Awards for two ITAS-Projects related to the United Nations Decade "Education for Sustainable Development" [26.06.2014]

The projects "District Future – Urban Lab" and "Karlsruhe School of Sustainability" have been awarded the status of an official project for the last two years of the UN Decade. The status is awarded to initiatives that implement the goals of Education for Sustainable Development in an exemplary manner, teaching members of all generations to think and act sustainably.

In their endorsement of the UN Decade "Education for Sustainable Development", the members of the United Nations declared their commitment to including this approach to learning in their education systems. The German UNESCO Commission coordinates the national activities taking place within this framework. A jury of experts decides on award-worthy projects. Requirements are - besides a clear focus on Education for Sustainable Development - an innovative character, a broad spectrum of addressees, and cooperation with other projects.

The award ceremony for designated projects took place in Stuttgart on March 26th, the UNESCO-Day at DIDACTA, the main German education fair. Prof. Gerhard de Haan, Chair of the German national committee for the UN decade, presented the certificates to the project teams together with Mr. Walter Hirche, President of the German UNESCO Commission. In his award speech, de Haan praised the different characteristics of the various projects and emphasized the importance of addressing a broad spectrum of social groups.

The "Karlsruhe School of Sustainability" project helps to establish and develop several educational programs for Sustainable Development at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from an introduction for first year students to training schemes for researchers entering the field of sustainability sciences. The cooperative project "District Future – Urban Lab" aims to initiate an open and long-term transformation process towards sustainability in one model district of Karlsruhe. The intense interaction between KIT and the urban society creates a space for experimentation with future-oriented ideas, social and technological innovations, and life designs.

Both projects will cooperate closely to support and foster KIT's commitment to sustainability research and education.