Definitions and concepts

Well-being for all, within the means of nature

We view our mission for Peace and Sustainability as another expression of the global desire to embrace Sustainable Development. To make more sense of this we have chosen this definition of Sustainable Development above from the Global Footprint Network . Many others exist but we have found that this one memorably encapsulates the challenge we are addressing. It is measurable and achievable, suggesting that the way forward for humanity is to work for a life of dignity and opportunity for all, guided and bound by limits of the Earth's life support systems.

This does not invalidate other definitions, nor does it contradict our focus on the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development which has a specific set of Global Goals for the short term and which we also use as a framework for understanding. Like all definitions and models, it is a simplification of a very complex reality but we like it because in one short statement it describes the better world that we at UWCSEA are educating for and can be understood by most ages groups.

The graphic below shows how it applies to nations' sustainable development. However we firmly believe that this is something we want to achieve as a school and community as well. The local is the global.

A Commitment to Care

Of all the skills and qualities of our Learner Profile , we believe this to be the essential attribute for us all to develop if we are truly to embrace the challenge of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Education about Sustainable Development has existed for 20 or more years, but a mere academic understanding has not delivered the changes required. Only through a deeply-held conviction that Sustainable Development is mankind's most urgent challenge and a heartfelt commitment to learning the skills and knowledge to begin making effective change, will we succeed as a community in shaping a better world.

Systems-thinking

This approach has been at the heart of thinking about the challenge of Sustainable Development, even before the term was popularised in the 1980's. Since the Limits to Growth was published in 1972, a team based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed thinking and analysis tools that allow organisations to see the interconnectedness of systems and design solutions for the issues they create. These tools have been widely shared in education by the Waters Foundation and this region by Compass Education (whose Sustainability Compass tool will be very familiar with many in our community). However systems-thinking is not just an learning tool for students but a way in which increasingly at the College we are understanding how to integrate our all parts of our Learning Programme, leadership and operations to better educate for Sustainable Development. Read more here about how Systems-thinking has shaped our approach to Education for Sustainable Development at UWCSEA and see this easy-to-understand image below for an introduction to the type of systems thinking habits that we are encouraging our community to adopt. Further research work is being carried out on understanding and teaching of Complex Adaptive Systems with help from our educational partners the Ellen Macarthur Foundation.