Greater Cincinnati named a Regional Center of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development

The Greater Cincinnati region has officially been recognized as a Regional Center of Expertise (RCE GC) in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) by the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability. RCE GC now joins a global network of over 170 regions across the world, and just the 12^th in the United States, recognized for their ESD efforts. 

An RCE is a local network of existing formal, non-formal, and informal organizations that facilitate learning towards sustainable development in local and regional communities. An RCE involves school teachers, professors at higher education institutions, environmental NGOs, scientists, researchers, museums, zoos, botanical gardens, local government officials, representatives of local enterprises, volunteers, media, civic associations or individuals who work in the spheres of sustainable development such as economic growth, social development, and environmental protection, students and learners at all levels.

The goals of a RCE network are to:

1. Re-orient education towards Sustainable Development, tailoring ESD curriculum to address issues and local context of the community in which they operate.
2. Deliver trainers’ training programs and develop methodologies and learning materials for them; and
3. Lead advocacy and awareness-raising efforts in the public about the importance of educators and the essential role of ESD in achieving a sustainable future.

A multi-institutional effort to craft and submit the application for Greater Cincinnati’s RCE recognition was led by UC Center for Public Engagement with Science (PEWS) Faculty Affiliate Dr. Andrew Bernier, an instructor of STEM and Sustainability Education in the UC School of Education and Manager of Education for Cincinnati Parks. With the support of PEWS, Green Umbrella, Cincinnati Public Schools, and the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology (CECH-IT) Office of Innovations & Community Partnerships, over a dozen individuals lent their time and insights into crafting and reviewing the application.

The application process started with informational meetings in Spring of 2023, with writing commencing in Fall of 2023 and submission in September of 2024. The application highlighted the work that local partners are already facilitating for ESD outcomes along with projects and plans to amplify inter-organizational collaborations. 35 entities across all sectors submitted signed letters of committed support to ensuring the establishment of RCE GC and continuing the work of their respective ESD efforts, including the City of Cincinnati, the University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, Miami University, Rumpke, World Affairs Council, GroundWork ORV, MadTree Brewing, and more. 

The University of Cincinnati will serve as the secretariat organization for RCE GC to the UNU-IAS, and will be facilitated as a shared initiative between PEWS, CECH-IT, advisory boards comprised of local partners, and Cincinnati Parks, the latter of whom will physically host RCE GC at the Bettman Center for Natural Resources. RCE GC will also work in tandem in the newly established Cincinnati Inner Development Goals (IDG) to align ESD efforts with transformational skill development for sustainable outcomes.

RCE GC is still building their digital presence and hopes to come “online” by the Fall of 2025. For more information about the RCE network, visit the Homepage – RCE Americas Network. You can also easily peruse a clear summary of the RCE Network history and function by visiting the Regional Centres of Expertise – Wikipedia page.