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Welcome to the latest issue of LfS Scotland's monthly bulletin
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Bulletin
February 2020

Hello
Welcome to the February newsletter from Learning for Sustainability Scotland. We had a very successful AGM in January and look forward to making new connections with members - please send any information, photos, and events that you would like to share.

The Year of Coasts and Waters is getting into full swing now, with lots of events happening around the country. This month why don't you wrap up warm and get out and explore a bit of our amazing coastline. Spring is just around the corner!

best wishes

Norah Barnes

Bulletin editor
bulletin@lfsscotland.org




 

Top picks: February

Scotland's Year of Coasts and Waters 2020  - Get Involved!
The John Muir Trust and other like minded organisation have joined forces to celebrate YCW, to highlight the nature, history and culture of shorelines and waterways. This free download provides loads of  information, resources, organisations and activities - ideas to help you get involved… Starting points for finding out and doing things – dive in! 

New Review: Educational Outcomes of Learning for Sustainability
This new review examines literature relating to the educational outcomes of Learning for Sustainability (LfS), as understood in terms of policy development within and across Scotland. The review is intended to inform further research and also be of value in policy development. 

 

Scotland's Futures Forum Early Spring Lecture Series
Covering the future of education, the impact of innovation and sustainability on the jobs we do, and the shared ethics and values that will shape our political decision making, these events all take a long-term perspective on current issues. All events take place in the Scottish Parliament and are open to the public, although numbers are limited.

 

News from LfS Scotland
Update from the Learning for Sustainability Scotland Steering Group

The winds of change are gusting across the land, as our island loosens its ties with mainland Europe. For some people this will feel like a positive voyage, but, for others, estrangement from the lyric of French language, the flavour of Italian food, the craftmanship of German making and so much more is to be mourned. This can be a sad time of year, but connection with the seasonal cycle reminds us both of impermanence and persistence. If we put on our coats and boots, hat and scarf, and venture forth, the real wind against our skin can blow away our sorrows. The snowdrops are out; pure white against murk of woodland floor. Fragile flowers, but they have pushed up through hard frost ground.  

Here at Learning for Sustainability Scotland, we are striving to exhibit flexibility to withstand these winds along with strength to persist. We had a successful  AGM and Networking meeting on 10th January 2020  on ‘Feeling the Pressure: planetary health, participatory democracy and you’? The event was full, and included an overview of our activities last year, election of a new Steering Group, useful skillshare opportunities, a keynote from the RSE Young Academy of Scotland and a chance to reflect on personal intentions for the year ahead. Many thanks for the feedback and inputs to future direction from all participants. We are following up on your suggestions for Task Groups, but please remember that Task Groups are led and populated by members who coalesce around a goal, so do come forward with your plans.

The gathering also provided an opportunity to thank those who served on our Steering Group 2018 – 2020 for their hard work and commitment to the work of Learning for Sustainability Scotland. In particular thanks to Kate Campbell, Kirsten Leask, Ron MacKay and Rebecca Petford who have stepped back from the Group and will be continuing to support us in other ways. We now have a new Steering Group,(see here for more details of Steering Group members) that will meet in a few weeks time, please get in touch if there is anything you’d like to see on the agenda.  

2020 promises to be a year of  huge opportunities for Learning for Sustainability. One area of development will be our engagement with COP 26 activities. We have submitted a proposal to hold the Global RCE ESD Conference here in Scotland to link with COP26. The significant review of Learning for Sustainability and Educational Outcomes by Pete Higgins and Beth Christie was launched at last week’s Scottish Government LfS Policy and Stakeholder Network meeting.  Here SQA also shared progress on their new Learning for Sustainability Framework for SQA qualification development teams, we’re pleased to be working with them on this.  This energising meeting confirmed the need for our planned  professional learning opportunities for early learning settings, schools, colleges and teacher educators and universities, we’re looking forward to lots of activity to come in 2020. 

Before we know it, the snowdrops will be past, the crocuses will be out and spring will be in the air. In the meantime, respect the strength of the gale. “Snowdrops: theirs is a fragile but hardy celebration… in the very teeth of winter.” Louise Wilder

Rehema White,  LfS Scotland Steering Group and University of St Andrews

Betsy King, Development Manager, LfS Scotland (
betsyking@lfsscotland.org

Events & dates for your diary
All sectors

1. What difference are you Making? Edinburgh, 11th February 
Understanding and assessing social impact can be challenging. Join Matter of Focus Co-Founder Sarah Morton to hear her approach to understanding and achieving impact, as well as share ideas and stories with other attendees about how you make a difference in the world.

2. The Gathering, 19 - 20th February, Glasgow
The Gathering is the largest free voluntary sector event in the UK, a place for all the amazing people working in the sector to network and learn from each other.  With over 110 exhibitors, this flagship event is a fantastic opportunity to find out more about the voluntary sector in Scotland. 


3. Fairtrade Fortnight 24th February – 8th March
It is a scandal that behind the sweet delight of chocolate lies the bitter taste of exploitation. The average cocoa farmer in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, where 60 percent of all cocoa is grown, makes less than 75p a day. Download the new Guide to help you plan your Fairtrade activities and events.

4. Pass It On Week, 7th - 15th March

Get involved in Zero Waste Scotland's annual week celebrating all things 're-use': swapping, borrowing, renting, second-hand, donating and repairing. This year’s theme will be “The Great Toy Rescue.” 

5.  Spokes Spring Public Meeting - Local Bike Campaigning, Edinburgh, Monday 23 March 
More and more people are fighting for safer conditions to get around by bike – for the environment and climate, for health, for towns and cities not dominated by the car and for a happier life. The public meeting and a new factsheet tells the many and varied stories of people doing just that.


Schools sector

6. Scottish Education Awards, deadline 14th February
Celebrate the hard work and success which takes place in Scottish education. Get your nominations in for the Learning for Sustainability Award by 14th February.

 

7. Transform Our World: A Free Global Citizenship Conference for Secondary Teachers of all Subjects, Inverness, 29th February
This conference aims to support secondary teachers to help learners develop the knowledge, skills and values needed to create the kind of world they want to live in.  Inspiring speakers, practical subject-specific workshops, new resources, networking opportunities, lunch and support with travel costs. 

8. Scotland Malawi Partnership - Online Schools Forum,  25th February
The forum is a brilliant opportunity to hear more about support available to schools for their partnerships as well as to hear from practitioners from across Scotland with experience of partnership working. 


9. Fair-trade Celebration, Grove Academy, Dundee, 4th March
Come along to this special event to celebrate everything Fairtrade in a fun-filled and action-packed 2 hours whilst also finding out about how Social Enterprise can be the perfect vehicle to make a positive difference to social and environmental issues. Open to all secondary and primary schools in Dundee and Angus.

10. International School Grounds Alliance Conference, Stirling, 24 - 26th September
You will be inspired, equipped with new ideas and a new network of colleagues to support the outdoor learning and play in your setting. This event will draw an international audience to share the best in outdoor learning and play, focused on school grounds and local greenspaces.

 

Community Sector

11. Climate Action and the Role of Youth Work, Youthlink Scotland, Stirling, 22nd April
This policy seminar will be looking at the role of Youthwork in Climate Action, as part of the year of Coasts and Waters. How can youth workers take action through ambition and innovation to seize the enormous potential of the youth work sector in tackling the climate change crisis?

 


Events Outside Scotland

12. EAUC Annual Conference - CLIMATE2020, 23-24 June, University of Bath 
Submit a workshop proposal and/or sign up for the EAUC Annual Conference. Bringing together key stakeholders from UK and Irish universities and colleges, it will provide a platform to create solutions, facilitate knowledge exchange and foster resilience and adaptation.

 

Courses & Workshops

Schools sector 

1. Out to Play 5-week school residencies 2020
Eco Drama are currently looking for partner primary schools across Greater Glasgow to participate in 5 week Out to Play residencies during May-June, September-October, and October-November 2020. Sessions are tailored to the unique surroundings of each school, and through imaginative play and adventurous learning. Watch the Out to Play short documentary which includes first hand testimonials from teachers. For more information contact emily@ecodrama.co.uk

2. STEM by Nature
Build STEM skills through the use of nature settings and outdoor learning methodologies. The course is run by the John Muir Trust and Field Studies Council and funded by Education Scotland. For further details and to reserve your place, contact Katie Rudge.

3. Equitable and Sustainable International School Partnerships, 3 part course, Perth - 20th Feb, 5 and 19th March
This course supports teachers with an existing international school partnership to: use different global citizenship tools to explore the impact of power, equity, strengths and challenges; develop a shared vision for the future and to create an action plan to develop their partnership further.

4. Regardez! Le Monde et Moi, St John’s Academy, Perth, 25 February and 24 March
In an exciting collaboration with the Pan-Tayside Education Support Officers, the One World Centre will be delivering this course to teachers of modern languages across Tayside. This will provide an opportunity to explore games and activities with a motivating, global citizenship theme, using language skills.

5.
Critical Global Citizenship Education for the current climate, Edinburgh, 24 - 25 February
This two day workshop from IDEAS (International Development Education Association Scotland) and Bridge 47 will enhance your understanding of Global Citizenship Education (GCE) and the critical perspectives around this field of study.

6.
RSPB's Wild Challenge: Supporting real-world learning experiences outside the classroom  
Explore the natural world with two facilitator-led sessions from the RSPB and resources to facilitate your own teacher-led session. Each session is specifically linked to Curriculum for Excellence and aligns with the Eco-Schools and John Muir Award programmes. Contact Katie O'Neill (Edinburgh) or Sandra Aird (Glasgow) for more details.

7. Eco-Schools Twilight Sessions, Angus - 27 Feb, Glasgow - 3 March, Argyll -10 March
If you're an educator supporting Eco-Schools in your establishment you are very welcome to attend these twilight sessions for advice and networking.  There are three dates available so far but we plan to offer a twilight in every local authority this year.

8. Climate Ready Classrooms Workshops
Climate Ready Classrooms is a one-day accredited FREE Carbon Literacy training course for secondary schools, designed for young people aged 14–17 years, along with teachers, head teachers, CLD practitioners and youth and children’s workers.  

9. Leader in Youth Exchanges - online training course
A new online training course for youth workers aims to respond to the need to train and involve young people in the European context of Erasmus+ mobility and related professions. The online course is free and open to all. 

10. Forest and Outdoor Learning Award (FOLA) 2020, S. Lanarkshire, S and W Edinburgh, April and May
Dates, costs and booking forms for all the latest Forest School Training Collaborative courses in Scotland are now online! 



Tertiary sector 

11. EAUC Sharing Series, February - June 
This is an informal series where people working within further and higher education are invited to meet through a virtual meeting platform (Zoom) to share their experiences, debate and ask questions connected to sustainability in an institution.

4th March - Wildlife on campus - Book your place
1st April - How to engage resistant stakeholders - Book your place
6th May - Sustainable food policy and growing - Book your place
3rd June - Toxic free cleaning and herbicides - Book your place

UN Sustainable Development Goals
Learning for Sustainability Scotland members: taking forward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Scotland

All sectors

1. Youth and the SDGs Event, Scottish Parliament, 25 February 
The event will be a chance to hear the ideas of young people from across Scotland who have been participants in a project where they have explored the Goals and developed their own really exciting ideas on how Scotland can take action on the SDGs. 

If you would like to attend, please email: matt.sellar@projectscotland.co.uk 

Schools

2. The Sustainable Development Goals: A guide for teachers
The Sustainable Development Goals are a set of ambitious and urgent goals and targets aimed at changing our world for the better. Packed with practical advice, useful information, cross-curricular activity ideas and inspiring case studies; this guide from Oxfam aims to deepen teachers' understanding of education about and for the SDGs.

Support young people to take ownership, have agency and build empathy; assess learners’ progress; and investigate the links with educational priorities such as values, pupil leadership and voice, curriculum development and collaborating with the local community.

 

Resources
Every month, Education Scotland produce a bulletin for learning for sustainability in schools across Scotland. You can subscribe - for free - to receive it by clicking on this link.

Schools sector

1. New video from Bridge 47 
At a recent global gathering, Bridge 47  made a video with some of their network members talking about the importance of Global Citizenship Education and innovative educational approaches. 

2.  “Education for our Planet and our Future” Blog, British Educational Research Association 
This special issue of the BERA Blog, edited by Kevin Smith (Cardiff University), features contributions from across and beyond the field of education that address how pupils, educators and educational researchers are currently responding to our climate crisis.

3. Stand with Refugees Resource
Conflict, disaster and poverty has made home a distant memory for millions of people. Use these cross-curricular teaching ideas to help learners to strengthen their enquiry skills, think critically about why some people are forced to flee, and develop empathy for others.


Tertiary sector

4. Guidelines for Virtual Conferencing 
Building on experience garnered during the COPERNICUS Alliance Online Conference 2019, guidelines were developed on how to prepare, host and evaluate virtual conferences. These give an overview on issues such as event formats, software, technical equipment as well as recommendations for actions before, during and after a virtual event.

 

Funding & News
All sectors

1. YouthLink - Year of Coasts and Waters small grants programme
Community groups and youth work projects can apply for up to £2,000 for activities which support the YCW.  Projects can explore environmental issues, wildlife, landscape, food and drink, and more. Closing date for applications 14 February 2020. 

2. Applications invited to join RSE Young Academy of Scotland (YAS)
Applications to join the Young Academy of Scotland are now open to emerging leaders from all areas of society. YAS brings together entrepreneurs, academics, business leaders, teachers and other professionals to work on projects that benefit Scotland and beyond. 

3. Salix Finance
Salix Finance is a not-for-profit organisation, funded by Scottish Government, offering interest free finance to the public sector. Looking ahead to the Scottish Government’s net zero by 2045 target, Salix are able to offer support as your partner for a low carbon future, providing funding and guidance to reduce carbon emissions and cut energy costs.



Schools sector

4. Connecting Classrooms - New Virtual Partnerships 
This new offer is for schools who still want to collaborate locally and globally with other schools, but who don’t want to include an actual visit to their partner country. This can sometimes happen due to capacity issues or concerns about aviation emissions. Schools who wish to collaborate on a one-to-one basis with a school in another country are still eligible for all of the free support and professional learning on offer. Contact Kirsten for a chat: connectingclassrooms@lfsscotland.org 


5. Pocket Garden Design Competition 2020
Are you thinking of how to join in with the 2020 Year of Coasts and Waters?  It is one of the competition themes this year together with Keep Scotland Beautiful’s 20th birthday, One Planet Picnic and Wildlife Gardening.  Winners will be invited to display their garden in the Garden for Life area at Gardening Scotland in 2020. Deadline for competition entries is 11 March

6. Would you like to present at the Scottish Learning Festival 2020?  
Education Scotland is now accepting seminar proposals for the 2020 conference programme which will feature around 100 seminars over two days. One of the themes is : “High quality approaches to Learning for Sustainability which embrace Global Citizenship, Outdoor Learning and/or Sustainable Development Education”. Proposal deadline 21st February.  



Community sector

7. Coast and Waters Funds from SNH
SNH has launched a new fund for #YCW2020  which creates new opportunities for communities to connect with their coasts, seas and freshwaters. The fund offers grants (£2,000 – £10,000) to help community groups participate in and celebrate #YCW2020 in their own way. The fund closes on 28 February 2020, and all projects must take place between April and December 2020. 

8. Sign up to the Communities Call for Climate Action
Community organisations are being urged to sign up to the Communities Call for Climate Action. This calls for the Scottish Government to do more to tackle climate change and to recognise and support the role of community organisations in making the major changes that are necessary. 

RCE Global Network news

1. Six New RCEs Join the Global RCE Network
The Global RCE Service Centre is delighted to announce six new RCEs joining the network, making a total of 174: RCE Dobong-gu (Republic of Korea), RCE Omuta (Japan), RCE Ostwurttemberg (Germany), RCE Otago (New Zealand), RCE Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico), RCE Salisbury (USA). The updated list (including profiles) of RCEs worldwide can be viewed
 here.

2. The Futures of Education Initiative
UNESCO's Futures of Education initiative aims to rethink education and shape the future. The initiative is catalysing a global debate on how knowledge, education and learning need to be reimagined in a world of increasing complexity and uncertainty. UNESCO is welcoming active participation through the following online engagement channels: online survey, artwork submission and written contributions. 


Tertiary Sector
3. Applications Open for 2020 UNU-IAS Master's and Doctoral Degree Programmes
UNU-IAS is now accepting applications for September 2020 admission to its postgraduate degree programmes: the Master of Science in Sustainability and the PhD in Sustainability Science. Both programmes aim to produce the policymakers and researchers of tomorrow, who will be at the forefront of global efforts towards a more sustainable future. 

 

Community Sector
4. Addressing Global Citizenship Education in Adult Learning and Education - Summary Report
This report, published by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) in partnership with the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU), looks at the developments, gaps and challenges that can be identified with respect to Global Citizenship Education (GCED) in adult learning and education (ALE), and highlights examples of best practices in this field. 

  

Policy & Research 

Policy, Research, Blogs

1. Citizen Science and the SDG Research Paper
A recent paper in Nature Sustainability discusses he benefits of using citizen science and non traditional data sources to monitor and report on the SDGs.

2. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education Report
We have partnered with Emerald Publishing and are now delighted to announce that the academic sessions which have been selected for the EAUC Annual Conference 2018 have been included in a special edition of the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. An outstanding paper from the University of Strathclyde highlights their experience on embedding research-based education for sustainable development.

3. Big Climate Conversation Report
Last year, over 2,500 people took part in the public element of the Big Climate Conversation, across ten facilitated open-audience workshops, five facilitated target-audience workshops, and 110 community-led conversation events. A full analysis of all the feedback received from the workshops and the final Report of Findings from the Big Climate Conversation has now been published.

  •  
Careers

1. Eco Drama Trustees
Eco Drama is expanding its Board, seeking up to two Trustees who are passionate about the arts, education and environmental sustainability. They
 are particularly looking for individuals with skills and experience in one or more of the following areas:

- Secondary education and/or youth work
- Primary and early years education
- Community led action on climate change
- Human resources
- Marketing 

To apply, please download the following document for further information: Eco Drama Board of Directors - Application Process 2020  Closing date for applications: Monday 17th February.

2. Join the new LfSS Communications Task Group
Are you interested in improving how you communicate sustainability in a range of contexts? Do you have expertise in communicating sustainability that you could share with others? If so, the new LfSS Communications Task Group would love to hear from you.
Email:  
sarah.ford-hutchinson@ed.ac.uk  to register your interest.


3. Events Coordinator, SHRUB Cooperative, Edinburgh
SHRUB Coop is a cooperative in Edinburgh working for a world without waste!  The Events Coordinator oversees SHRUB’s events and workshops activity, with the aim of developing circular economy and a world without waste within the community. Application Deadline: midnight 23rd February 2020


4. Office Administrator, Fidra, North Berwick
Fidra is an environmental charity based in Scotland, whose mission is to use best science to identify and understand environmental issues. This is an exciting opportunity for an environmentally conscious professional to join a highly motivated and effective organisation and provide administrative support to the charity.   Closing date: Friday, 14th February 2020  

5. Climate Change Youth Officer, RSPB, Glasgow
RSPB Scotland is looking for an enthusiastic and organised individual to join the Giving Nature a Home team in Glasgow. This three day a week project officer role will lead on delivering an exciting series of climate change youth engagement events in the lead up to, and during, the Glasgow COP26 in November 2020. Closing date: 12 February 2020

This month's Spotlight features...

Inspiring Purpose – Global Citizens in the Making 

This programme, developed by Character Scotland, is a well established personal discovery activity for young people 10-16. It uses a special 3-page poster template to engage young people in an educational process that helps them to define their purpose and their goals which is well aligned with Curriculum for Excellence. Over the years the poster has proven to enhance their self-knowledge and self-awareness, as well as encouraging them to search for inspiration and define their aspirations for the future. More than 300,000 young people have taken part over the last ten years, and is now running in 92 schools in Scotland. 

While still maintaining the overall view of global citizens, our poster project this year looks at ‘sustainable futures’. Whether pupils focus on climate change, natural resources, the ecosystem or the natural environment, that is completely their decision as they go through the self-discovery journey of this poster project and as they begin to think of how they can help to impact the sustainable futures that matter most to them.

Teachers are asked to submit their five most inspirational pieces of work to us by a set deadline of 1st May 2020 so that their pupils can have the opportunity to take part in the awards and so that we can showcase and celebrate our inspirational young people.

If you are interested in taking part contact Jason Penman: admin@inspiringpurpose.org.uk

 

This month's photo comes to you from...

RSE Young Academy ‘Responsible Debate’ Workshop 

The Young Academy of Scotland are developing a charter around “Responsible Debate“ . Such debate involves rethinking what it means to be ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, opens up more space for concession and collaboration. It aims to build consensus among a wide group of people from diverse backgrounds with different experiences, abilities, and knowledge. 

Photo is from Alice Konig and Peter McColl’s presentation at the recent LfS Scotland AGM.

Would you like to see your photo here? Every month we feature a photo of the month from one of our members and next month - it could be you! With over 1200 people reading our monthly bulletin it is a wonderful place to let the Learning for Sustainability (LfS) community see all your hard work. If you have a photo you'd like to feature in 'Photo of the Month' then please email our bulletin editor Norah or check our website for details.
Learning for Sustainability Scotland (LfS Scotland) is Scotland’s UN Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development; headquartered within the University of Edinburgh. The centre is an open network where members and partners come together to undertake collaborative projects, research and advocacy that push forward Learning for Sustainability practice and policy in Scotland. LfS Scotland’s purpose is to harness the full potential of learning to create a flourishing, sustainable world.
 
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