Malaysia, a key player in the global sustainable development movement, took the lead in hosting the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for 2030 Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting on Transforming the Futures of Education. The meeting was held from 2 to 4 July 2024 in Kuala Lumpur. It was a collaborative effort organised by UNESCO, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN-SDSN), the Ministry of Education of Malaysia, and the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO (MNCU), with support from strategic partners such as the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, Sunway University, and the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO.
In response to the crises of climate change, inequality, and social unrest, the ESD for 2030 Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting brought together over 100 leaders and educators from 25 countries. The meeting aimed to exchange knowledge, engage in policy discussions, and take collaborative action to equip current and future generations with the essential tools they need to navigate our complex world.
Themed “Mainstreaming Education for Sustainable Development in Learning Systems,” the meeting was a platform for knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and collaborative action. Participants explored innovative methods to integrate ESD into regional learning systems through diverse sessions, expert panels, site visits, and working groups. The discussions, which focused on key areas such as school curricula, teaching methods, and assessment frameworks, led to the development of localized, practical ESD models from across the region. These models, inspired by the meeting, offer a more holistic, transformative, and innovative approach to ESD implementation.
Madam Fadzilah Fadzil, Secretary-General of the MNCU, officiated the meeting on behalf of the Minister of Education Malaysia, who served as the President of MNCU. She emphasised that the meeting’s objectives were in line with Malaysia’s MADANI philosophy, which encourages moral principles and a sense of accountability, directing students to utilise their education for beneficial community and environmental impact.
The event was broadcast, and its recording can be viewed here:
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