a non-conformist approach and positioning
As to Sustainable Development
The thinking underlying OPEDUCA did not start out from the well-known narrative many scholarly publications in the field of ESD start out with, referring to Brundtland and a range of conferences. Pointing out mankind’s efforts by summing up an ever longer and dated series of politics- and policy-induced programs, plans and agreements, does not reflect brave actions in challenging times but an institutionalised process kept upright to stay away from such most truly. Already in her 1988 Christmas speech, former Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands said: “The earth slowly dies and the unthinkable, the end of life itself, becomes conceivable …. We people have become a threat for our planet”. This basic and most inconvenient truth is worded in endless variety in policy reports and literature which pulls our attention to uncontrolled population growth, excessive deforestation, destruction of habitats, extinction of species, increased greenhouse effects causing climate change, acid rain, erosion of stratospheric layers and the social-economic aspects of it all. Restating, reconfirming, re-acknowledging and so forth these claims and notions in an endless series of conferences and research papers adds no value.
Moreover since it is common in the world of research and policy-development to speak of ESD in terms of togetherness, uncertainty and complexity, pointing to a re-alignment of existing systems, we argued we might be more divided than perceived and with every more, living in times more certain than believed.
to be published further as of February 2nd, 2022
Away from school and education, back to human learning
As to Learning
In line with the vision on Sustainable Development, the OPEDUCA Project focuses on the development of youngsters, enabling and empowering them to learn Anytime, Anyplace, with Anybody, through Any Device about future defining themes to create a more sustainable future. We spoke about education as a magnificent work of humankind being treated unfairly and expressed that ESD as convergence of our strive for sustainable development through education did not live up to its promise.
The OPEDUCA-concept makes a full-scale transition of education- and school-practice possible, building from present capacity, meeting today's standards while effectuating future possibilities. It takes learning beyond conventional practices by introducing innovative learning methodologies and whole system learning strategies that improve education from within, positioning teachers and students as the owners and drivers of transformation through learning.
Acknowledging a natural order of Earth, Well-being and Welfare, the OPEDUCA-concept starts from these “Dimensions of Sustainable Development” (Eussen, 2007) from which future-defining themes are derived, eventually informing an integrated education. Primary, secondary and further education are connected through students’ permanent inquiry-, problem- and community learning on these themes, thereby tapping into regional society and global communities in which people and organisations become ‘Partners in Education'. The learning is student-based, the learning an ongoing pathway as a tread throughout and beyond the system.
