Regional Networking: RCEs as networks of champions for learning to sustain their region

1. 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

2. 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”.

3. 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.

4. Networks – What makes them useful and useless? In 3 groups What makes a successful regional network?

5. 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

6. 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

7. Regional Collaboration Higher education institutions De Montfort University Loughborough University Nottingham University Nottingham Trent University University of Derby University of Northampton University of Leicester University of Lincoln Bishop Grosseteste College Further education colleges Colleges –University of Leicester Network East Midlands Further Education Council Tresham Institute South Nottingham College Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College Leicester College Brooksby Melton College Educational bodies National Institute of Adult Continuing Education East Midlands Network for Global Perspectives in Schools Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment National Youth Agency Rosliston Forestry Centre Government agencies East Midlands Development Agency East Midlands Regional Assembly Government Office for the East Midlands Peak District National Park Authority

8. FE Working Group • Sustainable College Baseline Survey • With 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 CollegesAssistants • With LSC and AOC • Support for greening campus, curriculum and community links • Placing 4 European graduates as Assistants in 9 champion colleges • Staff awareness, policies • Student surveys, campaigns • Focus 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.

9. FE Working Group Expert-led themed working group meetings Sustainable Procurement Waste Management Curriculum Development and imbedding of ESD Staff Development Some Challenges Identifying correct representative Gaining support at a senior level within the FEC Maintaining activity and momentum of the group (whilst also doing a day job!) Some proven solutions Themed meetings Use of expert Key speakers – element of staff development to meetings LSC national support – made visible to members Collaborative activity to focus members e.g. ESD Baseline survey

10. 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.

11. 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?

12. RCEs – Where are they? In UK – 3 approved 6 of 9 English Regions may be RCEs by Oct: East Midlands – all 10 universities North East – led by Newcastle University West Midlands – led by University of Gloucestershire Yorkshire and Humberside – led by Bradford University London – led by South Bank University East of England – led by Cambridgeshire CC ? Wales – led by Welsh Assembly ? Eire – led by University of Limerick In Europe – 13 approved Eg. Barcelona Rhine-Meuse Munich Nurenburg Hamburg Belgium Skane Graz Oeste-Creuse International – 38 approved eg. Nairobi Toronto Yokohama Pune Curitibas

13. RCEs – Why join them or set them up? Communication - One stop shop/single reference pointfor 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

14. 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/jx11q79x4ffk Video 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

15. 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 website • Telephone, Audio, Web Conferencing • Event and meeting management • Video/ photo online storage • File-sharing free services • Video Messaging, YouTube etc

16. 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