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Address by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the UNESCO Week for Peace and Sustainable Development: The Role of Education; Ottawa, Canada, 8 March 2017 Year of publication: 2017 Corporate author: UNESCO. Director-General, 2009-2017 (Bokova, I.G.) This address was presented by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of the UNESCO Week for Peace and Sustainable Development. She highlights on the role of education. 
Including Transformative Education in Pre-service Teacher Training: A Guide for Universities and Teacher Training Institutions in the Arab Region Year of publication: 2024 Author: Khalaf Al Abri | Marco Pasqualini Corporate author: UNESCO Beirut Transformative Education (TE), which includes concepts such as Global Citizenship Education (GCED) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), is an essential approach to provide learners with the tools to act for more just, peaceful and sustainable societies. Between 2021 and 2023, the experts of the UNESCO Arab Transformative Education Network identified the creation of a course on Transformative Education for teachers’ pre-service training as a key step to (i) provide teachers with the needed skills to promote Transformative Education as part of the national curriculum as well as though their daily teaching practices, and (ii) to support the reform of pedagogies more broadly, by making them more interactive and focused on critical thinking, and thus positively contributing to improving learners’ overall learning outcomes. This guidance document is addressed to all entities in charge of pre-service teacher training (e.g. departments of education within higher education institutions and teacher training institutions) in the Arab region interested in including Transformative Education as part of their programmes. The guidance document particularly supports faculty deans and academia in defining the scope and the key parameters to consider while developing a course on Transformative Education, including defining course objectives, format, content, and pedagogy, as well as choosing the right facilitator(s) to deliver the course. The document also provides useful references to other guides and tools which can further support the reflections around Transformative Education and how it can be concretely applied and promoted at the higher education level. 
Elevating TVET for a Just and Sustainable Future for All: UNESCO-UNEVOC Medium-term Strategy 2024-2026 Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (UNEVOC) The UNESCO-UNEVOC medium-term strategy for 2024 to 2026 sets out a roadmap to elevate technical and vocational education and training (TVET) for a just and sustainable future and empower TVET institutions to address the demands of digital, green and inclusive societies and economies. In alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UNESCO strategy for TVET 2022-2029, UNESCO-UNEVOC will support Member States to upgrade their TVET systems and equip all youth and adults with skills for employment, decent work, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning. By working alongside international organizations, governments, UNEVOC Centres and partners, UNESCO-UNEVOC will implement a transformative TVET agenda focused on building flexible pathways for individuals to learn, work and live in a world that demands innovative solutions to complex, interconnected challenges. 
Astrolabe: a guide to education for sustainable development coordination in Asia and the Pacific Year of publication: 2011 Corporate author: UNESCO Bangkok An astrolabe is an ancient instrument used to measure the position of the sun and stars. In the past it was used for a number of purposes, such as determining the time of day or night and measuring one’s current position in relation to the north and south poles. A mariner’s astrolabe was used to determine the latitude of a ship at sea and guide its direction. Similar to the mariner’s astrolabe, the Asia-Pacific Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Astrolabe aims to assist UNESCO Member States in determining the current position of ESD in their country and guiding education and learning in a desired direction, so as to support the advancement of sustainable development in the national context. The ESD Astrolabe is also intended to complement ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of education throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Education sector responses to climate change: background paper with international examples Year of publication: 2012 Corporate author: UNESCO Bangkok Through a review of academic articles and project documents, this paper explores the relationship between the education sector and climate change. It introduces how education is both impacted by and has an impact on this phenomenon, and proposes various sector responses. Different theoretical frameworks for where and how climate change education fits into the education sector are made concrete with case studies from across the globe. An essential introduction to climate change and education, this paper brings together theory, policy and practice. A useful read for those working in either the education sector or on climate change. Russian regions for sustainable development: education and culture of peoples in Russian Federation; proceedings of the international conference Year of publication: 2010 Author: Ilona Graf | Natalia Dulepova | Nikolai Lyakhov | Vera Markova | Vladimir Sobyanin | Victoria Shatrova Corporate author: Novosibirsk State University The publication gives careful consideration to RF regional efforts to contribute undertaking a survey of educational contents and methods promoting cultural diversity, including traditional modes of transmission, in Siberia as a vast territory involving three greatest regions of Russian Federation. The mainstream of this recognition and accommodation of Siberian cultural diversity – efforts to create opportunities and facilities for culture-specific learning in each region, adapting teaching methods to the requirements of the everyday life of learners with the support of educational policymakers, educational professionals at all levels and local communities. The goal of publication is contributing to raising the awareness of Siberian population in recognizing the cultural dimension as a central pillar of the UNESCO decade «Education for Sustainable Development» (2005-2014). The publication is aimed at teachers, ethnologists, sociologists, linguists, philosophers, those researching the education and culture of peoples in Russia, government specialists, representatives of national-cultural communities of indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities. Mudança climática em sala de aula: curso da UNESCO para professores secundários (fundamental II e ensino médio) sobre educação em mudança climática e desenvolvimento sustentável (EMCDS) Year of publication: 2014 Author: David Selby | Fumiyo Kagawa Corporate author: UNESCO Brasilia This course has been created with the goal of bringing climate change education outside the science classroom into the many other subject areas upon which climate change now has an impact, or will impact in the future, such as ethics, social studies, economics, political science, among others. The course materials are organized into four parts: 1. Course Framework and Overview, 2. Teachers’ Education Course daily materials, 3. Regional Resource Packs, 4. Daily Classroom Materials for teachers. These materials are all described in more detail and can be accessed from the Start Menu found on the following pages. This course is designed to enable teachers at the secondary level from diverse subject areas to introduce climate change education for sustainable development (CCESD) across the curriculum. UNESCO has identified the professional development of teachers in education for sustainable development as the top priority in recognition of the transformative role that teachers and teacher educators need to play in re-orienting education to help realize a sustainable future (UNESCO, 2005, p. 19). But good intentions for the professional development of teachers have fallen short in practice. Although taken up by enthusiasts, teacher education for sustainable development has rarely been mainstreamed, and, where there are courses, is often approached within a disciplinary as opposed to an interdisciplinary frame (Wals, A., 2009). If professional development in education for sustainable development is at an adolescent stage, teacher education in climate change education for sustainable development is in its infancy. For instance, according to a 2009 international comparative study on climate change education and sustainable development in ten countries, climate change education has peripheral status in educational research and practice, and when it is addressed it is only within science education (Læssøe,J. Schnack, K., Breiting, S. & Rolls, S., 2009). There is a clear and present need to respond to climate change challenges through systematic teacher education programmes that are not restricted to a single subject area. This teacher education course is an attempt to fill the current gap and is in line with one of UNESCO’s key objectives for climate change education for sustainable development, that is, to support teacher training on climate change for sustainable development (UNESCO, 2010, p. 9). The programme has four distinctive features: 1. It helps teachers to understand the causes, dynamics and impacts of climate change through a holistic approach. 2. Teachers are exposed to, and experience, a range of pedagogical approaches and techniques, that they can use in their own school environment. This includes engagement of themselves and their students in whole school and school-in-community approaches. 3. Teachers will develop their capacities to facilitate students’ community based learning. 4. Teachers will develop future-oriented and transformative capacities in facilitating climate change mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk reduction learning. Outcome document on education and biodiversity conservation, adopted at the parallel event: international conference on biodiversity conservation and education for sustainable development: learning to conserve biodiversity in a rapidly changing world Year of publication: 2012 Corporate author: Centre for Environment Education The Outcome Document from the two day International Conference on Biodiversity Conservation and ESD, attended by over 250 participants including educators and held as a parallel event inside COP 11, outlines a way forward by providing recommendations towards a strategic plan of action for ESD in the context of biodiversity conservation. The role of education and training in sustainable development: social, economic and environmental dimensions Year of publication: 2006 Author: Mohammad Jabir Ali | Abdallah AmboSaeedi | Jilani Lamloumi | Sulieman Sulieman Corporate author: UNESCO Beirut Education, Training and Sustainable Development are three fields for life were selected to be the topic in the Regional Workshop on the Role of Education and Training in Sustainable Development (Manama - Kingdom of Bahrain, 19-21 September 2005), as part of TVET-UNEVOC programme for 2004-2005, and follow-up on Bonn Declaration issued at the end of the International Expert Meeting on “Learning for Work, Citizenship and Sustainability”, Bonn, 25-28 October 2004. Thirty five (35) officials, experts and specialists from thirteen (13) Arab countries, UNESCO Offices in Beirut and Doha, and the International Centre for TVET - Bonn Centre took part in Bahrain Workshop. The Organizing Committee for the Workshop had highlighted the social, economic and enviromental dimensions of sustainable development, according to the plan of action of the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014). The main working papers discussed in the Workshop were developed into a reference study in TVET-UNEVOC Searies to reflect on future orientations in the fields related to Sustainable Development in the Arab countries. Address by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Launch of the United Nations Decade on Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014); United Nations Headquarters, New York, 1 March 2005 Year of publication: 2005 Corporate author: UNESCO. Director-General, 1999-2009 (Matsuura, K.) This speech was presented by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on the occasion of the International launch of the United Nations Decade on Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014).