Bringing the Transition Movement into

Further & Higher Education

David Somervell, Sustainability Advisor, University of Edinburgh, and

Glenn Strachan, Senior Research Fellow, University of Gloucestershire

AGREE DISAGREE

Icebreaker: Spectrum Lines

Content of the Workshop

• Brief overview of Transition Movement

• Notion of a Transition College or Transition University

• What’s happening at Transition Edinburgh University

• Discussion Activity

• Feedback

Growth of Transition Town MovementPermaculture Course in

Kinsale, Ireland

Totnes, DevonThe first Transition Town

UK wide

15 Countries worldwide

http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/TransitionCommunities

Climate Change

Peak Oil

Source: www.fraw.org.uk, The Free Range Network

The link between oil & food prices

Transition’s Basic Assumptions

1. Life with dramatically lower energy consumption is inevitable: plan for it – don’t be taken by surprise.

2. Our communities presently lack resilience to weather severe energy shocks that will accompany Peak Oil.

3. We have to act collectively and we have to act soon.

4. Unleashing the collective genius of those around us to design our Energy Descent Action Plan, we can build ways of living that are more enriching and that recognize the biological limits of our planet.

12 Steps to Transition

The Transition Handbook sets out 12 Steps for a community to follow.

Step 8 is: “Facilitate the Great Re-Skilling”

What skills are needed and what skills should be taught to prepare for a post Peak Oil future?

The Debate at University Level“Taken seriously, this scenario suggests that we need to develop a completely different kind of education. The system that we have developed over the last hundred years is designed to develop abstract, cognitive skills and forms of theoretical understanding which equip students to take up ever more specialized functional niches in the economy” (Stephen Quilley, 2009, in The Handbook of Sustainability Literacy)www.sustainability-literacy.org

The Debate at University Level

“Universities seek knowledge, but do not devote themselves to helping humanity learn how to create a better world. Judged from this standpoint, they are a disaster.”

Nicholas Maxwell, Emeritus Reader in Philosophy of Science, University College London,

Guardian letter 22 August 2009

Universities & Colleges IN Transition

Many FE and HE institutions are tackling the challenge of sustainability including Climate Change & Peak Oil. Some do so within existing funding, management and academic structures.They have varying degrees of success.

Sustainability in the DNA University of Gloucestershire’s mission:‘… within this overarching mission, the University will contribute fully to the economic, social and cultural life of Gloucestershire and its region, while fostering national & international links.

It will also develop an approach to social responsibility which reflects its commitment to sustainability and social justice.’

UOG’s Sustainability Strategy :‘It is vital to link work undertaken in environmental and campus management with matters of procurement, marketing, catering, strategy, operations, outreach, partnerships, education and research’

Sustainability in the DNA

Student Involvement:• Student Consultation Committees

on Sustainability

• Transition University Initiative - led by students

• Allotments

• Edible Gardens

• Ecopower rangers

• Switch-off to Switch-on Annual Campaigns

• Strong student presence on Sustainable Development Committee and Carbon Management Team

Universities & Colleges OF Transition

“To open up collaborative learning

pathways for individuals so that we can

initiate and support community-led

responses to Climate Change & Peak Oil

and build resilience.”

Universities of Transition Workshop, Hereford, UK October 2008

Transition Edinburgh University

A student - staff project initiated by Edinburgh University People & Planet Soc

October 2008 – May 2009 – “mulling”

5 Summer Interns June – Sept: Feasibility

Footprints and Handprints report & Ph 2 bid

1 Oct public launch, end Nov £340k awarded

Dec 09: 3 Action Research Facilitators, 2 Communication Facilitators and 1 Project Support Facilitator appointed

Transition Edinburgh University

Purpose: To cut emissions from whole Uni community of 37,000 by 10% in 2010

Raise awareness and lay foundations• Big Switch in Halls & Big Green Makeover• Food and Travel Working Groups• Peer Learning programmes:• Carbon Conversations• Climate Solidarity

- delivering our UoE & EUSA 10:10 promise

Transition Edinburgh University

www.seag.estates.ed.ac.uk

www.teu.org.uk

0131 650 4065 TEU Office

The Activity

Fifteen minutes to respond to these two questions:-

1. What will the major challenges for today’s students be when they are mid-way through their careers in 2025 – 2030?

2. What skills should they be taught in our institutions now in order to address these challenges?

The 7 Principles of Transition

1.Positive Visioning

2.Help People Access Good Information and Trust Them to Make Good Decisions

3. Inclusion and Openness

4.Enable Sharing and Networking

5.Build Resilience

6. Inner and Outer Transition

7.Subsidiarity: Self-Organisation and Decision Making at the Appropriate Level