On 21¨C23 October 2025, the 14th Global Conference of Regional Centres of Expertise (RCEs) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) was held in Okayama, Japan, bringing together over 380 participants from across the globe. Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Global RCE Network, the event reflected on two decades of RCE action and innovation while charting course for the years ahead.
The conference opened with a video message from Tshilidzi Marwala (Rector, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ) emphasizing how the Global RCE Network has exemplified local community learning as a driver of systemic change. Masao Omori (Mayor, Okayama City) welcomed participants to the city and highlighted how RCE Okayama, one of the original RCEs established in 2005, reflects the city¡¯s enduring commitment to advancing sustainability through community-driven programmes. Kazutaka Kurobe (Director, Office of Environmental Education, Ministry of the Environment of Japan) congratulated the Global RCE Network on its 20th anniversary and noted the network¡¯s success in demonstrating the power of local and international collaboration. Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi (Director, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-IAS) announced a new publication Learning, Collaborating and Transforming: The 20th Year Anniversary of the Global RCE Network, which celebrates the network's collective achievements and issues a call to action to continue advancing ESD.
Keynote sessions highlighted the transformative role of education for sustainability. RCE pioneer Dzulkifli Abdul Razak (former Rector, International Islamic University Malaysia) reflected on the network's journey and the evolution of ¡°communiversities¡± as models for community-engaged learning. Her Royal Highness Princess Abze Djigma of Burkina Faso spoke on the importance of inclusive and lifelong learning that begins from birth, and emphasized local wisdom and equity as foundations of resilient and thriving communities.
Plenary sessions convened RCE leaders from all regions to discuss best practices and lessons learned in the two decades of collaboration. Regional Youth Coordinators shared innovative, youth-led initiatives, underscoring the central role of young people as co-creators of sustainable solutions and catalysts of intergenerational learning. Breakout sessions explored a wide range of topics, from policy and pedagogy to community engagement and the role of emerging technologies, highlighting the breadth of approaches within the global RCE community. On the final day, participants joined field visits across Okayama, engaging with a local school, university and kominkan (community learning centres) to experience firsthand how the city integrates ESD into daily life. The conference also included recognition ceremonies of the RCE Awards and ESD Okayama Awards, celebrating exemplary projects that demonstrate meaningful impact in promoting sustainability through education.
The 2025 Okayama Declaration: RCEs¡¯ Collective Commitment for Sustainable Futures was adopted at the conference, reaffirming the Global RCE Network¡¯s commitment to harnessing education as a driver of systemic transformation in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, inequality, digital disruption, and threats to peace and well-being.
The event was co-organized and co-hosted by ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-IAS, RCE Okayama and Okayama City, and supported by the Ministry of Environment of Japan.
