Educational Alliance for a Sustainable Toronto: The University of Toronto and the City's United Nations University (UNU) Regional Centre of Expertise

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the role that the University of Toronto has had in helping to establish a Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development in Toronto, Canada. The way in which the RCE initiative has helped to move forward the university�...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of sustainability in higher education 2008, Vol.9 (4), p.416-427
Main Author: Stefanovic, Ingrid Leman
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air pollution
Alternative energy sources
Boards of Education
Canada
Case Studies
Climate
College students
Colleges & universities
Communication Strategies
Community Relations
Delivery Systems
Economic expansion
Economic Impact
Educational Methods
Educational Strategies
Energy
Environment
Environmental awareness
Environmental economics
Environmental education
Expertise
Foreign Countries
Institutional Role
Mayors
Municipal government
Nonformal Education
Ontario (Toronto)
Partnerships in Education
Professional Training
Program Descriptions
Program Development
Regional Cooperation
Regional Programs
Research and Development Centers
Role Perception
School boards
Sustainability
Sustainable Development
Urban areas
Urban Population
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Summary:Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the role that the University of Toronto has had in helping to establish a Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development in Toronto, Canada. The way in which the RCE initiative has helped to move forward the university's own five-year plan will also be discussed. Design/methodology/approach: The paper begins with a historical overview of the development of the Toronto RCE, acknowledging the diverse range of NGO, governmental and educational institutions that collaborate within this network. It then describes how the RCE initiative is helping to advance the objectives of the University of Toronto's own five-year plan. Finally, the paper details how the University of Toronto has supported specific projects of the RCE, and where it hopes to help to lead the RCE into the next phase of its development. Findings: In addition to presenting a case study of an RCE, the paper includes critical discussion of broader conceptual issues, such as how one might best interpret "interdisciplinarity" and community "outreach" in a university setting. Originality/value: The UN University's RCE is, in itself, a highly original and valuable initiative. The paper describes one of these networks and its own, unique focus, while also drawing conclusions about how universities might more actively engage with community partners to advance environmental awareness.
ISSN:1467-6370
1758-6739
DOI:10.1108/14676370810905526