Capacity Building And Partnerships For Sustainable Development: The Luced
Model
R. FINCHAM1, B. PILLAY2, S. LUTCHMIAH3,
J.L.
KORRûBEL1 and D. PILLAY2*
This article documents the "Linked University Consortia for Environment
and Development (LUCED)", a model aimed at building scientific and
technological capacity within our continent and beyond. It further serves to
inform the readership of "Science in Africa" of the opportunities for
collaboration within this model. Finally, the authors discuss the proposed
activities and anticipated impact of this consortium within the WSSD process.
The goal of sustainable development is to create and maintain prosperous
social, economic, and ecological systems for future generations of humankind.
One of the major lessons learned since the 1992 United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED) is that transition towards sustainable
development is inconceivable without science, engineering and technology.
Therefore, promoting the goals of sustainability, addressing immediate human
and social needs while preserving the earth's fragile life support systems, has
emerged as an increasing priority for the international Science and
Technological Community (IS&TC). The IS&TC in its submissions 1,2
to the Preparatory Committee Meetings of the Multi-stakeholder Dialogue Sessions
preceding the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to be held in
Johannesburg, South Africa in August/September 2002 has urged the nations of the
world to accelerate the building of capacity, especially in developing
countries, and to form mutually-sustaining, synergistic partnerships to achieve
this.
What are LUCED and SACUDE?
In 1997, universities in Denmark discussed the concept of universities from
disparate parts of the globe working together to develop their capacities around
strategic environment and development concerns within urban and industrial
settings. Under the umbrella of the Linked University Consortia for Environment
and Development - Industry and Urban Areas (LUCED-I&UA), the Southern
African Consortium of Universities for Development and Environment - Industry
and Urban Areas (SACUDE-I&UA) was formed in 1998. The objective of this, and
a number of other consortia worldwide, was to consolidate tertiary level
expertise in an effort to enhance education, research capacity and continued
education in environmental management in an urban context.
LUCED-I&UA is an active partnership of nineteen universities in five
countries providing innovative responses to industrial and urban challenges
through a shared approach to life-long learning, research and leadership
development. These include:
· DUCED-I&UA - five universities comprising the 'Danish University
Consortium for Environment and Development - Industry and Urban Areas' (www.duced-iua.dk).
· SACUDE-I&UA - six universities comprising the Southern African Consortium
(www.sacude.unp.ac.za).
· MUCED-I&UA - four universities comprising the Malaysian Consortium (www.muced.um.edu.my).
· TUCED-I&UA - four universities comprising the Thai Consortium.
SACUDE-I&UA includes the following universities:
· University of Botswana
· University of the Witwatersrand
· University of Durban-Westville
· University of Natal
· University of the Western Cape
· University of Cape Town
The present scenario: the role of LUCED
LUCED-I&UA has practical experience in engaging students, staff and the
wider society through:
· Cross-cultural leadership development: providing gender-sensitive
cross-cultural leadership development in environmental management through the
provision of field-based courses;
· Learning how to learn: knowledge creation through curriculum development and
Problem-Based Learning approaches;
· Research Networks: global research networks addressing a number of
sustainable environment and development issues such as water resources
management, waste management, public participation and environmental impact
assessment;
· Professional Training: training and appropriate technology transfer for
government and industry on issues such as cleaner production, EIAs and solid
waste management;
· Joint projects with stakeholders: University staff and students engaging
practically with industry, local government managers, NGOs and communities; and
· Community Service: Science workshops providing public service and assistance
to pollution-affected communities.
This unique collaboration provides a cross-cultural crucible for learners to
develop core skills and a critical and global perspective on the challenges of
sustainable development. This inter- and multi disciplinary approach enables the
consortia to explore key social, economic, environmental and technical
challenges necessary for the implementation of Agenda 21 at all levels in our
global village.
The consortias' learning network seeks to explore new perspectives on key
questions and challenges. In addition to exploring questions of economic growth
in the context of seeking equity and redress, this collaborative effort enables
learners to share and further develop the core technical skills and leadership
that universities are expected to deliver. LUCED recognizes and accepts the
responsibility and role of universities in responding to our global sustainable
development challenges. We are convinced that networks and partnerships such as
this form an exciting foundation for the establishment of a learning society
able to adapt and respond to the sustainable development challenges of urban and
industrial areas.
The road ahead: Participation in the WSSD
The WSSD meeting to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa during
August/September 2002 provides an appropriate forum and window of opportunity
for both LUCED-I&UA and SACUDE-I&UA to draw attention to their efforts
on building scientific and technological capacity at the regional, national and
international levels. Having recognised this, the consortia will highlight the
role that Southern African universities have played and can play with regard to
capacity development in environmental management. The participating universities
are knowledge centres and agents of change in sustainable development.
Interestingly, Mrs. Annan in addressing the United Nations on 14th May 2002 on
behalf of Kofi Annan (Secretary General of the UN) noted the following 3:
"In Johannesburg, governments will agree on a common plan of action. But
the most creative agents of change may well be partnerships among Governments,
private businesses, non-profit organisations, scholars and concerned
citizens". This consortium sees tertiary institutions involved with
scientific and technological research as being central to forming partnerships
for sustainable development. This viewpoint was also expressed by the IS&TC
in its submission to PrepCom IV2. The following activities are being planned by
the LUCED-I&UA consortia 4:
· A pre-WSSD conference to be held in Botswana which will highlight the
importance of higher education and research in human resource development as an
overall policy goal of development.
· A joint LUCED-I&UA "Declaration on Higher Education and Research for
Sustainable Development" will be prepared for presentation at the WSSD.
· A LUCED-I&UA publication describing its activities and approach
methodologies will be developed.
· A video on "Problem Based Learning", to be telecast at the
pre-summit conference and at the WSSD, will be produced.
· A LUCED-I&UA information system for information dissemination activities
between co-operating universities and other stakeholders will be developed.
The objective of the proposed activities outlined above is to assist the WSSD
in its assessment of the implementation of Agenda 21 as prescribed by the Rio
Earth Summit held in 1992. In addition, the activities will be used to help the
WSSD in developing targets related to educational issues, activities and public
awareness.
Conclusion
The role of higher education in general, and universities in particular, is
underestimated in Agenda 21. It is therefore crucial that Agenda 21 is
revisited, reviewed and amended so as to draw from the experience and approach
of LUCED-I&UA and its various consortia, and thereby strengthen the
universities' role as knowledge centres in capacity building for the future. The
results of the LUCED-I&UA co-operative endeavours need to be shared with
others from higher educational institutions as well as decision-makers in
industry and governmental policy makers in the international community. SACUDE-I&UA
is committed to making a significant contribution to the Millennium African
Renaissance Programme through its capacity building programmes of teaching,
professional training, research and outreach activities at institutions of
higher learning 5. Its focus on industrial and urban development is designed to
promote the emergence of vibrant, healthy cities for present and future
generations. This aspect complements the vision presented in the New Partnership
for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Finally, and most importantly, resolutions
emerging from the WSSD process may come to nought if there is a lack of
political will and the absence of a common shared vision by all nations.
Article by:
R. FINCHAM1, B. PILLAY2, S. LUTCHMIAH3, J.L.
KORRûBEL1 and D. PILLAY2*
1Centre for Environment and Development, University of Natal, P. Bag X01,
Scottsville, 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; 2Department of Microbiology,
and 3Department of Geography, University of Durban-Westville, P. Bag X54001,
Durban, 4000, South Africa.
Further information:
Professor D Pillay:E-mail: dpillay@pixie.udw.ac.za
References and further information:
1. International Council for Science. 2002. Report of the
Scientific and Technological Community to the World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD). Dialogue paper to the Second Preparatory Committee for the
WSSD, 28th January to 8th February 2002.
2. International Council for Science. 2002. Science and
technology for sustainable development. Dialogue paper by the Scientific and
Technological Community for the multi-stakeholder dialogue segment of the fourth
meeting of the WSSD Preparatory Committee. 28th to 29th May 2002, Bali,
Indonesia.
3. World Summit on Sustainable Development: Information and activities. 2002.
http://www.sacude.unp.ac.za.
4. Annan, K.A. 2002. Towards a sustainable future. United Nations, New York,
USA.
5. SACUDE-I&UA. 2001. First progress report to the Project Steering
Committee.
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