
The Association for Learning Design and Education for Sustainable Development (ALDESD) provides a range of courses, Bootcamps and professional development opportunities to academics, learning designers, curriculum designers and educational developers embedding ESD in educational practices in collaboration with UNESCO IESALC, the American University of Sharjah, Manchester Metropolitan University, Glasgow University and the Open University.
As described by UNESCO, “we aim to gives learners the knowledge, skills, values and agency to address interconnected global challenges including climate change, loss of biodiversity, unsustainable use of resources, and inequality. We aim to empower learners to make informed decisions and take individual and collective action to change society and care for the planet. ESD is a lifelong learning process and an integral part of quality education. It enhances the cognitive, socio-emotional and behavioural dimensions of learning and encompasses learning content and outcomes, pedagogy and the learning environment itself”.
The first Learning Design Bootcamp was delivered in 2019. Two more Bootcamps followed in 2020 and 2021. Now, in 2022 our Learning Design Bootcamp has evolved introducing Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) with our first Learning Design and ESD Bootcamp delivered in March 2022. Learn more about OUR STORY!
BOOTCAMP 2023
We are pleased to announce the launch of our Bootcamp Call 2023.
The Bootcamp will be delivered in English and Spanish.
Our Learning Design and ESD Bootcamp is proudly delivered in collaboration with UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC), Manchester Metropolitan University, the American University of Sharjah, Glasgow University and the Open University.
Find out more about the Bootcamp 2023 Call!

BOOTCAMP 2022
The Bootcamp 2022 will focus not only on supporting university teams in curriculum design for online and blended learning delivery but also in guiding and supporting the teams selected in the design and implementation of ESD in their curriculums supported by the CoDesignS ESD Framework. The teams will design curriculum elements contributing to embedding ESD in Higher Education practices in a module of their choice.
As stated in the UNESCO Learn for our planet report (2021): “The way we currently live is not sustainable. Urgent change is needed, but lasting change is impossible without education.”
The Learning Design and Education for Sustainable Development Bootcamp will bring together experts and mentors in the three pillars identified in the CoDesignS ESD Framework:
- Key Competencies for Sustainability that are relevant to all SDGs (UNESCO, 2017) and have been classified under: Ways of Thinking, Ways of Practicing and Ways of Being in the recent ESD guidelines published by the QAA and Advance HE (2021)
- Specific Learning Objectives for the SDGs targeting the cognitive, socio-emotional and cognitive domains to engage students in a transformative educational experience (Sipos et al., 2008; Cotton & Winter, 2010).
- Transformative Pedagogies and Teaching Methods delivered online or in a blended learning fashion that support participation and collaboration, problem-orientation, inter and transdisciplinarity and the linking of formal and informal learning (UNESCO, 2017).
“The Learning Design and ESD Bootcamp aims to inspire and empower academics, students, learning designers and educational developers from different disciplines to acquire a learning design mind-set, embedding Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Higher Education practices. The Bootcamp also aims to foster communities of practice to aspire for creating value and innovative ESD solutions for Higher Education institutions globally.” Dr Maria Toro-Troconis – Bootcamp Founder and Director
ENGLISH AND SPANISH HOSTS
The Learning Design and ESD Bootcamp will be delivered in English and Spanish in 2022. We are honoured to have the American University of Sharjah co-hosting the Bootcamp in English with The Open University and Manchester Metropolitan University in parallel with UNESCO IESALC hosting the Bootcamp in Spanish.
For information about the Spanish Learning Design and ESD Bootcamp visit the UNESCO IESALC website.

WHAT HAPPENED IN PREVIOUS BOOTCAMPS?
The Learning Design Bootcamps in 2019 2020 and 2021 provided an intensive three months programme for Learning Technologists and academics engaging in the design and development of a 15 or 30 credit module of their choice.
The Bootcamp targeted 3-6 teams. A team represented a university and required one or two Learning Technologists and an academic from the same institution. The teams were supported on-the- job by mentors and coaches in the design and development of their module following the CoDesigns Learning Design Framework.
The Bootcamp started with an intensive day at the beginning of the Bootcamp and another intensive day at the end. At least one member of the team (Learning Technologist or academic) had to commit to attend both days. During the Bootcamp, the teams designed and developed their modules supported remotely by their mentors with clear deadlines.
At the end of the Bootcamp, the teams attended a final day in which they presented their final designs. A panel of experts evaluated the final designs and developments. The best team won a prize.
The activities and experiences of the teams were followed by the Bootcamp research committee members and documented. The findings after the Bootcamp were shared at different Learning Technology forums including ALT-C 2019, ALT Online Winter Conference 2019, Advance HE, among others.
The parallel research project was governed by the ethics committee of one of the lead universities. Participants agreed to have their progress monitored and appraised, involving data collection, for the purposes detailed in the research ethics consent form provided at the beginning of the Bootcamp.

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