Application Summary RCE Candidate Skane

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1 Application Summary RCE Candidate Skane Geographical scope and major characteristics of the Region The RCE Skane covers the geographical area of Skåne, which is Sweden s southernmost region covering km 2 and with 1 M inhabitants (13% of Sweden s population on 2.5% of its land area). Skåne is a well-defined and strategically positioned border region between central Europe, Scandinavia and the Baltic. The region has a strong sense of identity, but through the ages has belonged to both Denmark and Sweden and has been subject to many external influences. Nowadays, Skåne is characterised by new influences thorough regional development, and while it is a multi-cultural part of the new dynamic Öresund Region, at the same time it is a region in its own right with strong traditional links and roots within Sweden. Skåne is currently one of four pilot regions in Sweden for regional self-governance. The County Council, Region Skåne is a political organisation and this regional parliament consists of 149 elected members. The whole region have been mobilised in creating a Regional Development Policy Programme which is the overall platform for Regional Development in Skåne. This programme has been developed in collaboration with Skåne s 33 municipalities, the public authorities, business, universities and other stakeholders of the region. In order to realize this vision the Development Programme has four development objectives growth, attractiveness, sustainability and balance. Lund is Sweden s oldest city with long established ecclesiastic and university life. The City of Lund has inhabitants and in addition to the actual city, includes a rural hinterland and smaller towns and villages in its administrative area. The City of Lund was awarded the title of Best Schools in Sweden in 2004 and has been a leader in various areas such as developing outdoor teaching and environmental education. The City of Malmö is Skåne s largest city and the third largest in Sweden with a population of Malmö is also an old city which has been dramatically transformed during recent decades from a Swedish industrial town to a multi-cultural European city in a dynamic transboundary region. 1

2 Major sustainable development challenges of the Region 1. From an ecological perspective, Skåne must reduce its local and global impact on the environment. Certain areas of priority in which it is critical to develop sustainable systems and solutions are energy, transport, agriculture, consumption and urban development. 2. From a social perspective, the region must work toward ethnic integration, a lower unemployment rate and gender equality. 3. From an economic perspective, the region must work toward a sustainable economic development, in the context of products and services, in an environmentally and socially sound manner. Research, new innovations and product development are crucial in order to be competitive. Process of RCE development and key institutions involved Process of RCE development Initially, the effort to establish a RCE in Skane began in the autumn of 2005 following a meeting between the State secretary Mr. Carl Lindberg, and representatives from Malmö University, the City of Malmö, Lund University, the City of Lund and Region Skåne. Members from these organisations started a working group to initiate and establish a cooperation on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Skåne and furthermore, to write an application to UNU on becoming an RCE. Since February 2006, this working group has had regular meetings, organised a conference and have made two valuable study visits to RCE Rhine-Meuse to discuss, observe and study their RCE. During 2006 the coordinator has, on several occasions, given information to various stakeholders at seminars, conferences and local meetings. The working group for RCE Candidate Skane has arranged a conference, which will take place 15 November. Many different organisations from the region have been invited and it is intended to present RCE Candidate Skane and discuss how future cooperation on ESD can be developed within different areas of interest. The process of development is dependant on the rapidity of the extension of actors and organisations involved in RCE Skane. The RCE strategy is to work in an inclusive manner and to endeavour to make it possible for small actors as well as bigger organisations to evolve partnership within the RCE Skane. Key institutions involved The RCE Skane is organised primarily as a regional partnership between Malmö University, the City of Malmö, the City of Lund, Lund University and Region Skåne. Additional partners will be included at a later date. There is an established partnership with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Alnarp, Kristianstad University, the Biosphere Reserve in Kristianstad and several NGOs in the region. These are but a few of the important potential future partners in the RCE Skane. 2

3 RCE vision, short-term and long-term objectives Vision The common vision is to make Skåne a leading example for the rest of Sweden, Scandinavia, the Baltic region and the world, on how to deliver education for sustainable development (ESD) at all levels and in accordance with the ambitions of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD). The RCE Skane will contribute to the empowerment of people of all ages in the region to assume responsibility for creating a better tomorrow and a sustainable future. It is also envisioned that the RCE Skane will become a catalyst in strengthening those who are currently striving for sustainable development in the region, and act as a platform for partnerships with other parts of the world. Objectives The RCE Skane will focus on the following objectives to meet the common goal: 1. To act as a base for ESD in the region. The centre will coordinate different activities to promote synergies between different actors, organise networks and different educational activities. 2. To continuously survey and document the progress of ongoing activities on ESD in the region, to identify the needs and challenges within the area and find solutions using available knowledge and resources. 3. Support the Swedish National Agency for School Improvement in developing and implementing national targets and to introduce ESD in the curriculum by promoting the status of School for Sustainable Development. 4. Develop a common platform for research on and about ESD in the region and strengthen the links between the research and the community. 5. Act as a facilitator between different educational bodies, such as adult education, public education and higher education, to implement the idea of ESD on a broad level. 6. To build up thematic partnerships in various areas that are essential for the region. Governance/management structure of the RCE A working group for the RCE Skane has been established and meetings have been held on a monthly basis since February Dr. Kerstin Sonesson is acting as the co-ordinator of the group and a co-ordinating office for the RCE Skane will be established as the activities commence. Dr. Harriet Axelsson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Malmö University will be the chair of the steering committee. In addition to the chair the steering committee will include the members from the following organizations: Region Skåne City of Malmö City of Lund Lund University Dr. Kerstin Sonesson, the coordinator for RCE Candidate Skane, will also take part in meetings held by the steering committee. 3

4 Collaboration among stakeholders The members of the steering committee are in higher positions, as mayors and managers, in their respectively organisations. As the local municipalities run the Swedish formal school and the local politics are in charge of the economy and organisation of the schools (on a municipality level), the link between the steering committee, the working group and the schools is guaranteed in all education sectors. All levels of formal education primary, secondary and higher education, as well as non-formal education will be involved in RCE Skane. Short-term, long-term resource arrangements The five organisations involved in RCE Candidate Skane have plans on a funding scheme of a common coordinator, coordinators within each organisation, as well as initial funding networking and other RCE activities. A document describing the partnership, the aims and the objectives of RCE Skane, in a short-term as well as in a longer-term, is currently being prepared. All the present members of RCE Candidate Skane are important actors on ESD in Skane and this fact will hopefully guaranty a long-term funding. On-going and planned activities Transformative education One aim of creating a RCE Skane is the mobilisation for ESD in Skåne. In October 2005 the Teacher Education program at Malmö University and the Swedish National Agency for School Improvement organised a common conference on learning for Sustainable Development in Skåne. Following this, a network was developed consisting of schools and teachers from the region interested in ESD, the Teacher Education program and sharing experiences on ESD. This network has a high potential to develop within a RCE. All students enrolled in the Teacher Education program at Malmö University have a school placement during the teacher training period and the University has a contract with 25 out of the 33 municipalities in the region. This partner school system is unique and in addition, Malmö University offers training and seminars for teachers in primary and secondary schools, who are involved in the partnership. There are also links between Malmö University, Lund University and the primary and secondary schools, as well as to other educational institutions. An RCE would guarantee an increase in the already existing cooperation and exchange of information and experiences between schools and universities in the region. On a national level a lot of work has already been done on the Education for Sustainable Development. The new university legislation (1992:1434, 2005:1208), which came into force on 1st February 2006, emphasise the important role of education in facilitating the development towards a sustainable society (More information can be found in Appendix 1). Due to this legislation an added demand has been put on the universities to promote sustainable development through its activities, thus indicating that the process of transformative education at the university level has begun. 4

5 Research and development Having four universities and many enterprises within the region, from rather large to small, research and development is obviously very important in Skåne. Careful documentation of all RCE activities is of great importance. A national research network entitled Education and Sustainable development with members from Kristianstad, Lund and Malmö Universities all want to join hands and learn from each other in this process. Activities within this network have the potential to evolve and develop as the strategies for collaborative research and development activities expand. Other activities 1. RCE Candidate Skane has a homepage; The homepage will evolve as the RCE activities increase, it will be updated regularly. 2. The working group for RCE Skane has arranged a conference in Malmö, which will take place on the 15th of November Many different organisations from the region have been invited and we intend to present RCE Candidate Skane and discuss how our future cooperation on ESD can be developed within different areas. 3. Nature and urban environment for education. It is important for the region to work together to develop environmental education and outdoor learning. This can be achieved through programs such as the Nature Buses with trips into the surrounding countryside, as well as specific actions to promote access to the countryside, environmental education for people in areas of social exclusion and more regional cooperation with museums, nature reserves etc. 4. A Sustainable Society. Skåne has unique opportunities to become a leading region for sustainable urban development. This is, however, dependent upon a close partnership between the private sector, universities, local authorities and other stakeholders. More information and training is needed to learn about and spread sustainable solutions. 5. Food as a means for learning about sustainable development. There are great opportunities to improve the supply and demand of food in Skåne, which could have a major impact on environmental, social and economic sustainability. Coupling organic, locally produced and well prepared school meals with the education in schools is one important area for ESD in Skåne. 6. Train the trainers. Persons working with education for sustainable development (teachers, civil servants and other employers) will have the possibility to be involved in this project. Training programmes with a number of different activities will consist of scenario-seminars, dilemma-workshops, lectures given by experts, etc. 7. We are also considering media activities, but these activities are still at an early planning stage. Other thematic development areas will be developed in the future 5

6 Contact information The main contact person for RCE Candidate Skane is: Dr. Kerstin Sonesson, Malmö University Nordenskiöldsgatan 10 SE Malmö, Sweden Tel Fax Mobile Contact person for The City of Malmö Rebecka Eriksson-Russell, Lund University Dr. Per Wickenberg, The City of Lund Rabert Berg, Region Skåne Britt Carlsson-Green, 6