (REIC). I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following colleagues for their invaluable guidance and advice: Philippe Pypaert, UNESCO Venice Office – Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe; Giorgio Andrian, expert; Aleksandar Knezevic, Sarajevo University and President of REIC, Azrudin Husika, Director of REIC, Luigi Bruzzi and Francesco Privitera, Institute for Central, Eastern and Balkan Europe, Goran Gugic, Director of the Nature Park Lonjsko Polje. Another thank to the professors and assistants and to all the staff and collaborators that make the IP possible.

Notes

1. The tentative list is a list of the properties which each state intends to consider for nomination in the UNESCO world heritage list.