Forum introduces youth sustainable development initiative

An initiative aimed at promoting collaboration and resource sharing among educational institutions to advance the education of young people for sustainable development has recently been launched in Beijing.

The China Soong Ching Ling Science and Culture Centre for Young People, the National Maritime Museum of China, the Henan Science and Technology Museum, the Xinjiang Nature Museum, the Dunhuang Academy and the Beijing Auto Museum are among the first group of institutions to participate in the initiative.

These venues will share educational resources and experiences, as well as collaboratively develop educational programs and activities for young people in a bid to inspire their active involvement in learning and practicing sustainable development. Meanwhile, a series of exchange programs will be organized to enhance mutual understanding and learning among young people from different regions and backgrounds.

Xu Jincao, deputy director of the experience center at the China Soong Ching Ling Science and Culture Centre for Young People, notes that, since the introduction of the "double reduction" policy by the central authorities in 2021, which aims to alleviate the burden of excessive homework and tuition on young students, various educational venues have provided young people with more enriching learning experiences and practical opportunities, playing an increasingly important role in quality education.

The center has offered educational resources and activity spaces for more than 200,000 students from various age groups and more than 300 schools.

Among these resources, courses targeting children aged between 3 and 8 seek to help them discover their strengths, interests and personal traits through interactive activities. These courses include scientific enlightenment, immersive drama, physical health, cognitive training, and safety protection, among others, Xu explains.

For children aged 5-18, the center has designed the Tinkering Workshop to assist them in handson thinking, cultivating cognitive skills and training creative and comprehensive practical abilities.

"We are also actively establishing a resource-sharing mechanism with domestic museums, science centers, educational bases and other institutions. Through extensive collaboration, we aim to create a broader platform for practical experiences and exchanges for young people," she adds.

The initiative was launched at the 2nd International Forum on Young People's Education for Sustainable Development where representatives from different venues shared their experience in empowering youth.

Liu Jie, the vice-curator of the National Maritime Museum of China in Tianjin, says that the museum has opened three laboratories to young people, including facilities for the restoration of marine fossils and marine specimen repair.

The museum has established collaboration with over 100 schools, which regularly organize student visits for educational purposes. Furthermore, science-centric dramas advocating for the harmonious coexistence of humanity and the ocean will also be produced by the museum, Liu adds.

Liu Wenhu, vice-curator of Xinjiang Nature Museum in Urumqi, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, notes that the museum boasts 12 field stations and two botanical gardens, at which a wide array of natural education programs can be conducted.

"For example, during this summer vacation, students from Urumqi carried out apple-tree age determination in the botanical garden. Based on observing the annual ring patterns of a 500-year-old apple tree, they researched the climatic conditions of that period. At our field stations, we guided children in exploring snow accumulation, measuring differences in thickness, depth, density and temperature. We have achieved good scientific research results," he recalls.

The forum has brought together approximately 200 educational experts, scholars, education industry practitioners and primary and secondary school teachers from countries including Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and China. Their discussions revolve around new concepts, strategies and achievements in youth sustainable development education, covering topics such as empowering education through technological innovation, nature education, international perspectives and art education.