RCE Pune

About the UNU-IAS Regional Centre of Expertise in Pune

The United Nations Universities – Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) has initiated the concept of Regional Centre of Expertise (RCEs) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The UNU-IAS invited Centre for Environment Education (CEE) to initiate identification of partners and help set up RCEs in India. We are in the process of initiating one such RCE in Pune and are exploring possible partnerships under this network.

Tentatively, the RCE in Pune aims to function with the following goals and objectives:

Goal
Promote Education for Sustainable Development in Pune through schools, university and forums for citizens

The objectives are:
1. To contextualize ESD in university education, by enhancing linkages among university departments and those working on urban environment and development issues
2. To improve access to school education in Pune addressing direct and in-direct causes of non-accessibility (such as lack of schools, inadequate water and sanitation, other reasons for drop-outs) as well as quality aspects (content, transaction methods, support material, teacher training etc)
3. To enhance public understanding and engagement in governance, and a variety of social and environmental issues, in the context of sustainable development
4. To evolve a method of networking and governance amongst various actors of the RCE itself in order to help us work together effectively

This RCE is seeking membership of:
- University departments, colleges and specialized higher learning institutes
- Agencies such as local citizens' groups and NGOs concerned with social and environmental issues of the city and access to and quality of school education
- Local and regional government authorities

Proposed / Suggested Activities
Studies and research in the areas of:
School education: access and quality
Slum housing
Waste management
Water management
Biodiversity conservation
Governance
Energy conservation
Climate change mitigation, vulnerability and adaptation
Urban-rural linkages
RCE Pune
Education for Sustainable Urban Development

Report of Activities (July 2006 – Dec 2007

· Proposal to UNU IAS based on prelim discussions with various institutions, NGOs and municipality (July 2006)
· RCE Pune on Sustainable Urban Development received its formal communication about recognition from UNU IAS in January 2007.
· RCE Pune meeting (July 2007)
· In parallel, the Pune Citizens Environment Forum was set up in June 2007

Report on Meeting of July 2007
A meeting of existing partners and potential partners was done in July 2007, at the Dept of Environmental Sciences, University of Pune. An overview of developmental issues in Pune was provided by the Chair, including of existing networks of civil society organizations. A presentation of the RCE concept was done, including of the application process. The focus on Education in the RCE initiative was appreciated, with the observation that long-term sustained educational efforts are often missing in our work. Partners provided their views about the nature of education for sustainable development.

Access and Quality of Basic Education
There was a detailed discussion on working with school curricula. It was felt that externally provided inputs in the form of eco-clubs which reach limited numbers of students are important, but there is a greater need for improving infrastructure and assessing the entire curriculum with a view to enhancing the quality.

The Dept of Education, University of Pune and the Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research have expressed their interest in looking at school curricula. Science and Technology Park, and the Dept of Environmental Science are working with the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and their inputs would be useful too. Janwani and Centre for Learning Resources have taken up an initiative to develop performance measures for various aspects of the school system. This work would be complemented by a discussion on the quality aspects.

A School Education working group is envisaged to take up more detailed discussions on access and quality to basic education.

Higher Education
On the topic of formal research and study courses at the university level, the earlier experience of offering a credit course at the post graduate level was discussed. It was felt that while the Dept of Environmental Sciences could take this up as a core course, for other faculty, it may be better to develop a lecture series more suited to the needs of their disciplines. The Centre for Development Studies and Activities, which is an autonomous organization affiliated to the University of Pune offers post graduate programmes in development planning and architecture. The content of some of these courses may be helpful in designing the lecture series.

Student projects and internships were discussed very briefly. Students from Geography Dept would be able to take up local projects.

A product on internship and post-graduate research for local sustainability issues may be developed to help orient higher education to sustainability issues. For more detailed study and research it was felt that one to one discussions would be required with the various departments and institute of higher learning.


Public Education
There wasn’t much discussion on the nature and form of public education that could be taken up through the RCE. The Indira School of Communication and the Film and Television Institute Community Radio described their programmes and interest in taking up local issues.

The constraints related to the use of micro-credit in cities described by the representative from the College of Agricultural Banking. The nature of the informal economy is Pune requires a separate and more detailed discussion, and is to be taken up in a subsequent meeting.


Governance
It was felt that CEE should continue to function as the secretariat. Some more discussions and strengthening of the network are needed before a more formal governance mechanism is worked out. The work already initiated should continue, as should one-to-one discussions with the various local organizations to acquaint them of the RCE concept and to develop work programmes within the RCE framework provided by the UNU.