The goal is to explore elements in education and life-long learning for global sustainable development, in particular with focus on challenges to current democratic life-forms, forms of selfgovernance and human-environment relations.

The focus is on identifying the educational challenges of and possible means for confronting a time of uncertainties due to the increasing number of global crises such as climate, biodiversity and environmental crises along with global inequalities regarding classes, gender, racial and social differences; decreasing democratic participation and violent conflicts.

The objective is to investigate the role of education in addressing crises in particular with a perspective of humanities (arts & letters). We see education as a public good and necessity for realisation of rights, dignity, social justice, inclusion, security, peace, and environmental solutions. The perspectives of education include youth education, life-long education as well as Folkbildning.

The work of the circle is a contribution to answering the challenges envisaged in UNESCO’s Education 2030: Incheon Framework for Action (UNESCO 2016) and Reimagining our Futures Together (UNESCO 2021).

An intention is to establish partnerships with partners in the EU to enlarge perspectives, exchange experiences and knowledge, and establish long-lasting networks between the Nordic-Baltic region and other regions in EU.

Call for Presentation

Winter Symposium 16 –18 February 2024

Location: University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Odense, Denmark.

In cooperation with SCC Elite Centre for Understanding Human Relationships with the Environment (CUHRE)

Theme

The goal is to explore elements in education and life-long learning for global sustainable development, in particular with focus on challenges to current democratic life-forms, forms of selfgovernance and human-environment relations.

In relation to UN’s SDGs we wish in particular to address:

4. Quality education: addressing strategies for education, youth and lifelong, with respect to awareness of climate and environmental issues and how to organise and live accordingly;

12. Responsible consumption and production in terms of educating mindset and living regarding individuals’ environmental impact.

We wish to discuss different perspectives on these issues in relation to both research and practices in, but not exclusively, relation to education in a broad sense and addressed from a variety of backgrounds, for example, pedagogy, anthropology, post-colonial studies, cultural theory, philosophy, arts and letters; and also through exchange of experiences from research, (teaching) practices, policy making, art and other contexts in which education and learning matter.

The study circle’s *) symposium is an exchange of knowledge, experiences and ideas. We welcome research presentations, sketches of ideas for research as well as for practices/activism, presentations of important texts, cases, and experiences.

The circle will have another symposium, 29 July – 4 August 2024 in Denmark. We hope this winter symposium can also form the basis for presenting a proposal for a three-years study circle in the summer (to work 2025-27).

Deadline

The deadline for submission of the title and a brief abstract (5-10 lines) is December 1, December 14 2023. Please note that title and abstract must be sent to both coordinators.

Applicants will be notified before Christmas and we will send out the program for the Winter Session.

Please indicate whether the presenation is

30 mins + shorter discussion

10 mins + longer discussion

The length of the talks/presentations is adjustable, depending on the number of participants and density of the program.

Fees

€ 25 membership of NSU (for 2024) +

€ 50 ordinary fee = € 75

€ 25 Nordic students, freelancers, and out of occupation = € 50

€ 10 participants from Baltic countries = € 35

This includes coffe breaks, lunches and a common dinner for all.

Furthermore, for Nordic/Baltic participants: (limited) travel support (we prioritize environmental friendly travel when possible).

In doubt about which category you belong to, please contact the organizers.

Instructions about payment follow with notification.

*) Study circle is considered as a contemporary form of what the Swedish skolman, i.e. related to schools, Oscar Olsson established in 1902.

The symposium is supported by Nordplus