This webinar will look at the story of creating a Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE) in the southern coastal city of Tongyeong, in South Korea.  The role that higher education institutions played and the lessons learned in the process include the importance of balancing the voice of the researchers with the experience of the local partners to effectively produce successful outcomes. While researchers are well equipped with knowledge and expertise in their field, they often lack understanding of the local community. The community groups are well versed in the contextual specificities of the region but could benefit from more long-term and generalized analysis of their challenges. A well-balanced mix of both groups can be the key to successful community development.  Additional insights will be shared on the role of UNESCO in ESD and the status of post-GAP planning.