UNU RCE@USM

Prof. Dzulkifli Abdul Razak,
Vice-Chancellor of USM (right)
receiving the Certificate of Appointment
as RCE Penang from
Prof. Hans van Ginkel, Rector of UNU
at Nagoya University.

USM has been appointed as the United Nations` Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development in conjunction with the United Nations Decade on Education for for Sustainable Develoipment. The letter of appointment was handed over by the United Nations University (UNU) Rector, Prof. Hans van Ginkel to the Vice-Chancellor to Prof. Dzulkifli bin Abdul Razak on 29 June 2005 in Nagoya, Japan.

This makes USM one of the seven pioneering group of RCEs in the whole world togther with the Greater Sendai Area RCE Japan, RCE Toronto Canada, RCE Okayama Japan, RCE for Pacific Island Countries, RCE Rhine-Meuse Holland and RCE Barcelona Spain. Each will play its role in providing education for sustainable development and take the necessary steps to translate sustainable development into reality for the community in which the RCE operates. By 2010, there are more than 70 RCEs around the world.

The RCE will be part of the a global network managed by the United Nations University to offer global education programmes and activities for sustainable development. The aim of the programme is to educate members of the public throughout the world on the importance of sustainable development as an over-arching principle for the future.

This is in line with USM`s efforts to explore the concepts related to Kampus Sejahtera (Healthy Campus) and The University in a Garden initiatives to inculcate the spirit of sustainability among citizens of the campus. More research will be conducted in the effort towards achieving this noble aim that involves all members of the public in support of the mission of the RCE.