The European project University Educators for Sustainable Development (UE4SD) has recently launched a new ‘Leading Practice Publication’ (LPP). It is the result of nearly two years of work on the UE4SD project building on the knowledge and experience of 53 partners from 33 countries active in the area of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at European higher education institutions (HEIs). In these two years (2013-2015), a wealth of information has been gathered, and some of the key findings and experiences are presented in this publication.

The LPP aims (1) to provide an overview of the best practice examples of professional development opportunities for European university educators in the area of ESD; and (2) to inspire the reader to engage in supporting further developments in this field. It can serve as a reference point for current best practice in this important field of European higher education, helping to pave the way towards a future in which all university educators have the opportunity to acquire relevant professional development in ESD.

The LPP presents 13 best practice examples on professional development of university educators in the area of ESD from 10 European countries. One of the best practice examples describes the Ecocampus thematic learning networks in Flanders, Belgium. Ecocampus is an initiative of the Flemish Government, with the objective to encourage the integration of sustainable development in higher education.

The case presents the development and outcomes of three thematic networks: teacher training; social work; and business studies. Furthermore, the ESD frameworks and principles used to set up the networks are described, e.g. the reference guide ‘Sustainable Higher Education. Understanding and Moving Forward’, commissioned and published by Ecocampus. It further provides critical questions and insights for other HEI and governmental representatives who are interested in setting up a local or regional learning network with the aim to generate awareness and understanding in ESD.

Reference of the Ecocampus case study (click title to download):

Rymenams, S., Lambrechts, W. (2015). ECOCAMPUS: Thematic learning networks in Flanders, Belgium. In: Leading Practice Publication: Professional development of university educators on Education for Sustainable Development in European countries. Editors: Kapitulčinová, D., Dlouhá, J., Ryan, A., Dlouhý, J., Barton, A., Mader, M., Tilbury, D., Mulà, I., Benayas, J., Alba, D., Mader, C., Michelsen, G., Vintar Mally, K. Charles University in Prague, Prague, pp. 62-68.

Full reference of the LPP (click title to download):

UE4SD (2015). Leading Practice Publication: Professional development of university educators on Education for Sustainable Development in European countries. Editors: Kapitulčinová, D., Dlouhá, J., Ryan, A., Dlouhý, J., Barton, A., Mader, M., Tilbury, D., Mulà, I., Benayas, J., Alba, D., Mader, C., Michelsen, G., Vintar Mally, K. Charles University in Prague, Prague, 136 pp.