Towards a Model for International Collaboration and Partnerships in Teacher Education in Africa: Education for Sustainable Development in South Africa

ABSTRACT

Education for sustainable development allows all to acquire the skills, attitudes, knowledge and values essential for a sustainable future. This article argues that there is an urgent need to include sustainable development aspects in teaching and learning at all levels of education. Implementing Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) poses a new challenge for teachers and teacher educators. The role of international collaboration, partnerships and networking is increasingly becoming important in creating sustainable solutions towards green economies and programmes. The post-2015 global agenda for sustainable development should recognise the need for regional and international collaborations in forging lasting strategies for a sustainable future where education for all is relevant, reliable and accessible.

This article proposes a model for collaboration based on analyses conducted on a project on education for sustainable development programme involving key success factors for collaboration and focussing on the local and global stakeholders and their role in enhancing ESD among teachers. For this purpose, the four partner countries: South Africa, India, Mexico and India were examined to understand how ESD is implemented; how experiences are shared; and best practices incorporated into the programme. Local and global experts (ESD-Expert-net members) who developed an international core curriculum for teachers were involved. From the pilot, four country programmes, a conceptual model of seven levels of collaboration and partnerships for education for sustainable development to enhance teacher development among local and international partners was developed. This model is proposed to serve as a framework for education for sustainable development implementation in multinational collaborations and is discussed in relation to the post-2015 sustainable development perspective.     

Capacity Development for Good Governance in Developing Countries: Some Lessons from the Field

Good governance is essential for sustaining economic transformation in developing countries. However, many developing countries currently lack the capacity, as opposed to the will, to both achieve and sustain a climate of good governance. This article addresses, from a practitioner's field perspective, the fundamental objectives, principles, and key areas that need to be addressed for developing capacity for good governance. These frameworks are now beginning to be recognized as both governments and donor institutions attempt to take advantage of the current demand and opportunities for addressing governance deficits. In pursuing capacity development for good governance, developing countries must ensure that such initiatives are comprehensively designed to be simultaneously related to change and transformation at the individual, institutional, and societal levels and be owned and controlled locally.     

产业结构优化升级：保增长与可持续发展的关键

制约我国当前保增长和可持续发展的产业经济根源是产业结构低度化,创新能力不足,因而只能依靠生产要素和资源的高投入来支撑增长。应对由于粗放增长带来的能源资源环境方面的长期挑战以及周期性危机与结构性失衡并行的短期挑战,必须转变经济发展方式,促进产业结构优化升级,实现增长、就业、环境、资源可持续发展的良性循环。这是当前应对全球金融危机和实现可持续发展的关键。     

农民环境利益问题的法学分析

农民环境利益是分析农村和农业生态环境法律问题的理论工具。三种典型的农村环境问题对农民环境利益分别具有不同影响 ,而城市导向型的环境政策、环境与资源产权制度的缺失和信息不完全、不对称是产生农民环境利益问题的制度成因。应当引入利益—权利—救济机制 ,明晰农村环境与资源产权 ,并确立农民的程序性环境权利。     

绿色核算贵在行动

落实科学发展观,必须加快推行绿色核算.要多管齐下,从宏观、中观和微观三大层次一齐动,尽快实现<中国21世纪议程>提出的目标要求.     

完善我国战略环境影响评价制度的立法思考

战略环境影响评价制度是环境与发展综合决策的一项重要制度 ,是实施可持续发展战略的重要法律手段之一。随着《中华人民共和国环境影响评价法》(以下简称《环境影响评价法》)的颁布实施 ,战略环境影响评价制度已在我国得到了初步确立。文章从可持续发展的角度 ,阐述了战略环境影响评价制度的深远意义 ,并就进一步完善我国战略环评制度提出了立法建设。     

加强环境法制建设为可持续发展提供法律保障

环境问题是人类面临的重大问题之一.环境问题在我国尤为突出.为了解决环境问题,我们必须实施可持续发展战略.而可持续发展战略的实施,需要环境法制作保障.本文从环境立法、环境执法等方面提出了加强环境法制建设的一些措施.     

重视社会主义制度可持续发展问题的研究

不仅生产力存在着可持续发展问题,生产关系和社会制度也存在着可持续发展问题。从逻辑的角度讲,资本主义制度不可能从根本上做到可持续发展,社会主义制度本身就是人类为了实现可持续发展的产物;从现实的角度讲,苏东剧变的教训,初级阶段社会主义的实际都迫使我们非常关注社会主义制度的可持续发展问题。呵以说,这个问题关系到社会主义的前途和命题。要实现社会主义制度的可持续发展,增强企业活力是必要条件,而要增强企业活动,就必须深化国有企业改革,以解决政企分开这个复杂的老大难问题。     

建立与环境和谐（一体）的新经济体系——对循环型经济的思考

本文分析了工业社会的经济体系与环境的对立冲突,指出实现可持续发展的途径在于变革传统的线性型的经济体系,建立与环境和谐的循环型经济体系.文章在分析线性型经济与循环型经济差异的基础上,论述了循环型经济的基本特征和基本内容,并进一步分析了建立新经济体系的现实可能性.     

西部开发与可持续发展

实施西部地区大开发必须走可持续发展之路,没有可持续发展,西部地区大开发就不可能实现。合理开发和利用自然资源、发展高新技术、培养高素质的劳动力,以提高西部的可持续发展能力。