An RCE is a network of existing formal, non-formal and informal education organisations, mobilised to deliver education for sustainable development to local and regional communities. A network of RCEs worldwide will constitute the Global Learning Space for Sustainable Development. RCEs aspire to achieve the goals of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD, 2005-2014), by translating its global objectives into the context of the local communities in which they operate.

Core elements of an RCE

An RCE should have four elements:
1. Governance - addressing issues of RCE management and leadership
2. Collaboration - addressing the engagement of actors from all levels of formal, non-formal and informal education in RCE activities
3. Research and development - addressing the role of research and its inclusion in RCE activities, as well as contributing to the design of strategies for collaborative activities, including those with other RCEs
4. Transformative education - contributing to the transformation of the current education and training systems to satisfy ambitions of the region regarding sustainable living and livelihood.





The expected role of Regional Centres of Expertise

RCEs are expected to strengthen three kinds of links among partners:

1. between different levels of educational institutions

2. between educational organizations of the same level, for example, schools in a community

3. between educational organizations and organizations that, while not being part of the formal education, contribute to the promotion of ESD

[Collaborative links of Regional Centres of Expertise- RCE Concept Paper; UNU- IAS]

RCEs around the World

45 RCEs have so far been acknowledged by UNU- IAS:

In Africa
    Ghana
    Greater Nairobi, Kenya
    KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
    Makana and Rural Eastern Cape, South Africa
    
In the Asia-Pasific region
    Anji, China
    Beijing, China
    Bogor, Indonesia    
    Cebu, Philippines 
    Greater Sendai, Japan
    Guwahati, India
    Incheon, Korea
    Kitakyushu, Japan
    Kodagu, India
    Kyrgyzstan
    Lucknow, India 
    Okayama, Japan 
    Pacific Island Countries 
    Penang, Malaysia
    Pune, India 
    Tongyeong, Korea
    Trang, Thailand
    Yokohama, Japan

 In Europe and the Middle East
    Barcelona, Spain
    East Midlands, UK
    Jordan 
    Munich, Germany
    Rhine-Meuse region
    Skane, Sweden
    Southern North Sea, Belgium/Netherlands/France
    
In South America and the Caribbean 
    Curitiba-Parana, Brazil

In North and Central America
    Grand Rapids, USA
Greater Sudbury, Canada
    Saskatchewan, Canada
    Toronto , Canada