Three eco-specialists tell how their Arion study visit can help them help the Earth

by Katarina Koskova, Dasa Uhliarova, Petra Iurisova

As the UNESCO Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) got underway in 2005, 24 education specialists from across Europe carried out an Arion study visit to the UK to examine approaches to education for sustainability.

Hosted by the Field Studies Council’s Preston Montford Centre in Shropshire, the visitors followed a well organised and varied programme including workshops and visits to schools and a local eco-centre, and were given plenty of opportunities to share expertise.Katarina Koskova is from the Slovak agency of Nature and Landscape Protection, Environmental Education Team: ‘For an environmental education trainer from a country that has just started dealing with this issue, this study visit was a great opportunity to meet different UK speakers, get a better understanding of ESD, and see practical examples of its implementation in schools and environmental education centres. I appreciated the thought-provoking session about global economic growth, free trade and open borders, as well as the workshop with Ken Webster, the author of the book Rethink, Refuse and Reduce.

Dasa Uhliarova works for the Slovak Ministry of Environment ‘Our National Sustainable Development Strategy was approved by the Slovak Parliament in 2002 but in the field of ESD we are just beginning. The Arion study visit will really help me in my work. ‘We were given a huge amount of information and materials, as well as the chance to see ESD in practice in English schools. I was able to share my experience about environmental education in my country.’

Petra Iurisova works for a leading Slovak non-governmental organisation dealing with environmental education: ' My favourite experience was when we visited the Bishops Wood Eco-centre, where the director gave us a guided tour and explained that the building was constructed according to rules of low-energy or even ‘passive building’. Similar buildings are still light years away in our country. ‘This trip was my first experience of an Arion study visit and I was more than satisfied with the results. It was well organised and there was great accommodation and food – as well as outstanding speakers and unforgettable participants!’

Further information

Arion is part of the Socrates programme. It enables education specialists to take part in five-day study visits to another European country. See www.british council.org/socrates-study-visits-how-to-apply.htm. The Field Studies Council is planning a study visit in 2007, among other ESD-related courses. E-mail richard.fscee@field-studies-council.org Going for green