UNITWIN Network on Education for Sustainable Development and Societal Transformations (UNiESD&ST)

Starting in March 2021 for an initial period of four years, this new UNITWIN Network UNiESD&ST will focus on research, policy development and implementation of ESD at all levels of education with specific regards to global perspectives on ESD and teacher education. Together with partners from more than 30 countries, we will expand our current individual efforts and create new possibilities by engaging selected partners to enhance much needed collaboration to serve the goals of the ESD for 2030 Roadmap adopted by UNESCO to promote the role of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as a key enabler for the 2030 Agenda. Synergistically scaling up these activities with further partners from all UN regions will help serve education systems, ministries of education and other relevant entities.

Founding institutional members 

Canada: UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability (1999), York University: Charles Hopkins

Costa Rica: UNESCO Chair on Education for Sustainable Development with the Earth Charter (2012), The Earth Charter Center for Education for Sustainable Development and the University of Peace: Mirian Vilela

Germany: UNESCO Chair on World Heritage and Biosphere Reserve Observation and Education (2016), Heidelberg University of Education: Alexander Siegmund

Greece: UNESCO Chair in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Education for Sustainable Development (2008), University of Crete: Vassilios Makrakis

South Africa: DSI/NRF SARChI Chair in Global Change and Social Learning Systems (2016), Environmental Learning Research Centre, Rhodes University: Heila Lotz-Sisitka [previously Chair of Environment and Sustainability Education at RU since 2000] RU established Africa’s first Chair of EE in 1990.