FEASTA EDUCATION PROJECT

There is a growing impetus to promote the concept of sustainability at at EU and at Government levels. As most of us now realise, the key to a sustainable society involves finding alternatives to our economic system, which depends on constant growth and consumption regardless of the human and environmental costs. Yet, in our schools, colleges and universities if a young person wants to study sustainable economics they cannot find it on the curriculum.

The aim of the Education Project Group is to get sustainable economics onto the curriculum at primary, secondary and third level education.

FEASTA course in Belfast

Hosted at the Gibson Institute for Land, Food and Environment, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast

This was a course designed to explore the root causes of unsustainability: how our society and economy fails to think about and plan for its own long-term health and survival. The course fostered joined-up thinking in considering how to tackle the problems and frame potential solutions.

For instance, what is the link between global climate change, genetically modified foods and rising fuel prices?

The 10 sessions used Feasta's 'Community Learning Toolkit', a CD ROM containing readings, videos and audio recordings that enable a community of learners to explore the issues further.

Starting on Tuesday 21 February, 2005 Nicola Creighton from the FEASTA Education Group facilitated the 10 evenings of presentation and discussion, which explored the issues of

Money, Growth, Climate Change, Energy, Food, Land-use and Democracy.

More...

Community Learning Toolkit

February 2005

Feasta's learning 'toolkit', an exploration into the root causes of unsustainability and potential solutions, was presented in a 10 week course starting in the Cultivate Centre on Tuesday the 22nd of February. Richard Douthwaite wrote the study guide for the resource which was designed to focus the learners' thoughts and Cultivate's Davie Philip facilitated the 10 evenings.

FEASTA's 'toolkit' is being used by other local groups and circles of friends around the country. The 'toolkit' contains books, readings, videos and audio recordings designed to provide the materials to enable a group of learners to explore the issues further. If you are interested in finding out more about this set of resources for your own local group contact communication@feasta.org.

FEASTA's Community Learning Toolkit
A 10 week course. Starting 22nd February from 7.00 - 9.00 - €80.00
At the CULTIVATE Centre,
To book call Davie on 01 6746396

The Community Learning Toolkit was launched on Friday the 26th of November 2004 with a short lecture by Richard Douthwaite .

The aim of this training is to have a number of facilitators who can, with their local group or with a group of friends, work through and test the materials and make suggestions for improvement. If you were unable to attend the training, and many of you are from outside Ireland but are interested in working with the 'Toolkit' in the future, please send me an e-mail outlining how you see that working. Our future plan for this educational resource is to host the material on our members' web-site, which would facilitate its use outside Ireland.

For further information about the education group, e-mail the convenor at education@feasta.org.

Seminar Report - 'Strengthening the role of the Irish Higher Education community in support of sustainable development'

This seminar was organised by Feasta together with the Tipperary Institute and the Development Studies Center, and took place at the Tipperary Institute on November 28th, 2001.

Web Version

PDF Version