<P><FONT color=#33711E><STRONG>Day 1 - Session 1A: <br>ESD in Higher Education</STRONG></FONT></P>
Rainbow Room, 5th Floor
11:30 - 11:50
1.A.1. Higher Education in India and Sustainable Development
Nilima Bhagabati, Secretary ACEAM, Department of Education, Gauhati University, India
Education, including higher education, is a basic necessity for human development. The 21st century will be the century of Knowledge Societies. Youth need to be trained and prepared for such societies. As the educational needs of youth change, the aims and objectives of higher education should evolve accordingly. Higher education has expanded enormously in India since 1947, nevertheless only 7 to 9 per cent of youth are enrolled in higher education today. Access to higher education in India is blocked by factors such as gender inequality, poverty and social status. Even for the few youth who have access to higher education, the education provided by universities does not adequately prepare youth for the job market. A factor contributing to the poor state of higher education includes the lack of clearly defined state and government policies. Where policies exist, they lack continuity and the implementation of education policies is not effective. Taking Gauhati University as an example, a study was conducted to examine the relationship between higher Education and sustainable development. This paper discusses the findings of the study.
Download the paper (word, 144kb)
11:50 - 12:10
1.A.2. Realizing Sustainable Development in Higher Education through Soft Skills
Maria Salih, Sultan Idris University of Education, Malaysia
Recognizing the importance of human capital for sustainable development, the Malaysian Government is accelerating the development of human capital. According to the Prime Minister, a holistic approach should be taken in developing this asset. This approach not only builds knowledge and skills in the areas of science, technology and entrepreneurship, it also involves forming attitudes, ethics and values that are conducive to sustainable development. It has been observed that incorporating learning of “soft skills” into the education system can contribute to the holistic development of human capital. Consequently, the Public Universities in Malaysia have introduced strategies to teach seven soft skills. This paper discusses the seven soft skills and describes some of the strategies undertaken by the local universities to infuse them into education.
Download the paper (word, 105kb) and presentation (pdf, 80kb)
12:10 - 12:30
1.A.3. National Strategy for Science Education in Timor Leste
Alisher Umarov, Programme Specialist, UNESCO Jakarta
Download the presentation (pdf, 630kb)
12:30 - 12:50
1.A.4 Professional-Designed Academic Curriculum: An Essential Innovative Practice in ESD for Hospitality and Tourism Industry
Chinda Tejavanija Chang, Director, Sripatum International College, Thailand
Thailand is a major tourist destination and the demand for human resources to serve the hospitality and tourism industry is increasing. As a result, public and private higher education institutions in Thailand which offer courses in Hospitality and Tourism have expanded significantly during the past decade. The goal of most Hospitality and Tourism courses is to produce graduates with qualifications that meet international standards, who also retain a touch of Thai hospitality. These graduates should be equipped with core competencies and professional skills, and be multi-lingual, ICT literate, and service-minded, with professional ethics. An essential practice for Hospitality and Tourism education is a professionally-designed academic curriculum. Curriculum structures and study programmes have been specially developed and designed by higher education institutions and professional associations in the Hospitality and Tourism industry. Other important practices in preparing graduates for the hospitality and tourism industry are improving teaching methodologies and strengthening university-industry partnerships.
Download the paper (word, 90kb) and presentation (pdf, 260kb)