Greater Cincinnati named a Regional Center of Expertise for Sustainable Development
UC faculty member leads efforts to earn United Nations recognition
The Greater Cincinnati region has been recognized as a Regional Center of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development by the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability.
Cincinnati now joins a global network of more than 170 regions across the world. It's just the 12th named in the United States, recognizing Cincinnati's sustainable education efforts.
Faculty at the University of Cincinnati led the multi-institutional effort to submit the application for United Nations recognition.
A regional center of expertise is a local network of formal, non-formal and informal organizations that facilitate learning towards sustainable development in local and regional communities. It involves school teachers, professors at higher education institutions, environmental non-governmental organizations, scientists, researchers, museums, zoos, botanical gardens, local government officials, representatives of local enterprises, volunteers, media, civic associations or individuals who work in the spheres of sustainable development such as economic growth, social development and environmental protection, students and learners at all levels.
The goals are to:
- Re-orient education towards Sustainable Development, tailoring ESD curriculum to address issues and local context of the community in which they operate.
- Deliver trainers’ training programs and develop methodologies and learning materials for them.
- Lead advocacy and awareness-raising efforts in the public about the importance of educators and the essential role of sustainable development education in achieving a sustainable future.
Andrew Bernier
A multi-institutional effort to craft and submit the application for Greater Cincinnati's recognition was led by UC's Center for Public Engagement with Science Faculty Affiliate Andrew Bernier, an instructor of STEM and Sustainability Education in the UC School of Education and Manager of Education for Cincinnati Parks. With the support of UC's center, Green Umbrella, Cincinnati Public Schools, and UC's College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services' Office of Innovations & Community Partnerships, more than a dozen individuals crafted and reviewed the application.
The application highlighted the work that local partners are already facilitating for outcomes along with projects and plans to amplify inter-organizational collaborations. Thirty-five entities across all sectors submitted signed letters of committed support to ensuring the establishment of Greater Cincinnati's Regional Center of Expertise and continuing the work of their respective education in sustainable development efforts, including the City of Cincinnati, UC, Xavier University, Miami University, Rumpke, World Affairs Council, GroundWork ORV, MadTree Brewing and more.
UC will serve as the secretariat organization for Greater Cincinnati's Regional Center for Expertise to the United Nations University and will be facilitated as a shared initiative between UC's Center for Public Engagement with Science, CECH, advisory boards comprised of local partners, and Cincinnati Parks, the latter of which will host the new center at the Bettman Center for Natural Resources.
Greater Cincinnati's Regional Center of Expertise also will work in tandem in the newly established Cincinnati Inner Development Goals to align sustainability education efforts with transformational skill development for sustainable outcomes.
Greater Cincinnati's Regional Center of Expertise is still building its digital presence and hopes to come online this fall, organizers said. For more information about the network, visit the RCE Americas Network.
Featured image at top: The United Nations University named Greater Cincinnati a Regional Center of Expertise. Photo/Elliott Kolbus for UC
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