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Regional Networking:

RCEs as networks of champions for learning to sustain their region

Adam Cade, Chief Executive, StudentForce for Sustainability, Coordinator of RCE East Midlands

John Thawley, Vice-Principal, Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth l College, member of FE Working Group

Jo Hasbury, Derby University, member of the HE Working Group

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Networking Challenges for EAUC members

One of 4 contributions of HEIs “Leadership of, and influence on local, national and international networks” - HEFCE

All education to “link with regional agendas”

All universities to be “regional champions of sustainable development”

All educational buildings to be “local models of sustainable development”

Skills to be “improved for sustainable communities” – Egan Report

All graduates to be “sustainability literate” – responding to the employability agenda, esp. Leitch Review of Skills – “That means placing sustainable development at the heart of skills provision”.

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Networks – What makes them useful and useless?

In pairs with a neighbour that you don't know

Describe any professional network, in any sector, which you have used, joined or left.

Describe why it's useful and/or useless.

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Networks – What makes them useful and useless?

In 3 groups

What makes a successful regional network?

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RCEs – What makes them?

Act as a regional network of organisations championing and promoting education for sustainable development.

Approved by UN University and UNESCO

Supported by and reporting to UN University

Committed to 4 principles:Leadership, with a vision – formal structure and governance, often led by HEIs

Collaboration – between formal and informal education/ training at all levels – vertical and horizontal, with other RCEs

Research – on education for SD, esp. by HEIs

Transformation – of education in the region(campus, curriculum, community, culture, capacity/competency etc), and with other RCEs

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Regional Collaboration – What RCE East Midlands does?

Led by 8 Working Groups, including HE and FE groups

•Inaugural conference – Video messages, presentations and workshops

•Sustainable College Assistants and Baseline Survey – FE Working Group

•HEFCE bid on CSR development by universities in region - HE Working Group

•Student Sustainability Gathering – HE Working Group with other Groups

•Greening Educational Buildings – Collaboration with other European RCEs and funding from INTERREG 4c.

Skills for sustainable development contract – Action research on how skills for sustainability can be improved through regional networking.

•Youth Climate Change Reporters – Youth Education Working Group

•Sustainable Schools Case-studies and website – Schools Education Working Group

•Adult Learners Week Theme and Regional Roadshow – Adult and Continuing Education Working Group

Regional Collaboration

Higher education institutionsDe Montfort University Loughborough University Nottingham UniversityNottingham Trent University University of Derby University of Northampton University of LeicesterUniversity of LincolnBishop Grosseteste College

Further education collegesColleges –University of Leicester NetworkEast Midlands Further Education Council Tresham Institute South Nottingham CollegeWyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I CollegeLeicester CollegeBrooksby Melton College

Educational bodiesNational Institute of Adult Continuing EducationEast Midlands Network for Global Perspectives in SchoolsInstitute of Environmental Management and Assessment National Youth AgencyRosliston Forestry Centre

Government agenciesEast Midlands Development AgencyEast Midlands Regional AssemblyGovernment Office for the East MidlandsPeak District National Park Authority

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FE Working Group

Sustainable College Baseline SurveyWith LSC, by EMFEC (East Midlands Further education Colleges) and CULN (Colleges-University of Leicester Network)

Baseline survey of Education for Sustainable Development activity in 28 FE colleges and 9 Adult and Continuing Education services in region

Sustainable Colleges Assistants With LSC and AOC

Support for greening campus, curriculum and community linksPlacing 4 European graduates as Assistants in 9 champion collegesStaff awareness, policiesStudent surveys, campaignsFocus on Environmental management, Climate change, Global citizenship

Greening Educational Buildings Early discussion on collaboration between Schools, FE and HE sectors, and other European RCEs, with draft of EU funding from INTERREG 4c.

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FE Working Group

Expert-led themed working group meetings

Sustainable ProcurementWaste ManagementCurriculum Development and imbedding of ESDStaff Development

Some Challenges

Identifying correct representativeGaining support at a senior level within the FECMaintaining activity and momentum of the group (whilst also doing a day job!)

Some proven solutionsThemed meetingsUse of expert Key speakers – element of staff development to meetingsLSC national support – made visible to membersCollaborative activity to focus members e.g. ESD Baseline survey

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HE Working Group

CSR development by universities in region

Developed a collaborative Phase 1 bid to HEFCE

Student Sustainability Gathering for 16+ year old students from school, Fe college and university to exchange views and updates on institutional greening, as well as special studies, volunteering and work experience.

Based on a university campus, with support from 3 RCE working groups.

Greening Educational Buildings Early discussion on collaboration between Schools, FE and HE sectors, and other European RCEs, with draft of EU funding from INTERREG 4c.

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Regional collaboration – Is it a waste of effort or helpful?

In 3 small groups

How could you collaborate with other unis or colleges in your region – horizontally or vertically?

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RCEs – Where are they?

In UK – 3 approved

6 of 9 English Regions may be RCEs by Oct:

East Midlands – all 10 universitiesNorth East – led by Newcastle UniversityWest Midlands – led by University of GloucestershireYorkshire and Humberside – led by Bradford UniversityLondon – led by South Bank UniversityEast of England – led by Cambridgeshire CC ?

Wales – led by Welsh Assembly ?Eire – led by University of Limerick

In Europe – 13 approvedEg.BarcelonaRhine-MeuseMunichNurenburgHamburgBelgiumSkaneGrazOeste-Creuse

International – 38 approved eg. NairobiTorontoYokohamaPuneCuritibas

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RCEs – Why join them or set them up?

Communication - One stop shop/ single reference point for communicating with others – educators, regional/ international networks, organisations, national government

Network – as a leading regional network of champions for learning and sustainable development with formal governance, and others to compare and learn with.

Status - in region with key partners, decision-makers

Funding - Potential international collaborative funding bids eg. EU

Learning – from other member organisations, other RCEs

Support – from RCE Secretariat eg. for finding partners, intranet site and IT/media advice from UNU MediaStudio

Links – to other UN initiatives – UNEP, UNESCO, UNEVOC etc

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RCE East Midlands – The challenge of communicating sustainably and effectively

www. rceem.org.uk RCE East Midlands

www. SustainableSchoolsEastMidlands.org.uk Schools Working Group

www. mediamax.com/studentforcephotos RCE Conference files

www. drivehq/sharing/sharelogo.aspx?key=2839289/jx11q79x4ffkVideo presentation about RCE

www. rceem/btworkspace.com Management Group

https://unumediastudio.projectpath.com/login European RCE Group

www. skype.com, www. powwownow.com Telephone/ audio Conferencing

www. dimdim.com Web Conferencing

www. doodle.ch Meeting management

www. ias.unu.edu/sub_page.aspx?catID=108&ddlID=183 RCE Secretariat

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Electronic Communication – How useful or useless is it for networking?

In pairs with a neighbour that you don’t know discuss

What are your experiences – good and bad – of electronic communication with networks?

Interactive websiteTelephone, Audio, Web ConferencingEvent and meeting management Video/ photo online storageFile-sharing free services Video Messaging, YouTube etc

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RCE East Midlands – Contacting us

adamcade@ studentforce.org.uk Adam Cade, Coordinator

jamesluger@ emd.org.uk James Luger, Chair

John.thawley@wqeic.ac.uk John Thawley

j.e.hasbury@derby.ac.uk Jo Hasbury