Greening of Education: Ukraine's Contribution

For training specialists in sustainable development, International Institute-Association of the Regional Ecological Problems (IIAREP) ensured the scientific development and practical implementation of the greening of education concept in the Ukrainian National Forestry University (UNFU, Lviv) over the past 15 years. This was achieved through cooperation with the Universities of Freiburg (Germany), Gent (Belgium), and Padua (Italy) in the framework of the EU Program Tempus-Tacis projects. The primary result was the introduction in 1998 of a new Master's degree specialty in ecological economics. This experience prompted inclusion of environmental requirements in all curricula at the local level (i.e., at UNFU). IIAREP and partners are cooperating with Ukraine's Ministry of Education to disseminate the greening of education concept at the national level. We are committed to introducing the programs of greening of education throughout Ukraine by 2014, when the "Decade of Education for Sustainable Development" ends. Through the Rio +20 Dialogues and side event, the organizing partners will promote the concept of greening of education internationally. The implementation of this concept is crucial for the formation of green thinking and the building of a green economy, and accordingly, should be included in the output documents of "Rio+20".