Workshops: Sustainable universities in Mongolia

In the context of the project ‘Education for Sustainable Development for all in Mongolia’ we were engaged by SEDwise partner Uppsala University to collaborate on workshops for university leaders and university teachers in Ulaanbaatar.

During a workshop on ‘Transition pathways to more sustainable universities’ for approximately 30 leaders of different Mongolian universities, Leif Östman and Katrien Van Poeck raised awareness of the importance of embedding sustainability in universities through campus operations, research, education and services to society. They provided the participants with a model to facilitate the transition towards a more sustainable university as well as numerous inspiring examples of possible actions based on the experience of Ghent University. The university leaders developed Priority Action Charters, thereby envisioning, discussing and proposing concrete initiatives to further embed sustainable development and ESD in their institution.

We also set-up a more intensive trajectory with Otgontenger University where we organised a workshop on ‘Sustainable Development and ESD in Otgontenger University: Towards a sustainability transition strategy & Embedding sustainable development in university education’. 27 professors and heads of department of the different schools (Law, Humanities, Economics & Business Administration) learned more about the transition management model for making universities more sustainable in depth in view of applying it in their own institution. They developed a preliminary systems analysis, future vision, transitions pathways and action plans on education, research, food, waste and energy policy. The day after the workshop, these outcomes were presented to the rector’s team which expressed the commitment of implementing the proposed plans and distinguished between short- and longer term engagements. We also nourished vision development on sustainability in university education and supported the teachers in designing curriculum plans.

Besides these workshops for universities, we also provided training for teachers trainers and social workers. The focus thereof was on sustainability education in teacher training and on the social dimension of sustainability education.