Regard croisé sur 10 ans d'innovation en EDD

This editorial looks back over ten years of innovation in education for sustainable development (ESD), supported by the foundation éducation21, and over five years of support for innovative ESD projects at Universities of Teacher Education (UTE) in Switzerland. These anniversaries provided an opportunity to present some of the UTE projects supported by éducation21 at a meeting of UTE professors in December 2023 at the UTE in Bern. Following the meeting, some of the presentations were published in the present themed issue of PriSE. This editorial also presents éducation21's understanding of ESD, updated in 2023 and structured around three concepts: education, sustainability and sustainable development. éducation21 proposes a dynamic model of ESD that integrates scientific, political and pedagogical developments. This vision emphasises the importance of ethical, pluralistic and transformative approaches in education, adapted to the various Swiss regional contexts. 52 innovative ESD projects were submitted to education21 since 2019, 19 of which were selected for financial and conceptual support. These projects lead to the creation of teaching resources - such as guides for teachers, books and fact sheets for pupils, touring exhibitions or digital applications - aimed at promoting cross-disciplinary skills such as systems thinking, taking responsibility and managing controversies. Discussions between UTE professors at the December 2023 meeting showed that interdisciplinarity between the social and natural sciences is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the challenges of sustainable development. The participants also felt that a ‘single’ understanding of ESD was not feasible. However, a shared vision between UTEs of the specific elements of ESD would enable national progress to be made, particularly within the institutions themselves as well as within the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education or swissuniversities, the umbrella organisation of the Swiss universities. In conclusion, education21’s support for ESD projects at Universities of Teacher Education is a catalyst for innovation in ESD. It encourages collaboration, national dissemination and the sustainable anchoring of these practices in the Swiss education system.