Educational alliance for a sustainable Toronto: The University of Toronto and the City's United Nations University (UNU) Regional Centre of Expertise

摘要

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to describe the role that the University of Toronto has had inrnhelping to establish a Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Developmentrnin Toronto, Canada. The way in which the RCE initiative has helped to move forward the university'srnown five-year plan will also be discussed.rnDesign/methodology/approach - The paper begins with a historical overview of the developmentrnof the Toronto RCE, acknowledging the diverse range of NGO, governmental and educationalrninstitutions that collaborate within this network. It then describes how the RCE initiative is helping tornadvance the objectives of the University of Toronto's own five-year plan. Finally, the paper details howrnthe University of Toronto has supported specific projects of the RCE, and where it hopes to help to leadrnthe RCE into the next phase of its development.rnFindings - In addition to presenting a case study of an RCE, the paper includes critical discussion ofrnbroader conceptual issues, such as how one might best interpret "interdisciplinarity" and communityrn"outreach" in a university setting.rnOriginality/value - The UN University's RCE is, in itself, a highly original and valuable initiative.rnThe paper describes one of these networks and its own, unique focus, while also drawing conclusionsrnabout how universities might more actively engage with community partners to advancernenvironmental awareness.