Suzanne Lek - Sustainability coordinator at Yuverta
"Our education system plays a crucial role in promoting support for a more sustainable future. By integrating sustainable development into MBO, we can make students aware of their social responsibilities and prepare them for a sustainable society. This helps create a broad-based commitment to an environmentally and socially responsible future.
Sustainability should be an integral part of our education, and the SustainaBul provides a structured way to measure and improve our efforts and performance in this area. In addition, we value the network and cooperation with other educational institutions within the SustainaBul MBO. A sustainable future is created together. By participating in this network, we can share knowledge, exchange best practices and collaborate on innovative approaches to sustainable education. Collaboration is essential to create broader support and effective change toward a more sustainable future for our education system and society as a whole.
Since April, we have had a Sustainability team. With this we want to further integrate the sustainability policy into the organization. That is where the biggest challenge lies for us now. In addition, we have made great strides in operational management, such as reducing our Co2 reduction again and expanding our community with new sustainable ambassadors for whom we also organize monthly inspiration sessions. We regularly dip into questionnaires and documents to see how other institutions are tackling things. At the joint intervision moments you find out that you are not doing this alone, but a lot of people are working together on sustainable education!
What else I would like to pass along to institutions not yet participating: Participation provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen sustainability in education. It not only measures the institution's sustainable efforts, but also provides access to a valuable network and collaboration opportunities with other schools. By participating, an educational institution actively contributes to a more sustainable future and positions itself as a forerunner in sustainable education. Collaboration and exchange of best practices can lead to innovative approaches and improvements in sustainability in education."
Joost van Blanken - Teacher and project officer CRE at the ROC of Amsterdam-Flevoland
"Sustainable development in the MBO is important because we need to be at the forefront of implementing the sustainability transition, the basis of which lies in practice and practical education. We started participating to put ourselves along the green yardstick and offer sustainable development perspective to teachers, staff and the school administration. And, of course, it is a great competition through which we can put ourselves in a green light.
At our institution, the multi-year strategy is largely centered on sustainability. Our education system is full of sustainability; every course is exposed to it several times in the educational program. Steps are taken annually in the facilities area to work and be more sustainable. And we step outside the school walls with Challenge Based Education, also called practical assignments in good Dutch.
Actually, we use the questionnaire every year to see in which areas we can still do better. For example in the area of biodiversity, which has developed from a tightly mowed lawn on the school grounds to a flower strip, vegetable garden, insect hotels, bird houses and a green mowing policy. And all in the middle of Lelystad.
What I want to say to institutions that are not yet participating: Above all, just participate. There is nothing to lose. It may take you a day or three to fill things in, but you get a very good baseline measurement (the first time) in return. It is also fine ammunition with which to go to war with the governing body if you want your college to go green."
