This conference focuses on the practice of education for sustainable development (ESD) emphasizing that education is connected with society, culture and nature in an undivided unity. While keeping education and learning central, the aim of the conference is to step outside the usual borders of educational institutions, and focus on ESD in a broader sense. Therefore, the conference brings together multiple participants coming from educational institutions, businesses, the arts, civil society organizations and other sectors and fields.
 

The conference is largely workshop-based.  The first day is devoted to the evolution of ESD and a paradigm shift in thinking about sustainable development. The second day addresses issues of diversity and partnership building: how can we work together for strong ESD? The third day is the harvest day: participants develop project ideas and action plans for joint work in the future.

 

 

                                  Working and Learning Together

 

By nature, sustainability issues are complex and inter-connected.  Stand-alone technological or policy interventions do not guarantee the necessary combination of economic well-being, social justice and global environmental sustainability.

A new paradigm is required in order to respond effectively to the risks and opportunities we face and to transform the way we live: a long-term vision and a commitment that can only be embedded in our societies through education and learning.

 

ESD is present in each field and sector where concerns for sustainable development manifest themselves. The business sector addresses corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues and green growth, governments promote good governance and efficient service delivery and through various regulations try to conserve diminishing natural resources while securing comfortable lives for their citizens. Stakeholders in the performing arts, fashion, design and architecture are expressing growing concerns about sustainable development and wish to engage people in finding long-lasting and smart solutions. There is no field that is not affected by the sustainability challenges. And where there is a challenge, there is a space for education and learning.

 

The conference participants are the key professionals with existing prior knowledge and experience in ESD in various sectors – be it business, education or the arts - each of them having their own agendas and directions for developing their ESD-related practice and expertise. Therefore, in this conference we avoid lengthy keynote speeches or giving lectures. Instead we open the space for action and interaction. How can we work and learn together? Are there innovative ways for education and learning that we can identify together? Are there ways to cooperate in order to create knowledge and skills for sustainable development?

This conference continues what was started during the ESD conferences in Visby (2012) and Riga (2013).  The conference takes place under the auspices of the Baltic Sea Region Network on ESD (BSRESDN), which has been started in 2012. The previous conference gathered participants from education sector, but for the first time a wider spectrum of stakeholders is being invited in order to learn together and create new synergies for joint actions.

 

Participation to this conference is by invitation only. The conference will be held in English.

 

This event is organized by Development Bulb (Riga) and The Swedish Embassy in Riga in partnership with SWEDESD (Sweden), the Institute of Sustainable Education at Daugavpils University (Latvia), Green Dossier (Ukraine), the Centre for Sustainable Education at Tallinn University (Estonia), The Baltic University Program (Sweden), Youth International Education Club Newline (Belarus) and Uppsala University (Sweden).

This Conference is financially supported by NordPlus and The Baltic University Program.