Integration ESD to curricula of the national educational institutions

The core objective to achieve sustainability was to integrate the Education for Sustainable Development methodological course using the GIZ manual, into regular teachers training courses. This particularly contributes to the achievement of SDG 4 “Quality of Education”. 

Another main objective was to integrate a methodological course on ESD into the standard curricula of teacher training institutions, both for in-service teacher training and pre-service teacher training. To achieve this goal CAMP Alatoo and GIZ consultant made a stakeholders’ mapping and identified educational institutions responsible for in-service pre-service teachers training and willing to develop ESD in the country.

In 2021-2022 three institutions (I. Arabayev Kyrgyz State University (KNU), M. Rakhimova Institute of Professional Development and Retraining at I. Arabayev KNU, the Republican Institute of Professional Development and Retraining of Educators at MoI and KR) on a basis of a Memorandum of Understanding were trained and coached throughout the process of developing ESD based courses, testing and adaptation of the learning materials and training of pre-service and in-service teachers. 

The fourth institution Osh state university inspired by the ESD trainings requested support in training its teachers. After trainings the university also introduced ESD into its curricula. 

  • High commitment from implementing partners of educational institutions
  • Clear division of roles between partners, good coordination between partners
  • Activation of local teachers after the conducted ESD trainings
  • Coaching of the institutions throughout the process of ESD courses development and integration 
  • Clear communication of the importance of mainstreaming ESD into programs to ensure that goals and objectives and potential benefits are fully understood. 
  • The importance of strong partnerships.
CAMP Alatoo PF trained educators to introduce sustainable development for education and biodiversity conservation topics in schools

To ensure sustainable conservation of the manual through methodological training of teachers in educational institutions in Kyrgyzstan CAMP Alatoo had the task to train multipliers to disseminate the manual through on-site trainings. In particular, this was an indicator for raising awareness in the project region. 

Teacher training on teaching sustainable development and biodiversity conservation in schools was conducted in Jalal-Abad. The event was organised for secondary school teachers, the Jalal-Abad Methodological Centre, representatives of the Arabaev KSU and the Republican Institute for Advanced Training and Retraining of Teachers. Two teacher training courses were conducted by trained teachers from Bishkek, J-A city and Bazar-Korgon district during the assignment. At the first training teachers learnt the ESD methodologies and practiced ESD manual exercises, while at the second training they were implementing a role of trainers. During the whole process they were supported and coached by CAMP Alatoo team and consultants. 

The outstanding trainers/teachers were selected as master trainers and are now supporting the project by training teachers in the project regions and outside the project area.

The following aspects contributed to this:

  • Voluntary willingness of trainers to learn and disseminate ESD through trainings in their regions; 
  • The multipliers (teachers) were participating the project activities on development and testing of the manual from the very beginning
  • Coaching of teachers and quality control
  • Capacity building and in-service training of teachers on how to use the ESD manual in schools;
  • Openness and willingness of educational institutions to cooperate.
  • There is an urgent need to expand education and community awareness;
  • There is a great need to develop and modify educational programs.
Testing the environmental education manual

The schools in the pilot area of Jalal-Abad oblast tested the preliminary version of the environmental education manual. During the testing the quality of material presentation, the capacity of teachers and pupils to understand and absorb the new information was identified.

In addition to informational and educational content, project specialists from “CAMP Alatoo” PF and “Lesik Ug” association practiced practical exercises together with pupils in 6 schools. High school students performed tasks to understand different processes, such as climate change, as well as the functions of ecosystems and natural resources specific to Kyrgyzstan.

After the pilot testing, adjustments and modifications were made to the manual as exercises, at the same time the teaching methodology of the teaching material was studied.

  • Assistance from the district education center.
  • Provision of free TOT facilities.
  • Support for teachers and their willingness to learn ESD

testing of the learning materials with the targeted audience is highly important

Development of teaching materials with involvement of stakeholders

A special feature of the training manual is that the material on pasture management, forestry and adaptation to climate change is based on the example of Kyrgyzstan, where teachers from Bishkek and Jalal-Abad have identified topics and offer a new methodology for teaching sustainability standards. 

In the frame of the project a teacher manual on Education for sustainable development and biodiversity had been developed.

The manual consists of the following 4 technical chapters each with elaborated exercises and teaching aids as well as one methodological pre-chapter:

  1. Education for sustainable development
  2. Forest
  3. Pasture
  4. Climate

The manual is designed to address gaps in the school curriculum with regard to teaching about the environment, using Kyrgyzstan as an example. "When it comes to teaching materials on the environment, they often do not address this area in relation to our country. For example, pasture and forest management systems in Kyrgyzstan.

  • Motivation of teachers
  • Strong external expert support
  • Existing profound knowledge and experience in natural resources management
  • Joint identification with teachers of themes and needs for educational materials
  • Pre-testing is highly important to develop need-based training materials

ESD chapters developers need trainings/guidance on development process to ensure that all the materials are of the same format and content.

ESD Manual offers Biology and Geography teachers additional teaching methods adapted to Kyrgyzystan that are in sync with the curricula

Modern teaching methods and materials are often adapted to a European context and setting, making it hard to impossible to integrate them into a system that works differently. The ESD Manual offers Biology and Geography teachers additional teaching methods adapted to Kyrgyzystan that are in sync with the curricula. Teachers can use more interesting material to enhance their classes. Education is the basis towards a healthier planet, only by knowing how to act more sustainably, behavior can be adapted. 

The educational standards and the curriculum are showing access points for ESD, but they are not reflected in the school-books, because they are outdated.

Another weak link exists between the educational standards and the school curriculum on the one hand and the implementation through the teachers training institutions on the other hand.

  • Integration of sustainable development and ESD approaches and principles in Kyrgyzstan is experiencing some difficulties due to low interest of the Ministry of Education. Today, most of the teaching staff is ready for this work, as evidenced by the results of numerous trainings conducted by the NGO "CAMP Alatoo".
  • Low interest and capacity of specialists of educational institutions in the development of ESD standards and programmes;
  • Lack of optimization of pedagogical workload (a teacher with a high workload is not able to prepare for classes and improve his/her professional skills).
5. Adaptive Pathway Plan

An Adaptive Pathway Plan is a strategic framework designed to enhance resilience and adapt to long-term changes, particularly in the context of climate change. It involves identifying adaptation challenges and evaluating the effectiveness of various interventions over time. The key components include:

  • Pathways Mapping: The plan illustrates sequences of measures or investments to achieve defined objectives, allowing for adjustments as conditions change.
  • Thresholds and Tipping Points: The approach uses indicators to signal when a change in strategy is needed, ensuring flexibility in decision-making.
  • Removal of Uncertainty: The uncertainty with using climate risk prediction models for decision making has led us to use Resilience instead, therefore removing uncertainty from the decision-making process.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Involvement of diverse stakeholders ensures that the pathways are context-sensitive and reflect local needs.

Key enabling factors include:

  • Flexibility: The plan must adapt to changing conditions and uncertainties, allowing timely adjustments as new information arises.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Involving diverse stakeholders ensures the plan addresses various needs, fostering broader support.
  • Clear Triggers: Establishing specific signposts for when to adjust strategies enhances decision-making and responsiveness.
  • Integrated Approach: Aligning the plan with existing policies creates a cohesive strategy that is easier to implement.
  • Ongoing Monitoring: Continuous evaluation of the plan's effectiveness is crucial for informed adjustments and long-term success.

Key lessons learned include:

  • Contextual Adaptation: Tailoring the analysis to specific contexts and needs enhances effectiveness and addresses complexity.
  • Visualization Tools: Diverse visual representations, like metro maps and decision trees, improve understanding and communication of pathways.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Involving multiple actors is crucial for addressing varied values and objectives, requiring robust governance structures to support ongoing monitoring.
  • Shared Experiences: Documenting and sharing experiences can facilitate wider adoption and application of adaptive pathways in practice.
4. Predictive Scenarios

Kassandra is a predictive system, and it does so by creating ‘scenarios’ in which key parameters are altered individually or collectively and the variation of the Resilience Index is calculated. This is done iteratively until an optimum level is reached.

In addition, the scenarios can be of two types, passive and active. Passive scenarios are those where parameters external to the system are altered, for instance climatic data, whilst active scenarios simulate actual adaptations or management strategies, such as extensive tree planting.

The scenarios are not a forecast but plausible alternative images of how the future can unfold, or, as defined by the IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Key conditions include:

  • Flexible Parameter Adjustment: The ability to easily alter key parameters, both individually and collectively, is crucial for exploring various scenarios and their impacts on the Resilience Index.
  • Comprehensive Scenario Planning: Implementing a structured approach to scenario planning helps ensure that all relevant variables are considered in the analysis.
  • Real-Time Data Integration: Incorporating real-time data feeds allows for dynamic scenario adjustments, improving the relevance and accuracy of predictions.
  • Stakeholder Input: Involving stakeholders in defining scenarios ensures that they reflect real-world concerns and priorities, enhancing buy-in and applicability.
  • Importance of Accurate Models: Initial models that lacked precision led to unreliable scenario outcomes. Ensuring data models are validated and refined improves prediction quality.
  • Parameter Interdependencies: Altering parameters individually sometimes yielded unrealistic results. Recognizing and accounting for interdependencies among parameters enhances scenario realism.
  • Iterative Testing: Conducting iterative tests of scenarios helped identify flaws and areas for improvement. Early iterations often revealed unforeseen implications of parameter changes.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Gathering input from stakeholders in defining scenarios was crucial. Scenarios that did not align with community concerns faced challenges in acceptance and implementation.
  • Clear Communication: Presenting scenario results clearly and visually improved understanding among stakeholders. Complex data without clear visualizations often led to confusion and misinterpretation.
3. Current Resilience Identification

In this stage Kassandra undertakes an analysis of resilience for all the entities within the Digital Twin based on twelve main Kassandra Parameters, hundreds of sub-parameters and thousands of relationships between these parameters. This highlights immediately areas where resilience might be lower and that might require urgent action.

For the successful implementation of Current Resilience Identification using Kassandra, key conditions include:

  • Comprehensive Data Collection: Gathering extensive data on the twelve main Kassandra Parameters and their sub-parameters is essential for accurate resilience analysis.
  • Robust Analytical Framework: Developing a strong analytical framework to process and interpret the complex relationships between parameters is critical for meaningful insights.
  • Integration of Diverse Data Sources: Ensuring the integration of varied data sources enhances the breadth and accuracy of the resilience assessment.

The key lessons learned during the implementation of Current Resilience Identification using Kassandra are:

  • Iterative Analysis: Initial analyses often uncovered unexpected relationships or gaps in understanding. Iterative approaches allowed for refinement and enhanced accuracy in identifying resilience factors.
  • Visualizations Aid Understanding: Effective visual representations of data relationships significantly improved stakeholder comprehension and engagement in the analysis process.
2. Digital Twin Creation

Kassandra creates or builds upon a Digital Twin of the asset to be studied that uses analysis and simulation tools to take a long-term and whole-system view of an environment.

For the successful implementation of Digital Twin Creation using Kassandra, key conditions include:

  • High-Quality Data: Accurate real-time data from various sources is essential for a reliable Digital Twin.
  • Robust Integration: Seamless integration with existing systems ensures comprehensive environmental views.
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Engaging experts from diverse fields facilitates holistic modelling.
  • User Accessibility: A user-friendly platform encourages stakeholder engagement.
  • Scalability: The framework should be adaptable to future data sources and analytical needs.
  • Continuous Validation: Regularly updating the Digital Twin ensures its accuracy over time.

To avoid common pitfalls, we have found that there is a need to prioritize data quality, adopt flexible development practices, and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration.

  • Data Quality Matters: Ensuring high-quality, accurate data is critical. Inaccurate data inputs led to misleading simulations, undermining trust in the Digital Twin.
  • Iterative Development: Adopting an agile approach allowed for iterative improvements based on user feedback. Initial rigid processes led to missed opportunities for optimization.
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Collaborating with experts from various fields enriched the modelling process. Attempts to work in silos often led to incomplete or unrealistic simulations.
  • Scalability Planning: Planning for scalability from the start ensured the Digital Twin could adapt to growing data and user demands without major redesigns.
  • Regular Validation: Establishing mechanisms for continuous validation helped maintain the Digital Twin’s relevance and accuracy.
1. Data Acquisition and Analysis

Kassandra is a platform designed to enhance climate change decision-making through the power of generative AI. It facilitates the acquisition and consolidation of data from various sources, such citizen engagement workshops, archive searches, surveys, or even IoT devices and urban applications, allowing for a comprehensive view of a city's environmental landscape.

  • Data Acquisition: Kassandra collects diverse data related to climate, resource usage, and urban dynamics, acting as a central hub for this information,
  • Data Transmission: The platform efficiently transmits this consolidated data to a virtual environment, making it accessible and easily understandable for decision-makers.
  • Data Analysis: By integrating with advanced analytics tools, Kassandra supports real-time insights, enabling city planners to visualize trends and make informed decisions regarding resource management.
  • Scalability: The platform’s seamless horizontal scaling allows for accommodating increasing data needs as cities grow and evolve.

The conditions crucial for enabling the success of Kassandra as a platform for climate change decision-making:

  • Data Quality: Ensuring the accuracy, consistency, and completeness of data collected from various sources.
  • Interoperability: Facilitating seamless integration between Kassandra and existing urban systems and technologies.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Involving community members, policymakers, and experts in the decision-making process to ensure diverse perspectives are considered.

Key lessons learned during the implementation of Kassandra as a climate change decision-making platform include:

  • Importance of Data Governance: Establishing clear protocols for data collection, storage, and sharing is essential. Inadequate governance can lead to data inconsistencies and trust issues among stakeholders.
  • Iterative Development: Adopting an agile approach allowed for continuous improvement based on user feedback and changing requirements. Rigid planning often led to delays and misalignment with user needs.
  • Collaboration with Stakeholders: Engaging local communities, policymakers, and technical experts throughout the process fostered buy-in and created a more relevant tool. Initial efforts that overlooked this collaboration faced challenges in acceptance.
  • Scalability Considerations: Planning for future growth from the outset ensured that the platform could handle increasing data loads and user demands without significant overhauls.