20.10.2014 Views

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

inevitable. Essentials of system thinking are the patterns from the parts to the whole,<br />

from objects to relationships, from structures to processes, from objective<br />

knowledge to contextual knowledge (Capra, 1996); and this coincide with ESD.<br />

Such system thinking has been highlighted in a number of ESD Documents.<br />

UNESCO, in 2009, published a mid-term review on the context and structure of<br />

DESD in order to examine the progressive outcomes of DESD (UNESCO, 2009c). The<br />

UNESCO Monitoring and Evaluation Expert Group (MEEG), which took part in<br />

preparing this review, points out the enhancements mirrored worldwide as a result<br />

of ESD. Below are the points.<br />

Future thinking, Critical reflective thinking,<br />

Understanding complexity and system thinking,<br />

Participation in democratic decision-making<br />

Planning and managing changes,<br />

Decision-making under uncertain circumstances,<br />

Understanding of relationships between the fields,<br />

Application of learning in various contexts,<br />

Responsible action regionally/globally,<br />

Understanding stakeholders and their interests<br />

Construction of consensus,<br />

Negotiation to cope with crisis/danger,<br />

Respect for others, Ability to understand/elucidate values<br />

- Competencies emphasized in the Review of Contexts and Structures for<br />

Education for Sustainable Development Learning for a sustainable world<br />

(UNESCO, 2009c)<br />

Among these, future thinking, critical reflective thinking, system thinking and<br />

participation are often emphasized as the key competencies of ESD.<br />

The DESD review also examines themes that are emphasized within the<br />

boundaries of ESD. As a result, traditional environmental issues such as health,<br />

water, maintainment of natural resources (water, soil, mineral, fossil fuel), decrease<br />

of biodiversity has been greatly highlighted, while issues such as the Millennium<br />

Development Goals (MDGs), natural disasters, corporate social responsibilities still<br />

remain weak. Moreover, socio-cultural themes such as peace, citizenship, ethics,<br />

equality, poverty, cultural diversity are more emphasized in poverty stricken<br />

communities/countries.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!