Since 2007 the RCE Rhine-Meuse has been the Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development for the Netherlands and the Euregion combining Netherlands, Belgium and Nordrhein Westfalen (Germany). It has been acknowledged by United Nations University that set out to create regions worldwide where educational institutions, scientific organizations, industry and governments work together for learning in order to bring near a more sustainable future.
The RCE Rhine-Meuse was one of the seven pioneer RCEs worldwide and the first in Europe, spearheading the involvement of pupils and students in ESD.
In the RCE Rhine-Meuse several universities, municipalities, provinces, ministries, a core group of 20 schools in primary, secondary schools and further education, several leading knowledge institutes and over 40 companies were connected during UNESCO's Decade for Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014 and pooled their resources for innovation through education. Focus points were future relevant learning, connecting education with industry and the upgrade of learners’ competences towards the coming decades’ requirements.
The RCE Rhine-Meuse initiated the “European RCE Association” in which 21 European RCEs have been represented. In the course of the years a range of RCE's in North- Mid- and South America as well as Africa and Asia joined the RCE Rhine-Meuse in its strive to create of global learning space for youth.
The RCE Rhine-Meuse has been mentioned a national key-network for UNESCO, participated in various UNECE initiatives and led several EU-funded projects.
On the Dutch national scale the RCE Rhine-Meuse founded and operated a strategic cooperation with various Interdepartemental Programs on ESD as well as on Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Education.d
The RCE Rhine-Meuse established the 'Leadership Forum for Sustainable Development', bringing together thought-leaders and changemakers on the national level in the Netherlands.
The work and impact of the partners involved in activities through the RCE have been rated by the Dutch government via the National Educational Council as worthy of follow-up and support. It was acknowledged and supported by six Dutch Ministries as of 2009.
The RCE Rhine-Meuse operated in a fascinating cross border region with a challenging multi-cultural population where 3 European languages are spoken daily and citizens of every European country work and study.
The RCE Rhine-Meuse is acknowledged by UNU-IAS, the Institute for Applied Sciences of Unitied Nations University.
