Humanity is creating problems faster than it is creating solutions to solve them..”
“Man, on different scales, has become a geological power, [he] is capable of transforming the Earth, and this is what we call, in a way, the Anthropocene.”This is how Gaëll Mainguy, CRI's Director of Development and International Relations, describes the inadequacy of yesterday's solutions to the challenges we face today. Beyond our own actions, we need to train the “Anthropocene” generation, which is growing up at the heart of climate issues, and give it all the tools it needs to shape a sustainable future.
From then on, how can we rethink learning to enable everyone to have an impact on the environment and society?
Rethinking the way we learn to meet tomorrow's challenges
You must “encourage learners to be collaborative and open rather than competitive” (Alison Bellwood, Creator and Director of the World's Largest Lesson, Project Everyone). This is what we have been working towards at CRI since its creation. We encourage students to co-construct projects whose impact must be both environmental and societal.
Since 2016, this commitment has been formalized by the inclusion of CRI's strategy in favor of Sustainable Development Objectives defined by the United Nations. This commitment begins with the training of CRI students in the LMD curriculum. (Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral School) the’University of Paris.
We know that we have to constantly adapt our positioning to ensure that our commitment is in line with the evolution of global challenges.
Study while acting on the world
CRI has therefore decided to create an innovative approach to teaching that contributes both in form and substance to our sustainability objectives. To this end, we teach students that the complexity and interdependence of the global challenges of sustainable development requires a a systemic, integrated and interdisciplinary approach.
This year, the program models have been modified to reinforce our commitment to the environment. They now fully integrate this approach to teaching. by and for Sustainable Development Goals.
For example, when learning thermodynamics in license, In the AIRE master's program, examples and applications are focused on sustainability-related projects. The same transformation is taking place in the AIRE master's program, where the use of energy-efficient algorithms will be taught.
A semester dedicated to sustainable development has been launched for undergraduates. The aim is to enable them to grasp the challenges of sustainable development and to create projects based on a sustainable approach. Each project must respond to one or more of the sustainable development objectives defined by the UN.
Each year, undergraduates also take part in the “Aquathon”an event created around two SDGs : “access to clean, healthy water”and “protecting aquatic life“. In collaboration with the University of Brest, a European leader in marine sciences, its Open Factory, IFREMER and the Astrolabe Expeditions association, students receive initial training in solving sustainable development issues and participatory science. This is an opportunity for them to discover the design thinking, prototype tools and test them in the field.
Education geared towards the SDGs continues at the Master as part of a free UE (a teaching unit complementary to the initial training that the student chooses to follow). The students' final project is to raise public awareness of an environmental issue by finding the most appropriate channel and format for effective outreach.
As for the’Doctoral School, CRI is preparing a series of conferences on sustainable practices in research. These will enable thesis students to examine and calculate the carbon footprint of their research and their laboratory. They will also be able to work on the environmental impact of research expeditions.
The aim of these program transformations is to develop a way of thinking that integrates the challenges of sustainable development, and to develop a common base of knowledge and acquire the skills to be able to pass on and take action.
OPEN UP TEACHING TO ALL LEARNERS FOR A COLLECTIVE RESPONSE
CRI was born out of a desire to design a new type of learning environment focused on individuals who want to take up the challenges facing themselves, their communities and the planet. This is why, in addition to overhauling university curricula, we are opening up our teaching to all those concerned by sustainable development, without distinction.
We invite you to discover Gaël Manguy's latest courses, researcher and director of development and international relations at CRI. This course is available free of charge on Youtube. It invites us to explore, together, the paths towards a sustainable world.
We want to give everyone the tools they need to influence their immediate environment and thus contribute to the sustainability of our planet.
To find out more ...
Education for a sustainable world“ was the subject of a panel discussion at the #LearningPlanet Festival. Speakers explored how learning must evolve to enable everyone to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to collectively build sustainable solutions.
Discover their presentation (in English)
By Ariane Baumard
