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Eleven Australian Government departments and agencies took part in the project which used a participatory inquiry approach, through facilitated focus groups, allowing the issues to be identified by those who know, work with, and engage with them every day.
Work at ARIES
We are always interested in hearing from people who would like to work at ARIES. Just send your CV and a covering letter to ARIEScoordinator@gse.mq.edu.au.
- What is ARIES?
- How are ARIES research priorities being determined?
- What do we do?
- How are we funded?
- ARIES partnerships
- Do you want to know more about Education for Sustainability?
What is ARIES?
ARIES is the Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability based at Macquarie University, Sydney. ARIES is primarily funded by the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
Its core business is to undertake research that informs policy
and practice in Education for Sustainability across a range of
sectors including: business and industry, school education, community
education, further and higher education.
ARIES adopts an innovative approach to research with a view to translating awareness of sustainability issues into action and change. ARIES is concerned with how we inform, motivate and manage structural change towards sustainability.
How are ARIES research priorities being determined?
The Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, in close collaboration with the National Environmental Education Council (NEEC), sets the ARIES research agenda to help ensure that the needs of Education for Sustainability across Australia are being met.
NEEC is a central element of the Australian Government’s ‘National Action Plan - Environmental Education for a Sustainable Future’ (2000), and provides advice to the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources on the direction of environmental education issues nationally.
To inform the research agenda ARIES undertook an extensive review in 2004 of the status and needs of Education for Sustainability in Australia and reflected on international and national best practice across a number of sectors.
This
research was reviewed by Key Informant Groups (KIG) which included
leaders and experienced practitioners from across the states
and territories in Australia to ensure that the review captured
emerging trends and presented a realistic picture of thinking
and practice in Education for Sustainability.
ARIES also facilitated Research Dialogues in Sydney on the 20th and 21st of September 2004. The dialogues brought together key stakeholders from business and industry, government agencies, universities, training colleges and others involved in the VET sector to assist in identifying priority research projects.
The National Environmental Education Network (NEEN) also provides input to the development of research priorities.
ARIES is currently planning and undertaking projects informed by the process outlined above.
What do we do?
ARIES’ core business is to undertake research in Education for Sustainability across various sectors including business and industry, local government education, community education, school, further and higher education.
It seeks to inform, motivate and support change towards sustainability. ARIES specialises in research methodologies that are compatible with the critical theory paradigm underpinning Education for Sustainability. Visit our EfS portal to find out more about these approaches and their potential to assist with change towards sustainability.
To view outlines of recent ARIES research projects please visit ARIES Projects.
How are we funded?
After undergoing a competitive tendering process, Macquarie University was chosen as the home for ARIES. The Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts provided $500,000 in 2003 to establish ARIES and $1.8 million from 2004 - 06. The Australian Government has continued its commitment to the Institute by committing $1.3 million over 2006 - 07 and 2007 - 08.
ARIES partnerships
ARIES
undertakes its research in partnership with key stakeholders,
champions, experienced practitioners and experts in the field.
ARIES involves partners in a number of ways. It has Key Informant Groups for each of the projects. The Key Informants ensure that the research undertaken is asking valuable questions and that the findings are valid and accurate. Some partners are involved in scoping the project proposals and/or assisting with the research task. At times ARIES will subcontract projects to other groups who have greater capacity and/or specific expertise in an area.
Other National and International Projects
In addition to projects funded by the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, ARIES has commitments with IUCN (World Conservation Union), UNESCO (APCEIU), ENSI (OECD) and the Environmental Trust Fund, NSW.
Do you want to know more about Education for Sustainability?
The EfS Portal has been developed by the ARIES team to provide you with a central source of information relating to Education for Sustainability. It contains a comprehensive explanation of EfS, extensive weblinks and key documents in EfS that are downloadable for your convenience. It also has a section on the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.
