Viewpoint: The Communities of Practice Approach- A useful way of reviewing education for sustainable development regional centres of expertise?

Abstract

This Viewpoint Paper draws on an interpretive case study research project that explored workplace and networked epistemologies of social learning enabled by the establishment of Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE) in southern Africa. The study has its origins in a concern about the potential effectiveness of RCEs in enhancing professional development through social learning towards sustainability. The case study design employed a qualitative methodology using a mixed methods approach of document analysis and in-depth interviews from selected partners of two RCEs in South Africa: RCE Makana and RCE KwaZulu-Natal. By offering deeper insights into the networking and sharing in these communities, the Viewpoint paper argues the case that these are emerging communities of practice in education for sustainable development.