s part of the International Conference on Sustainability Education (ICSE) 2025, SASEANEE, the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), and the Mobius Foundation jointly organized Plenary 5: “Building Green Skills – Educational Challenges and Opportunities for the Global South.” The session brought together leading experts, educators, policymakers, and practitioners from South Asia and Africa to explore how education systems can better prepare learners for sustainability transitions and emerging green economies.

The plenary focused on the growing need to align education, skills development, and workforce readiness with environmental sustainability goals. Discussions highlighted the importance of policy reforms, higher education innovation, vocational training, and community-based approaches in fostering green skills and supporting a just transition.

The session was chaired by Mr. Kartikeya V. Sarabhai, Founder Director of the Centre for Environment Education, who emphasized that education must equip learners with adaptability, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to respond to rapidly changing employment landscapes. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening South–South cooperation to address shared sustainability challenges.

The discussion was moderated by Ms. Madhavi Joshi, SASEANEE Connect, Centre for Environment Education, who introduced the concept of green skills within the Global South context and underscored the urgency of ensuring an inclusive and equitable green transition. She highlighted the role of partnerships, collaborative networks, and regional platforms such as SASEANEE in advancing sustainability education.

The plenary featured diverse perspectives from across the Global South. Ms. Presha Ramsarup of Environmental Education Association of Southern Africa (EEASA) stressed the importance of labour market intelligence, recognition of community-based work, and stronger linkages between education, industry, and policy. Dr. Subarna Sivapalan from the University of Nottingham Malaysia shared experiences of integrating sustainability across higher education curricula and highlighted accreditation mechanisms as tools for institutional accountability.

Representing ISTIC under the auspices of UNESCO, Ms. Sharizad Dahlan presented the Greening Education initiative, emphasizing transferable competencies, teacher capacity building, and regional cooperation. Mr. Arpit Sharma from the Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ), India, showcased targeted skill-development programmes that have generated employment opportunities in sectors such as solar energy, sanitation, and saltpan management, while highlighting India’s role in promoting South–South cooperation.

Further enriching the discussion, Dr. Suresh Gautam from Kathmandu University School of Education emphasized the value of indigenous knowledge systems, context-specific learning, and collaborative partnerships in advancing green education. Dr. Bhola Gurjar from the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR), Chandigarh, highlighted the importance of teacher training, values-based education, and preparing responsible citizens in alignment with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

A strong consensus emerged on the need for inclusivity, regional collaboration, and strengthened South–South partnerships to accelerate green skills development and support sustainable and equitable transitions. The session provided valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges facing the Global South and reinforced the importance of education as a catalyst for sustainability transformation.

The organizers expressed their gratitude to all speakers, participants, and supporting team members, including Madhavi Joshi, Susmita Chanda, Dr. Ram Boojh, Dr. Bhagyashree Kesherwani, and Banajyotsna Baruah, as well as the Mobius Foundation, for contributing to the success of the plenary session.

Watch session- https://lnkd.in/dCHYKFZ5