NATIONAL CAPACITY NEEDS SELF-ASSESSMENT FOR GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Government Building #3,
Republic Square,
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel: (3741) 583 920
Fax: (3741) 583 932
ncsa@nature.am

UN Conference Hall, Yerevan
22-23 December, 2003

December 22, Monday

10.00 - 10.30 Registration

10.30 - 11.30 Opening. 

Welcome messages:

Vladimir Feodorovich Pryakhin, Head of OSCE/Armenia Mission
Lise Grande, UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative
Vardan Ayvazyan, Minister of Nature Protection
Sergo Yeritsyan, Minister of Education and Science
Victoria Elias, Co-chair of Pan-European Eco-forum

Presentation of goals and objectives of the Seminar and introduction of participants from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation and Armenia.
Karine Danielyan, Chair, Organizational Committee of the Regional Seminar

11.30 - 12.00 Coffee break

12.00 - 14.00  First Session.

Topics:

• General concept of Education for SD.
• UN Decade "Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014".
• Agenda 21, WSSD Implementation Plan, materials of 5^th Pan-European Conference "Environment for Europe", Earth Charter - basic documents for promoting SD in Armenia.
• Main problems and constraints faced in terms of implementation of the aforementioned plans and programs; possible ways for their solution.
• Earth Charter, as one of the tools for teaching ethical principles on SD.

12.00 - 12.20 Process of development of the UNECE strategy in the sphere of education for sustainable development; and the roles of different sectors in development and implementation of the strategy
Victoria Elias, Pan-European Eco-Forum

12.20 - 12.40 Innovative principles of the "Education for Sustainable Development" Concept: constraints and perspectives for development
Karine Danielyan, Association for Sustainable Human Development

12.40 - 13.00 Education for SD in Georgia
Shalva Giviashvili, Movement for Sustainable Development in Georgia 

13.00 - 13.20 Education issues (humanization) in countries with economies in transition
Rafik Aleskerov, "Biorythm" Scientific Center

13.20 - 13.40 Environmental education in Armenia in the context of the implementation of commitments to global environmental Conventions
Diana Harutyunyan, UNDP/GEF NCSA Project

13.40 - 14.00 General discussion

14.00 - 15.00 Lunch break

15.00 - 16.30 Second Session.

Topics:

• Integration of information on theory and practice of SD in general educational system.
• International, national and local experience (best practice).
• Development and cooperation perspectives for the upcoming UN Decade of "Education for Sustainable Development".

15.00- 15.15 Reflection of SD concepts in secondary education system.
Lemvel Valesyan, Yerevan State University

15.15 - 15.30 Interdisciplinary education as a way to SD
Irina Strungis, "EcoAccord" NGO, Moscow, Russian Federation

15.30 - 15.45 Education system as a favorable factor for SD
Melanya Davtyan,"Byurakn" NGO

15.45 - 16.00 Some issues of improving the content of ecological education
Anna Gasparyan, Armenian State Pedagogical University after Kh. Abovyan          

16.00-16.15 Environmental education of school children and SD
Liliya Harutyunyan, School #2, Stepanavan 

16.15 - 16.30 Discussions

16.30 - 17.00 Coffee break

17.00 - 18.30 Third Session

Topics:

• Integration of ideology and conceptual principles of SD in education system of higher educational establishments.
• Interdisciplinary approach to current global problems and development issues. International, national and local experience.
• Development and cooperation perspectives for the upcoming UN Decade of "Education for Sustainable Development".

17.00 - 17.15 Environmental component in the system of SD
Yuri Poghosyan, National Statistical Service

17.15 - 17.30 Issues on formation of new quality education.
Hayk Sargsyan, Yerevan State University

17.30 - 17.45 Some issues on geographical education of population.
Nelly Barseghyan, Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) State University

17.45 - 18.15 Reports and discussions    

23 December, Tuesday

10.30 - 12.00 Fourth Session

Topics:

• Integration of ideology of SD in the system of informal education:
• Training and education of children, teenagers, and youth (trainings, summer schools, radio and TV broadcasts, eco-tours, publications etc.);
• Increase of awareness of population on the theory and practice of SD (trainings, seminars, round tables, mass media etc.);
• Motivation increase and information dissemination to decision makers on the theory and practice of SD.

10.30 - 10.45 Environmental education of growing generation
Silva Adamyan, Center of Bird Lovers

10.45 - 11.00 Experience in non formal education for SD
Armine Nanyan, Youth sector of Association for Sustainable Development

11.00 - 12.00 Reports and discussions

12.00 - 12.30 Coffee break

12.30 - 14.00  Session Continued

14.00 - 15.00 Lunch break

15.00 - 16.00 Development of recommendations in respect to UN Decade of "Education for Sustainable Development" and ways for regional cooperation in this sphere.