Resources
The TESF Network continues to develop open-access resources. These include films, briefing notes, background papers, Guides for Policy and Practice, webinar and presentation recordings and journal articles which you can browse here.
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TESF Global Legacy Event
video
These videos were recorded at the online Global Legacy Event of the Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures (TESF) Network in July 2023.
Transformative Tales – Local Voices Telling Stories on Reimagining the Future of Education
video
This film was made to showcase the Mobile Journalism (MoJo) films made by TESF project teams to share their work in Rwanda, South Africa, Somalia/Somaliland and India.
Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures: Our Legacy
video
This film offers insight into the knowledge, experience and learning gained from the Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures Network (TESF)
Ethical partnerships for collaborative action and learning
call-to-action
Historically, there has been a tendency for South-North research partnerships to be marked by inequitable power relations.
Knowledge co-creation for transforming education for sustainable futures
call-to-action
There is an urgent need to transform education in line with the needs and interests of groups that have been historically disadvantaged through processes of unsustainable development.
Tackling Intersecting Inequalities
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Transformative education interventions are needed to tackle intersecting inequalities.
Education for Sustainable Cities and Communities
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Rapid urbanisation, rural neglect and inadequate infrastructure and basic services create challenges for communities.
Education for Sustainable Livelihoods
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Transformative education interventions are needed to expand the status and scope of vocational education for decent, sustainable work.
Climate and Environmental Justice Education
call-to-action
Transformative education responses across all levels and forms of education are needed.
TESF Project Films: Local Voices, Global Classroom
video
Mobile Journalism (MoJo) films were created by TESF projects teams across Rwanda, Somalia/Somaliland, South Africa and India.
Doing harm - the impact of UK's GCRF cuts on research ethics, partnership and governance
journal-article
In spring 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, research projects funded by the UK’s Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) were subjected to budget cuts. The cuts were the result of UK government’s decision to reduce its Official Development Assistance (ODA), which had devastating effects for humanitarian, development and research work. This article draws on focus group discussions with project teams working on three large GCRF-funded projects to explore the effects of these cuts.
Addressing Inequalities
background-paper
This paper focuses on five major forms of inequalities that manifest in the four countries of the Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures (TESF) Network: South Africa, Somalia/Somaliland, Rwanda, and India.
Designing indicators and assessment tools for SDG Target 4.7: a critique of the current approach and a proposal for an 'Inside-Out' strategy
journal-article
Target 4.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) calls on states to ensure, by 2030, that “all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development”. This paper
argues that the wording of this target holds three inherent problems, which, together with a commitment to using existing datasets to measure progress towards the SDGs, are resulting in indicators and assessment tools that are not fit for purpose. In response, an alternative “Inside-Out” design strategy is proposed, which is grounded in inductive, intersubjective and values-based approaches for designing indicators and assessment.
Remote Learning among Vulnerable Families during COVID-19 in Rwanda: Opportunities, Challenges and the Potential for Sustainability
covid-19-related-research
This paper explores potential for sustainable remote learning as an option for addressing inequities to education, especially during COVID-19 and other related pandemics.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Education, Livelihoods and Health - Visualisation of the Main Findings (Hindi translation)
covid-19-related-research
This research aimed to capture the impact of the pandemic on: (i) school education – students, teachers, parents; (ii) higher education – students, research scholars, faculty members; (iii) livelihoods and the everyday life of informal workers. This visualisation is an extract from the main research report available in Hindi.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Education, Livelihoods and Health - Research Report (Hindi translation)
covid-19-related-research
The strict and sudden lockdown imposed by the Government of India in the third week of March 2020 to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus, made visible the inadequacy and fragility of the Indian education system and urban social protection systems.
Education for Sustainable Development and COVID-19 in Southern Africa
covid-19-related-research
Intersecting perspectives on why water, food and livelihoods matter in transforming education for sustainable futures.
Stories of collective learning and care during a pandemic
covid-19-related-research
Reflective research by practitioners, researchers and community-based organisers on the collective shifts and praxis needed to regenerate transformative futures.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Education, Livelihoods and Health - Visualisation of the Main Findings
covid-19-related-research
This research aimed to capture the impact of the pandemic on: (i) school education - students, teachers, parents; (ii) higher education - students, research scholars, faculty members; (iii) livelihoods and the everyday life of informal workers.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Education, Livelihoods and Health - Research Report
covid-19-related-research
The strict and sudden lockdown imposed by the Government of India in the third week of March 2020 to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus, made visible the inadequacy and fragility of the Indian education system and urban social protection systems.
Evidence, knowledge and research in the context of COVID-19: fostering equitable partnerships for mutual learning
webinar
This video is a recording of a UNESCO webinar which took place on 23 July 2021. The aim was to discuss implications of COVID-19 for education research, and how to foster more equitable research partnerships for mutual learning in the current context. It is available in both English and French.
UKFIET Symposium presentations
conference-presentation
Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures through knowledge co-creation, equitable partnership working & values-based indicators
Members of the TESF team offered a symposium at the 16th UKFIET Conference on International Education and Development. This year's conference theme was 'Building Back Better in Education and Training?' and TESF's contribution was to the thematic area of research methods. Transforming education systems for sustainable futures requires new approaches to research methodologies, partnership working and measurements of what we value. In this Symposium, TESF partners described the Network’s approaches to research methodology, partnership working, and indicator development.
India (Hindi translation)
background-paper
This background paper highlights some of the key concerns across the sectors of school, higher and teacher education in India. A few potential research themes that can help problematise the issues raised have been identified. An emphasis is laid on the need to build on practice-based repositories of knowledge, curricular framing and pedagogic strategies.
Visual Minutes from the University of Bristol's Climate Emergency Discussion Forum
visual-minutes
The visual minutes, which were created by Creative Connection, illustrate the breadth of the presentations and discussions which took place at the University of Bristol's Climate Emergency Discussion Forum in January 2020.
COVIDED - COVID-19 and Education in Somalia/Somaliland
covid-19-related-research
A TESF COVID-19 research report on a project aimed to understand the impact of COVID-19 response on education in Somalia/Somaliland.
Intersecting perspectives on why water, food and livelihoods matter in transforming education for sustainable futures
covid-19-related-research
Intersecting perspectives on why water, food and livelihoods matter in transforming education for sustainable futures.
Building a Reciprocal Relationship between Education and SDG 11
background-paper
This paper discusses how building a reciprocal relationship between education and SDG 11 is a prerequisite for urban transformation and sustainability.
South Africa First Engagement Paper
background-paper
This paper is a
companion piece to the South African background
paper and outlines the insight gained from our first engagement with a wide range of stakeholders,
practitioners, activists and researchers in South Africa.
Re-imagining Curriculum in India: Charting a Path beyond the Pandemic
webinar
This video is a recording of a webinar which took place on 27 January 2021 as part of the seminar series Bristol Conversations in Education, which is run by the School of Education at the University of Bristol.
South Africa
background-paper
In this background paper we consider both: 1) how education can contribute to sustainable development, and 2) how sustainable development can shape quality, relevant education. We also frame the meaning of education broadly, within a lifelong learning framework that includes formal education, technical and vocational education and training, work and learning, as well as social movement and community education and social learning.
Co-Creating Education for Sustainable Futures
background-paper
The aim of this background paper is to explain the overall methodological approach and key concepts that inform our work as researchers within the Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures Network Plus. In particular, we will seek to explain what we mean by the idea of ‘knowledge co-creation’ which underpins our approach and what this means in practical terms for the design and implementation of research projects in the area of education for sustainable futures.
Somalia/Somaliland
background-paper
This country background paper examines the issues of sustainable development and education with regards to the current situation in Somalia/Somaliland. It expands on the TESF Somalia/Somaliland Briefing Note, which sets out the need for education systems in Somalia and Somaliland to be transformed and provides valuable context to aid understanding, analysis of and action on education and United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Rwanda
background-paper
This background paper discusses the situation of education in Rwanda, and the possibility of education to enhance sustainable development in Rwanda. It addresses key opportunities and challenges for different levels and forms of education to achieve sustainable development and identifies gaps that should be addressed so that education becomes a catalyst for the achievement of sustainable development in Rwanda.
India
background-paper
This background paper highlights some of the key concerns across the sectors of school, higher and teacher education in India. A few potential research themes that can help problematise the issues raised have been identified. An emphasis is laid on the need to build on practice-based repositories of knowledge, curricular framing and pedagogic strategies.
Skills for Sustainable Futures
webinar
This video is a recording of a webinar which took place on 16 December 2020 as part of the seminar series Bristol Conversations in Education, which is run by the School of Education at the University of Bristol.
Poverty and Inequality Dimensions of COVID-19 in Africa
covid-19-related-research , webinar
The Bristol Poverty Institute (BPI) and Perivoli Africa Research Centre (PARC) hosted a collaborative webinar on the poverty and inequality dimensions of COVID-19 in Africa on Thursday 12 November 2020. This video recording is the first of a series of recordings; the remaining videos can be accessed via the Bristol Poverty Institute's website.
Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures: Foundations Paper
background-paper
This background paper aims to develop initial understanding based on a critical engagement with the existing literature of how key terms that are used to frame the work of the Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures (TESF) Network Plus are understood.
Unintended Methodologies: Arts-based Research Practices as Forms of Listening
webinar
This video is a recording of a webinar which took place on 25 November 2020 as part of the seminar series Bristol Conversations in Education, which is run by the School of Education at the University of Bristol.
Re-imagining UK Education Research Partnerships in the South: Prospects for Mutual and Equitable Relationships
webinar
This video is a recording of a webinar which took place on 18 November 2020 as part of the seminar series Bristol Conversations in Education, which is run by the School of Education at the University of Bristol.
Mobilising Capacities for Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures: Opening Spaces for Collaborative Action and Learning
background-paper
This background paper introduces plans for collaboration, learning and action within the Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures (TESF) Network Plus. It reports our experiences to date and aspirations moving forward for mobilising capacities for TESF and outlines the monitoring and evaluation processes we have established to support learning and adaptation in the network.
Collaboration and Capacity Development for TESF
briefing-note
This briefing note sets out the network's understandings of collaborations and capacity development and how these relate to activities within the network. It also outlines the main elements of the network's approach to monitoring, evaluation and learning.
COVID-19 Responses and Education in Somalia/ Somaliland
covid-19-related-research
The research covered in this journal article, published in Sociology Mind, explores the educational and broader social impacts of Covid-19 control measures and efforts to compensate for those measures in the education sector in Somalia/Somaliland.
Qoraal Kooban Oo Kusaabsan Covided - Koofidh-19 Iyo Waxbarashada Soomaaliya/ Somaliland
covid-19-related-research
This is a Somali language translation of an English language research report about impacts of Covid-19 responses on the education system in Somalia/ Somaliland.
Warbihinty Covided - Covid-19 Iyooney Walbarashoody Somalia/ Somaliland
covid-19-related-research
This is a translation of a research report in English into the Somali Maay dialect about impacts of Covid-19 responses on the education system in Somalia/ Somaliland.
India
briefing-note
This briefing note provides an introduction to education and sustainable development in India and raises key research questions that need to be addressed in order to examine education for sustainable development, education for sustainable cities and communities, and education for climate action.
Skilling for Sustainable Futures: To SDG 8 and Beyond
background-paper
This background paper takes a critical stance on the education - economic development relationship as reflected in current economic models, as well as proposes key questions TESF work can address in relation to skilling for sustainable futures.
Conceptualising Education for Sustainable Development: Framing the Work of the TESF Network Plus
webinar
This video is a recording of a webinar which took place on 22 July 2020 as part of the seminar series 'Bristol Conversations in Education', which is run by the School of Education at the University of Bristol.
