On January 16, 2026, the 48th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUV International Postgraduate Course on Environmental Management for Developing Countries (EM48) was officially opened in the festive hall of the Rectorate of Technische Universität Dresden. The six-month course brings together 21 professionals from 21 countries in the Global South, all of whom are engaged in sustainable development in their home countries through ministries, government agencies, NGOs, and other organizations.

Opening Remarks and Welcome  
The ceremony began with a welcoming speech by Prof. Dr. Roswitha Böhm, Vice-Rector for University Culture at TUD Dresden University of Technology. She emphasized the importance of the university as an international hub for exchanging knowledge and solutions to global environmental challenges. She highlighted how programs like this are critical in fostering partnerships between science and practice to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Dr. Anna Görner, Managing Director of CIPSEM, moderated the event and welcomed participants and guests, including:

• Isabel Bunce from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), which provides financial support for the program,
• Dr. André Lindner, Managing Director of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Advisor for Internationalization,
• as well as alumni and course facilitators.

Isabel Bunce conveyed the BMUV’s greetings and highlighted the strong connection between CIPSEM's program funding and Germany’s recent December policy decisions on the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change and the National Circular Economy Strategy.

Interactive Introduction of Participants 
During the event, participants had the opportunity to introduce themselves and showcase the impressive geographical range of the course. Liza Victor from St Lucia had traveled the longest, 24 hours. A map showed the EM48 participants' countries of origin and the number of alumni from previous courses in these countries.

Personal Impressions from Participants  
Alejandra Riveros from Colombia and Ahmed Abdulrahaman from Nigeria, two participants in the course, shared their expectations and motivations for attending.

Alejandra shared her insights on the urgent need for collaborative solutions to address environmental challenges, especially in developing countries like hers. Drawing on her experience working with vulnerable populations in Colombian cities, she highlighted the value of co-designing solutions with local communities to build resilience and adapt urban and rural areas to interact more sustainably with nature. She also reflected on the wisdom of Colombia’s Tayrona indigenous communities, who have lived in harmony with their ecosystems for centuries, and emphasized the importance of integrating such values into modern planning systems.  

Ahmed highlighted the program's vital role in fostering professional growth and equipping participants to tackle pressing global environmental challenges. Ahmed emphasized the rich diversity of the group as its greatest strength, enabling a dynamic exchange of tailored solutions for climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, circular economy practices, and sustainable urban planning in their respective countries. Both emphasized the importance of fostering a strong sense of community within the group to learn from each other and maintain long-term connections. They see the course not only as an opportunity to gain knowledge but also as a chance to build a global network capable of driving transformative change.

Insights into the Course and CIPSEM  
The six-month course program takes an interdisciplinary and holistic approach, combining expert knowledge with practical application and policy advice. It covers modules on key topics such as:

• Conservation ecology and restoration,
• Renewable energy and energy efficiency,
• Waste management, circular economy, and resource efficiency,
• Climate governance, and
• Sustainable urban and regional development.

Participants will engage with experts from TU Dresden, the BMUV, the Federal Environment Agency, the Global Water and Climate Adaptation Centre (ABCD-Centre), the United Nations University, the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, and representatives from many other organizations. In total, over 90 lecturers contribute to the course.

Since the program’s inception in 1977, more than 2,800 professionals from 145 countries have participated. According to regular alumni surveys, graduates report increased responsibilities in their roles, improved collaboration, and enhanced problem-solving skills.

Alumni Contribution by Millicent Mensah  
Millicent Mensah, an alumna of EM46 from Ghana, shared insights into the lasting impact of her participation. She described how the program not only provided professional development opportunities but also fostered personal growth. She encouraged the new cohort to view each other as experts and to engage in meaningful exchange.

Networking and Team Introduction  
The CIPSEM team introduced themselves to the participants to facilitate exchanges and personal connections during the course.

The event concluded with participants answering icebreaker questions drawn from a treasure chest and sharing their first impressions.

With this ceremonial opening, the participants of EM48 embark on an intensive and inspiring learning journey that will enhance their expertise and ability to advance global sustainability goals.

More Information  
Stay updated on the progress of EM48 and other CIPSEM activities:  
👉 CIPSEM Website 
👉 LinkedIn Profile