Ursul, A.D., Ursul, T.A. Directions and specifi cities of formation of education for sustainable development of Russia: towards the end of the UN Decade

Abstract: The authors discuss the problem of education for sustainable development (ESD) of Russia before the UN Decade and within its period. The authors evaluate offi cial documents of global and Russian level which are necessary for the introduction of the concept of sustainable development in the education in Russia. Special attention is paid to the perception of the idea of sustainable development and formation of education for the purposes of sustainable development in Russia, preparation of teaching and teaching-methodological manuals for environmental education within the framework of sustainable development within the system of higher education, starting with the Conference of the UN on environment and development. The authors evaluate the problem of widening the scope of sustainable development, which has to be taken into consideration within the framework of formation of the ESD, since it shall have to widen its range in the fi eld of scientifi c education. The authors employ historical and evolution approaches towards the formation of education for the sustainable development in Russia, as well as a systemic comparative approach in order to reveal the general tendencies in the global world of development of environmental education for the sustainable development. For the fi rst time the authors reveal general and specifi c features and tendencies in education development for sustainable development as a new phenomenon in the global community, and especially in Russia. I is shown that in addition to the globally accepted environmental interpretation, the Russia gained a concept of preemptive education, global education and education for sustainable development based upon the new ideas on guaranteeing security via sustainable development . It is stressed that in the future education for sustainable development should involve wider and more systemically comprehensive concept of global sustainability, which is not limited to the triad of economics, social sphere and environment.

Keywords: