In a world where the challenges of sustainability, equity, and inclusivity loom large, education emerges as a beacon of hope, a pathway towards a brighter future. It's within this context that Transformative Education takes center stage, encompassing Global Citizenship Education (GCED) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
Transformative Education equips the young minds of today with the tools, values, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to drive positive change and foster just, inclusive, and sustainable societies.
At the heart of this endeavor lie Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), pivotal actors with the capacity to shape the educational landscape, notably through the training of teachers who will then promote Transformative Education in their classrooms. Recognizing their crucial role, the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in Beirut has been committed to promoting Transformative Education through higher education across the Arab States.
UNESCO’s Role in Promoting Transformative Education
In 2022, a comprehensive study commissioned by UNESCO shed light on the efforts of HEIs in mainstreaming some components of Transformative Education in the Arab region, revealing both progress and areas requiring further attention.
Armed with the findings of this study, UNESCO mobilized its network to explore the development of university courses on Transformative Education for teachers' pre-service training, a crucial step towards institutionalizing TE within the fabric of education.
Towards a Sustainable University Cooperation
Building on the momentum generated by these UNESCO-led discussions, a number of universities expressed their eagerness to formalize cooperation in advancing TE across the Arab-European region.
To further support this endeavor, the UNESCO Beirut Office organized a meeting in Istanbul, Türkiye, in February 2024, where Saint-Joseph University (Lebanon), Institute Supérieur des Cadres de l’Enfance (Tunisia), Sultan Qaboos University (Oman) and the UNESCO Chair on GCED in Higher Education at the University of Bologna (Italy) converged to outline a joint action plan and to prepare an application for the creation of a UNITWIN university network.
This network holds the promise of fostering sustainable actions with far-reaching impact, laying the groundwork for a brighter educational landscape in Arab and European countries.
The creation of this university network is a tangible result of UNESCO’s investment in Transformative Education in the Arab region over the past years
This cooperation will support even further UNESCO’s mandate; the intellectual contributions of the network members will directly benefit teachers and students in our region.
Khalaf Marhoun AlAbri, Associate Professor of Education Systems and Policies in Sultan Qaboos University, Oman, said that the outcomes of the meeting will have a significant impact on universities’ actions in GCED and ESD.
Working with UNESCO to create an academic network on GCED/ESD was an exciting and enriching opportunity. This opportunity allowed me to collaborate with global experts in these fields and contribute to initiatives to promote values of global citizenship, sustainability and development.
Empowering Future Teachers for Stronger Impact
Amidst these efforts, the launch of the UNESCO publication titled "Including Transformative Education into Pre-Service Teacher Training: A Guide for Universities and Teacher Training Institutions in the Arab Region" marks a significant milestone.
This resource equips faculty deans and academia with practical insights and strategies to cultivate transformative courses for pre-service teachers, paving the way for a future generation of educators armed with the tools to effect positive change.
Together, let us embrace the power of education to shape a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world for generations to come!
