Celebrating 21 years of Education for Sustainability

13th Jan 2017 09:30 – 18:00

Join us to celebrate 21 years of Education for Sustainability MSc at LSBU where we will be reflecting on the impact of EfS and looking forward to future developments in this important field of education

On 13 January 2017, the Division of Social Sciences welcomes Professor Stephen Sterling, Professor of Sustainability Education at the Centre for Sustainable Futures, Plymouth University, to deliver the keynote speech on the importance of Education for Sustainability (EfS) work in an age of global uncertainty.

We are also joined by a pioneer of sustainable fashion, Safia Minney, the founder of People Tree. She is recognised by the World Economic Forum as an Outstanding Social Entrepreneur. Safia will speak to us about her work, the challenges and barriers we face today and the role of education in creating social change.

We have also flown one of our successful alumni, Naomi Namara Karekaho from Uganda, to join us and share the impact of EfS in her work at the National Environment Management Authority in Uganda.

Professor Stephen Sterling, Plymouth University

Stephen Sterling is Professor of Sustainability Education at the Centre for Sustainable Futures, Plymouth University, UK. A former Senior Advisor to the UK Higher Education Academy on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), and a National Teaching Fellow, he has worked in environmental and sustainability education in the academic and NGO fields nationally and internationally for over three decades, including as a consultant and advisor on UNESCO’S ESD programmes. He was Head of Sustainability Education at Plymouth until last year, when he went part-time, but remains a key part of the Centre for Sustainable Futures  which operates as part of Teaching and Learning Support. In this role he works with colleagues to support Plymouth’s record on and commitment to sustainability education, and continues research on aspects of ESD. He remains Chair of the University’s Sustainability Advisory Group, a subgroup of UEG, which oversees PU’s overall sustainability performance across teaching and learning, research, and campus operations.

Safia Minney, People Tree

Safia is recognised internationally as the pioneer of sustainable fashion, and as one of the best known people in the Fair Trade movement. She is also recognised by the World Economic Forum as an Outstanding Social Entrepreneur. Safia launched Global Village in 1991 in Japan, out of which People Tree was born, and then in London in 2000. She drove the business as CEO, Creative Director, and Head of Fair Trade supply chain development and communications. People Tree was the first fashion company to achieve organic and Fair Trade certification in the world. The business brings social impact to over 5000 economically disadvantaged farmers, artisans & tailors. Safia is author of: 'By Hand'; 'Naked Fashion – The Sustainable Revolution'; 'Slow Fashion – Aesthetics meets Ethics'; and is currently working on 'Slave to Fashion', campaigning to eradicate modern slavery. Safia and her pioneering work in delivering social change are featured in the movie ‘True Cost’, profiling Safia as as a leading spokesperson on the fashion industry.

Naomi Namara Karekaho, National Environment Management Authority

Having spent 14 years in the communication and education sectors, Naomi firmly believes in how information can change lives and transform societies. Currently, Naomi is the Corporate Communications Manager at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), a public institution that uses information to empower Uganda’s public to actively and proactively participate in how the country’s natural resources are utilised to ensure social and economic freedom. She successfully completed her MSc in Education for Sustainability from London South Bank University.

Register here for this free event.