Company: Miriam College
Country: Philippines
Project Name: Miriam College's Environmental Whole School Approach
Category: Environment
Website:
Objectives:
The project aimed to do the following:
i.provide academic programs with a strong environmental foundation and values orientation, with emphasis on multi-disciplinary research, pedagogy, and natural resource management
ii.implement relevant research projects that dynamically responded to evolving knowledge and situations in the environmental field
iii.develop non-formal training and outreach programs in partnership with various communities and publics for environmental management protection and advocacy
iv.develop a green campus with landscape, infrastructure and practices that promoted conservation and provided experiential learning to students
v.provide through the Environmental Studies Institute (ESI), a resource center for information and networking, and catalyze citizen's involvement through advocacy and environmental outreach projects
Details of the project:
Miriam College practiced the whole school approach in environmental education throughout the year. Environmental education was visible in the school’s policy, academic curriculum, campus practices, and outreach programs. All academic units and offices practiced environmental care with the ESI spearheading some institutional projects.
Integrity of creation was incorporated in the vision, goals and key values of the school. The school had various environmental policies and practices, among them: solid waste management, mini-forest, makiTIPS(Tipid, Impok, Punan, Sinop) Program, GMO-free cafeteria, no smoking policy, no balloons policy, water conservation, anti-smoke belching campaign. Miriam College had a Living Museum that contained an inventory of indigenous plants and served as an ecotrail and a live research laboratory for faculty and students. To promote a low carbon lifestyle, a walking and jogging lane was developed.
Environmental principles were incorporated in all levels and all subject areas, from pre-school up till higher education. In 2008, a calendar/poster was made and posted in every classroom of the school, to remind everyone of the environmental principles. New teachers were oriented on the principles to ensure their integration. Because of this expertise in curriculum integration, the school contributed significantly to the development of instructional materials for nationwide use.
There were environmental clubs in various academic units for the students. For faculty members, there were volunteer groups pertaining to the environment. The ESI published several books and manuals on the environment, biodiversity, air care, etc. In 2009, it launched a book on Environmental Science.
The school had outreach programs such as adyo Kalikasan, the Biak na Bato National Park Conservation Project, the Southern Sierra Madre Wildlife Center, etc. With the local government, two projects were being developed: Walkable Katipunan and the Sustainable Biodiversity of the Diliman Creek Corridor. Students also continued to conduct environmental outreach through the National Service Training Program. The Planning and Development Office launched an organic coffee brand, in partnership with communities living in forests.
ESI/Miriam-P.E.A.C.E. was a member of various environmental organizations and networks in the country. Recently, it expanded to Asia and became part of the technical working group of UNESCO Bangkok on environmental ethics education. Miriam College also became a regional center for the Environment and Climate Change Conference for Asian Students and Teachers, India. It was part of the Sustainable Futures Academy, initiated by the Salzburg Global Academy, Austria
Miriam College was awarded a “Dark Green School” citation by the Environmental Education Network of the Philippines in 2009. It also received a Gold Certificate from the Quezon City Government for being assessed a "Garbology Master" in the DENR's Zero Basura Olympics for its efforts to integrate and promote ecological solid waste management.