To understand the people engaged in VITAE, is to understand generativity. Which refers to people making a mark on the world by helping and caring for others, as well as creating and accomplishing things that make the world a better place. Key characteristics of generative people, include:
- Developing and maintaining relationships
- Making commitments to themselves and others
- Mentoring and coaching others
- Contributing to sustainable development:
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) : “Sustainable development is the overarching paradigm of the United Nations. The concept of sustainable development was described by the 1987 Bruntland Commission Report as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” There are four dimensions to sustainable development – society, environment, culture and economy – which are intertwined, not separate. Sustainability is a paradigm for thinking about the future in which environmental, societal and economic considerations are balanced in the pursuit of an improved quality of life. For example, a prosperous society relies on a healthy environment to provide food and resources, safe drinking water and clean air for its citizens. One might ask, what is the difference between sustainable development and sustainability? Sustainability is often thought of as a long-term goal (i.e. a more sustainable world), while sustainable development refers to the many processes and pathways to achieve it (e.g. sustainable agriculture and forestry, sustainable production and consumption, good government, research and technology transfer, education and training, etc.). To date, Education for Sustainable Development has been integrated into many global frameworks and conventions related to key areas of sustainable development.
- Climate Change: Article 6 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(link is external, and its work programmes
- Biodiversity: Article 13 of the Convention on Biological Diversity(link is external), and its work programmes
- Disaster Risk Reduction: Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (link is external)
- Sustainable Consumption and Production: Sustainable Lifestyles and Education Programme of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production 2012-2021″. Which listed the Construction Resource Initiatives Council’s MISSION 2030 to eliminate construction, renovation and demolition waste as one of its first programs.
The differentiator between VITAE and UNESCO drivers -other than the obvious that VITAE is a grassroot initiative, whereas UNESCO is a well established UN agency established in 1945- are the following concentration with respect to education, STEM fields and culture.:
- Living System Production: Based on Genuine Progress Indicators (GPI)
- Integrative Challenge: Scope Recognition, Frontline Analytical Capabilities, and Modeling and testing, for quality substitution, optimization and virtualization
- Collaborative Labs: Quality substance(i.e. clean matter, information, and energy) Learning, Innovations and Living Labs for reiterative innovations processes
- Regulative Systems: Focus on moving from testing to design; and maturing from prescriptive technology R&D to holistic technology pilots.
