This short course is offered jointly by the UNESCO Chair in Education for Sustainable Development with the Earth Charter, based at the University for Peace in Costa Rica and the Earth Charter Center for Education for Sustainable Development, and the UNESCO Chair in International Education for Development based at George Washington University in USA. It focuses on education for sustainable development, global citizenship, and transformative learning. Since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the central role of education as a driving force in the transformation of societies towards sustainability has been emphasized. 

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED) have become central priorities within UNESCO’s education program. As part of the 2030 Agenda, specifically under SDG 4, target 4.7, countries have committed to not only increasing public awareness of sustainability but also transforming education to address complex global challenges. The 2023 Recommendation on Education for Peace and Human Rights further reinforces the critical role of education in fostering international understanding, cooperation, and sustainable development. Effectively implementing these commitments requires equipping educators with the necessary theoretical and pedagogical expertise in ESD and GCED.

This course is designed to address the challenge faced by educational systems at various levels—preparing educators with the knowledge, skills, and transformative learning approaches necessary for sustainable development and global citizenship education (GCED).

Offered to institutions aiming to enhance their staff’s or educators’ capacities in ESD and GCED, the course will utilize the Earth Charter as an ethical framework to guide learning and application.