1. Why specially adapted training methods?
There is now a perceptible societal evolution towards the integration of sustainable principles, prompting a need for changes in our personal and professional behaviour. Awareness training is a key element of this change, but given the specialized and evolving nature of sustainability, this ‘training’ should not amount to ‘just another course’, but rather an evolution in our personal awareness – a paradigm shift.
The objectives of a particular course can be tailored to the needs of the participants and should be flexible enough to allow for evolution and development as the course proceeds.
The essence is always to encourage a new awareness through questioning and participation. This type of training allows individuals to orientate themselves with respect to other cultural reference points, rather than simply accumulating knowledge.
The innovative teaching stategies I use favour both a meditative attitude and personal involvement - time spent in reflection on sustainable development is a step towards personal engagement for the course participant.
2. Training Themes
I always try to adapt my approach to novel teaching situations and challenges, and welcome opportunities to discuss tailor-made courses to address specific needs. Here are some examples of possible training themes:
Tools and Methods for Evaluating Sustainability
· a presentation of tools for understanding and communicating concepts related to sustainability, and evaluating projects according to sustainability criteria
· analysing obstacles to sustainable development
· converting a strategy into a plan of action and motivating employees
Sustainable Development for companies
Bespoke training can be arranged for specialized audiences, e.g. HR managers, sales personnel, purchasing managers, Safety and Environment auditors, and general employees. Possible themes are:
- sustainability: the business risks and opportunities
- putting a sustainability strategy in place
- mobilizing the workforce: communicating a sustainability strategy to employees
Sustainable Regional Development
3. Illustrative Courses
The following are examples of training courses I have developed for various institutional settings:
Course: Role Play – An Industrial Crisis Scenario: Metaleurop Nord
Objectives:
· to encourage an integrated approach to social, environmental and economic factors in an industrial setting.
· to appreciate diverging opinions and develop an integrated vision of the future.
· to introduce sustainable development through a concrete example.
Duration: one and a half days
This course was developed for postgraduate courses at the Ecole des Mines de Paris, and Masters Degrees in Industrial Ecology (University of Troyes), and “Ethics of Sustainable Development” (University of Lyon 3).
Course: Training for Trainers in Sustainable Development
Objectives:
- to raise awareness of new educational techniques and multi-disciplinary approaches
- to introduce interactive methods, case studies and multimedia presentations
- to analyse and overcome difficulties encountered in teaching sustainable development
Duration: Two days
Developed for :French Sports Ministry, French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development, Ecole Nationale des Techniciens de l’equipement d’Aix en Provence.
Course: Training in an Assessment Matrix for Sustainable Development (RST 02)
Objectives: Understanding a project assessment tool for sustainable development and how to adapt it to specific situations and interpret the results.
Duration: two days
Training developed for the French Government Ministry for Transport Infrastructure Tourism and the Sea
Course: Tools and Methods for Sustainable Development
Objectives:
To develop strategies for:
- understanding sustainable development concepts
- communicating sustainable development ideas
- evaluating projects with regard to their sustainability
- putting sustainable principles into practice
- analysing obstacles to and implementing sustainable projects
Duration: two days
Training developed for: French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development
