Uniservity

On 11th September 2007, the British Council, the Hong Kong Education Bureau and UniServity launched 'Climate Cool', a global collaborative school project focusing on one of mankind's greatest challenges - Climate Change.

The 'Climate Cool' project launch in Hong Kong included a live link between students in Hong Kong and the UK, who were invited to exchange their views with each other whilst also posing questions to a panel of leading environmentalists and decision makers. Pupils added their thoughts on the effects and consequences of climate change to the UniServity 'Climate Cool' Learning Platform, which will enable pupils around the world to participate in this groundbreaking project.

The project supports several key learning goals, across subjects including geography, environmental education, sciences, integrated humanities, liberal studies and IT in education. Students will be challenged to develop their own strategies for addressing climate threats and suggest behavioural changes and actions to be made.

In the coming months, pupils from Australia, the USA, Singapore and Malysia will be joining the project to share their own personal experiences of Climate Change, increasing the global collaboration and dialogue between young people from different cultures. Additionally, the pupils will be supported and mentored by experts in their field, Universities in Hong Kong and the UK and members of UniServity's Education Development team.

Ruth Gee, Director, British Council Hong Kong stated: "Climate Cool is our first major project around the topic of Climate Change that focuses on the needs of young people, enabling them to discuss, learn and investigate possible solutions on climate issues. It's a new way of international learning, opening doors for young people and widening their horizons."

Phil Stubbs, Director of Education, UniServity, commented: "UniServity is extremely proud to be involved in this thought-provoking and inspirational project. School children around the world will be enriched by this collaborative pupil-led project. 'Climate Cool' is one of a number of innovative collaborative global projects for teachers and learners using the UniServity 'cLc' Learning Platform, all of which are designed to give learners a voice and personalised opportunities to collaborate with partners in learning beyong the constraints of the traditional classroom."

"The 'Climate Cool' project facilitates authentic learning by presenting students with real problems to solve; problems in which all young people feel they have a personal stake. They are working with authentic partners from diverse backgrounds, with differing opinions, experiences, agendas and wide-ranging levels of expertise. Add this to their access to a global audience, students are presented with a unique opportunity to present their case for change; whether that change is in the behaviour of individuals, institutions, nations or the world at large."