International Cooperation Initiative

Formation of ESD International Cooperation Models
Utilizing the Knowledge of Universities

2009

Developing University-based

ESD International Cooperration Models

Discussions about the necessity of the United Nations' Education for Sustainable
Development (ESD) in international society and its fundamental outline andobjectives have been carried out repeatedly up to now, and its importance to future
generations has come to be recognized. Moreover, now that we are midway into
the UN's “Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD)." there aredemands to strengthen ESD's practical applications all the more as well as to arrange
its theoretical aspects.
Amid such circumstances, since FY 2008, the Ministry of Education, Culture,Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) -Japan through the International
Cooperation Program has been utilizing the knowledge possessed by universities inJapan. Moreover, in collaboration with universities and the like overseas, MEXT has
been undertaking the development of model activities and practical teaching materials
that can be used in the relevant sites by diverse people engaged in ESD.

UN Decade for ESD(2005~2014)

Strengthening practical applicationfrom dissemination andenlightenment

ESD, in brief, is to foster those who will shoulder the creation of a sustainable society.
The following points are particularly necessary for implementing ESD.

What isESD?

(1) Cultivating human nature, including the development of character, autonomy,
judgment, and a sense of responsibility.
(2) Fostering individuals who can acknowledge relationships with others, relationships
with society, and relationships with the natural environment in addition torespecting relationships and connections.
For that reason, it is important for ESD not to be limited to individual fields that dealwith problems involved in sustainable development, such as environmental educationand international comprehension education but also to tackle this comprehensively in
an interdisciplinary way from various aspects, including the environment, economy andsociety.
In December 2002, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, originallyproposed by Japan, to make the ten-year period from 2005 to 2014 the United Nations
Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD), and UNESCO was designatedas the lead agency for promoting DESD. In Japan, the National Commission for UNESCO
and related government ministries/agencies have been cooperating to promote ESD withdiverse concerned figures.

Advancement ofpractical activities in theinternational cooperation sphere

Undertakings expected of Japanese universities

Environmental
education

Formation,accumulation, transmissionsof the international cooperation model
for undertakings expected ofJapanese universities through theInternational Cooperation
Initiative Program

From Japan's “Action Plan for the UN Decade ofEducation for Sustainable Development"

Striving to develop outstanding ESD teaching materials
and curricula and applying those results at the actual siteof instruction
Promoting projects collaborations among universities andwith regional society that take advantage of the expertiseof higher education institutions

Development of activity models andESD education modules(curricula, teaching materials, instruction methods, etc.)

Advancing each type of activity within Japan

Universities, etc., indeveloping countries

Construct models through a process of experimentationand verification in developing countriesuniversities

Basic Views of ESD

Hold in developing
countries (Africa, etc.)

Cultureeducation

Principles, Values,
Knowledge, Activities etc.
It is important to tackle comprehensively
by linking various fields of education

International
understanding
education

Other relatedforms ofeducation

Symposiums, etc., concernedwith “Advancinginternational cooperation for
ESD that utilizes theknowledge of universities”

Hold in JapanJapaneseuniversities

Energyeducation

Vertical links

School Education

Social Education

Universities

Museums
Libraries
Community Lerning Centres(CLC)High schools

High schools

Middle schools

Middle schools

Elementary schools

Elementary schools

Develop into model formation

Horizontal links■ Image of cases ofInternational Cooperation Initiative Program (ESD)1

Formation of practical international cooperation models utilizing
the knowledge of universities in the year corresponding tomidpoint in the UN DESD

Lateral links

Reglonal Boards ofEducation
Reglonal governments
Private sector
companies
Private sector
companies
etc.

Central government,NPOs etc.

2Cases Implemented inFY2009

Mie University

Osaka University

Development of Community-based Medical Education
Module Incorporating and Promoting the Concepts ofEducation for Sustainable Development (ESD)The Curriculum Compilation of Education for Sustainable Development(ESD) in the Asian Network-Focus on
Secondary School

Yokohama National University

Tokyo University of Agriculture

RCEs Collaboration for ESD Human Resource Development: A Proposal for “Summer Program”

Program on Enhancing Food, Agriculture and Environment Education for Elementary School in Developing
CountryCountry▶ Thailand, Philippines, China, Korea

Country▶ Thailand, Tanzania, Laos, the United Arab Emirates

InFY2009, nine Japanese universities will continue their collaboration with
their counterparts in developing countries, in forming international ESD
cooperation models for the benefit of the Asian and African regions.
This year's activities are distinguished by the implementation of ambitious efforts
at the primary/middle/high school and university levels; and, in addition to individual
fields, of new efforts aimed at establishing a framework model with ESD activities as
its benchmark for the appraisal of universities, in conjunction with a broad range ofdomestic/international universities/organizations.

Country▶ Malaysia, Philippines

Country▶ Cambodia

Hokkaidou University

Korea

Alternative University Appraisal based on Eduation for
Sustainable Development

China

Country▶ Asia-Pacific region

the United Arab Emirates
Laos
ThailandCambodia

Philippines

Malaysia

Case forAfricaTanzania
ZambiaMozambique

In FY2008, Asia and Africa were established as the primary target regions, and 10 Japanese universities
have been undertaking the formation of ESD International Cooperation Models in cooperation withuniversities in developing countries. Distinguishing features of this fiscal year are that among all sixMadagascar

Regional Centres of Expertise (RCEs) concerned with ESD in Japan, core universities in four regions(Greater Sendai Area, Yokohama, Hyogo-Kobe and Okayama) have launched international cooperation
programs on ESD themes through this Initiative and also that the Japanese Universities are aiming forSouth Africa

Hokkaidou University of Education

collaborations with RCEs overseas(Cebu, Penang, Yogyakarta, and Maputo).

ESD model module development for Basic Education inZambia

Development of Community-based Medical EducationModule Incorporating and Promoting the Concepts ofEducation for Sustainable Development (ESD)

International Christian University

Country▶ South Africa

Hokkaidou University ofEducation

Ehime University

Object▶ Eduardo Mondlane University

Collaborative Institution▶ Lusaka

Ehime University
Development of ESD materials aimed to form global
ethics under the collaboration between Mozambiqueand Japan

Country▶ Mozambique

Miyagi University of Education
Development of ESD Pilot Materials for Madagascar
through Tsimbazaza Zoological and Botanical Garden

Lurio University

ESD model module development for Basic Educationin Zambia

International ChristianUniversity

Object▶ The University of CapeTown

Tanzania

Development of ESD materials aimed to form global
ethics under the collaboration between Mozambiqueand JapanZambiaMozambique

Education for Sustainable Development in Primaryand Secondary Schools: A South Africa-Japan
Collaboration Project to Develop a Learning Modulefor Classroom Application

Madagascar

Miyagi University ofEducation

Country▶ Madagascar

Collaborative Institution▶ Tsimbazaza Zoological and(More Information)
http://www.scp.mext.go.jp/esd/index_e.html(International Cooperation Initiative HP, MEXT)

3

Object▶ Muhimbili University College of

HealthCountry▶ Zambia

Education for Sustainable Development in Primary andSecondary Schools: A South Africa-Japan Collaboration Project to Develop a Learning Module for Classroom Application

Mie University

South Africa

Botanical Garden

Development of ESD Pilot Materials for Madagascar
through Tsimbazaza Zoological and Botanical Garden

4examples
ZambiaMalaysia, Philippines

ESD model module development for
Basic Education in Zambia

RCEs Collaboration for ESD Human Resource Development:
A Proposal for “Summer Program"and higher grade levels, respectively. This year's materials

curricula and learning materials for use in local schools. Lastderived thusly are scheduled for use by teachers and Japan

year, we produced a compilation of ESD learning materials

Overseas Cooperation Volunteers in schools throughoutwith a "water" theme, through analysis of research on theZambia.

local water regime as well as water-related syllabi andtextbooks in science/social studies.
This year, we intend to enhance the learningmaterials by re-orienting their content to students, andproducing a handbook for teachers that Zambian
teachers can utilize to optimize their use of said
materials.
Specifically, this involves implementing experimental
classes at local schools, which we later collaborate with

Yokohama National University

Hokkaidou University of Education

We will develop cooperative education models such as

We plan to develop a summer program for the cultivation

be to cultivate ESD personnel in Japan, Philippines, andof ESD personnel, revolving around international cooperation

Malaysia, by utilizing the RCE coordination framework based

between RCEs (Regional Centres of Expertise for SD; 66

on the abundant experience accrued by YNU in its

regions certified as at December of 2009). As proposed by theinternational implementation activities.

UNU, there are now RCEs, for the purpose of effectively

The summer program will be announced at RCE

implementing ESD through the establishment of cooperative

Conferences, ESD Conferences, UNESCO APEID, etc.

networks between stakeholders and organizations that(organized by the UNU and UNESCO), where feedback will

promote ESD regionally.

be solicited, bringing attention to the role that Japanese/Asian

These efforts consist of promoting international
coordination between RCEs by promoting andexploiting the knowledge of universities in

Scheme ofSummer Program

RCE Penang

developing a summer program (module,implementation plan, learning materials) for the

local education officials in analyzing, then interviewing

cultivation of ESD personnel, through Yokohama

the students, to ultimately formulate an assessment of

National University's (core university of thelearning materials. Moreover, materials developed will

Yokohama/Cebu/Penang RCE) collaboration withbe inter-linked, whereby two types will be produced to

the University of the Philippines and University

correspond to local primary school standards, for lower

higher education can play in international ESD efforts.

Dispatch study teamDispatch instructor

Dispatch instructor(Seminar, Workshop, Fieldwork)

RCE Cebu

RCE Yokohama
Dispatch study team

Sains Malaysia. The summer program's focus will

Dispatch instructorMadagascar

Asia-Pacific region

Development of ESD Pilot Materials for Madagascar throughTsimbazaza Zoological and Botanical Garden
Yagiyama Zoo. These ESD materials will emphasize thedeveloping nations, is known for its unique degree of bio-preservation of bio-diversity, as they are to be utilized in a zoo

diversity, along with the rapid endangerment of this richand in line with Madagascar's specific need to protect itsenvironment.

natural environment. Furthermore, we intend to cultivate aWe plan to produce ESD materials for educational use atdeep understanding of school education in Madagascar, tothe Tsimbazaza National Zoo. The zoo is the nation's largest

facilitate development of widely-applicable materials for theand only national zoological/botanical garden and museum

future integration of ESD programs into school education.

of natural history, visited by more than 200,000 people eachyear. Its also possesses an abundance of rare educational
materials, in addition to excellent educational staff. WeJapan

have high hopes for the pilot project to be implemented

Primary schoolin 2010, of a curriculum that utilizes ESD materials.
To develop the corresponding materials, we areconsidering organizing Participatory Development(PD)5Development of ESD Pilot Materials for Madagascar
Miyagi University ofEducation
Sendai Yagiyama ZooMadagascar
Tsimbazaza
National Zoo

PD of materials

Alternative University Appraisal based on Eduation for
Sustainable Development
Hokkaidou University

Miyagi University of Education

Madagascar, southeast of Africa and a late developer among

Dispatch study team

Summer program

The realization of sustainable societies is presently one ofOpinions that were accumulated through countless

mankind's most pressing issues. Hence, we will be establishing

opportunities at conferences and symposiums will be reflected in

an "ESD University Appraisal Model" to serve as necessary

establishing this model. This project will also work to facilitate

guidance for universities in fostering elements that are necessary

the incorporation of outcomes into the monitoring/appraisal

for further promotion of ESD activities by universities in theframework for the 2nd cycle of UNESCO's DESD, as well as its

Asia-Pacific region. This project will proceed with the lead ofpromotion/diffusion.
Gadjah Mada

Hokkaido University; UNU-IAS, University Sains Malaysia;
Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand) as the six coreinternational organizations, in boosting the value and attraction

Primary/Secondary schoolof ESD-oriented universities, while aiming to assist universities

National Zoo Education Department, Ministry ofuniversities to achieve the ultimate goal - the formation of an

Education, and teachers, in conjunction with a working"ESD Learning Community" - a collective that aims to learngroup that consists of universities, teachers, and Sendai

from superior efforts implemented by others.

NagoyaOkayama

TERI

RikkyoTongji

UNU-IAS

Shinshu

RMIT

diffusing this model widely throughout universities in the AsiaPacific region, it will serve to reinforce cooperation between

USM

U-Philippines

in developing countries with their ESD activities. Moreover, bydiscussions through the participation of the Tsimbazaza

Miyagi U Education

Hokkaido

South Pacificorganizations, in conjunction with UNESCO and other

Ministry of Education

Iwate

Chulalongkorn

University of Delhi (India); Yonsei University (S. Korea); and the

Other relevantinternational
institutions

Tokyo

ProSPER.NETUNEP

Collaborative
Institutions

Universities in
Asia-Pacific

UNESCO

Universities inJapan

ProSPER.NET ( Founded in 2008)“The Network for the Promotion of Sustainability in Postgraduate Education and Research”

6Office for International Cooperation, International Affairs Division,
Minister's Secretariat,
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology <MEXT>

TEL：81-3-5253-4111（ext.2610）
FAX：81-3-6734-3669
URL
http://www.scp.mext.go.jp/esd/index_e.html
E-mail kokkok@mext. go.jp