The Regional Centre of Expertise Western Australia: ‘Sense of Place’ Network (RCE WA) is the first such centre to be formally acknowledged in Australia.

RCE WA joins the growing global network of 85 RCEs committed to action the goals of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD, 2005 – 2014).

The United Nations (DESD, 2005 – 2014) stresses the need to reorient existing education towards sustainability through the delivery of transformative education; which empowers people for change, broadens the focus of learning experiences beyond the classroom walls, incorporates a multi-disciplinary approach and emphasises the benefits of lifelong learning.

What constitutes an RCE

An RCE is a network of existing formal, non-formal and informal organisations mobilised to promote and improve delivery of education for sustainable development (EfS) to local and regional communities.

RCEs across the world, facilitated through the United Nations University (UNU), make up the Global Learning Space for Sustainable Development and aspire to achieve the goals of the UN (DESD, 2005-2014), by translating its global objectives into the context of the local communities in which they operate.

RCEs are acknowledged by the UNU based on recommendations of the Ubuntu Committee of Peers for the RCEs, which consists of signatories of the Ubuntu Declaration signed in 2002.

RCE WA vision

The RCE WA: ‘Sense of Place’ Network is bringing together educators, designers, business and the corporate sector, cultural practitioners, researchers, scientists, engineers, policy-makers and young people from across Western Australia, to provide a framework for strategic thinking and action on sustainability, stewardship of the region’s natural capital and global citizenship.

Securing sustainability for the future requires that values, which motivate people to live sustainably and encourages them to form meaningful connections to their environment are embedded in their everyday lives. Education has a key role to play in fostering these values and instilling an enduring ‘sense of place’.

RCE WA is working towards delivering this vision through the development of a broad and inclusive collaborative partnership of local and regional stakeholders who are willing to engage in dialogue, share examples of best practice, and promote the region’s future through new forms of education research.

We are inviting EfS stakeholders within Western Australia (such as businesses, NFP organisations, schools, colleges universities and organisations involved in life-long learning such as museums, local volunteer groups and the like) to join us.

How to join

You can join either by accessing the online application form or using the RTF form:

Please supply information about projects and activities which you think should be included in the information our network is presenting about the region. We would like to meet key players in your organisation with a responsibility or enthusiasm for EfS activities.

We are interested in aligning our network with existing or proposed projects, which demonstrate:

• a focus on transformative learning
• partnership working across educational systems (formal, semi-formal)
• elements which can be clearly presented as research.

Information about the Education for Sustainable Development program

General information about the Education for Sustainable Development program conducted by the Institute of Advanced Studies at the United Nations University in Japan is available in the following document:

Examples of existing Regional Centres for Expertise are RCE Saskatchewan and RCE Northeast.

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