UNESCO Chair Lecture Series: Hiroki Fujii on “A Pan-Asian Initiative in Teacher Education for Sustainable Development: Bridging Research and School Practice”
The UNESCO Chair in Higher Education for Sustainable Development at Leuphana University Lüneburg and SETRI is happy to share a recording of the lecture by Prof. Hiroki Fujii, Director of the Okayama University ESD Promotion Center and its UNESCO Chair in Research and Education for Sustainable Development.
On 1 September 2025, Prof. Fujii delivered a talk titled “A Pan-Asian Initiative in Teacher Education for Sustainable Development: Bridging Research and School Practice.” His talk highlighted developments in Education for Sustainable Development in Japan and collaborative efforts in bridging together research, curriculum development, and teacher training to advance sustainability across the Asian region.
You may watch the recording of the session above or by following this link.
About the speaker
Dr. Hiroki Fujii is a professor of science education in the Graduate School of Education at Okayama University, Japan. He is also the director of the Okayama University Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Promotion Center, and the UNESCO Chair in Research and Education for Sustainable Development, Japan. Prof. Fujii graduated from Hiroshima University, Japan, and after studying in Leibniz-Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) at University of Kiel, Germany, he received a Ph.D. in the historical study of didactics in chemistry. His major area of work is the design and development of school science (chemistry) curricula and lessons to promote students’ scientific literacy. Prof. Fujii served on vice president of the Society of Japan Science Teaching since 2019. Furthermore, he has been in the role of vice president of the East-Asian Association for Science Education (EASE) since 2021. He is currently interested in researching science lessons/curricula and science teacher training incorporating ESD.
About the UNESCO Chair Lecture Series
The UNESCO Chair Lecture Series, hosted by the UNESCO Chair in Higher Education for Sustainable Development at Leuphana University Lüneburg, was launched in the winter semester of 2025. It builds on and continues the legacy of earlier dialogue formats at our department, including the Institute for Sustainable Development and Learning’s series “In Conversation with …” and the UNESCO Chair’s “Rethinking Higher Education” series.
In this series, we bring together scholars from around the world to share their research and diverse perspectives on sustainability and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Designed as a hybrid format, the lectures offer a space for dialogue, exchange of ideas, and critical reflection on the role of higher education in shaping sustainable futures.
The sessions are moderated by Prof. Dr. Daniel Fischer, Professor for Sustainability Education & Communication and Holder of UNESCO Chair in Higher Education for Sustainable Development, Leuphana University Lüneburg.
