48th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUV International Postgraduate Course on Environmental Management for Developing Countries (EM48)

Duration: January 09, 2025 - July 25, 2025 (on-site in Dresden)

Motivation

The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations in 2015 marked a significant milestone in global sustainable development. For the first time, the world collectively pledged to pursue a comprehensive array of shared objectives. These encompassed crucial areas, spanning from climate action to fostering sustainable economic growth, ensuring life below water to promoting sustainable cities, addressing issues of hunger and poverty to advocating for responsible consumption and production, and from reducing inequalities to promoting inclusive industrialization.

Course concept and objectives

The 2030 Agenda, encapsulated in the SDGs (Figure 1), recognizes that the preservation of our biosphere hinges on the responsible and sustainable stewardship of planet Earth. It underscores the interconnectedness of various aspects of human activity with the health and vitality of our environment, emphasizing the imperative of a holistic and forward-looking approach to global challenges. However, globally, the realization of the ambitious targets set by the SDGs has fallen significantly behind schedule. To address this challenge and align with the objectives of these crucial international agreements, the UNEP/UNESCO/BMUV 6-month course adopts an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, encompassing vital facets of sustainability and environmental management.

The curriculum (Figure 2) is organized in several modules comprising conservation and restoration ecology, water and atmosphere, soil and land resources, sustainable urban and regional development, waste management and circular economy, renewable energy and energy efficiency, climate change and natural resource governance. An overarching science-policy interface frames all disciplines.

Moreover, all participants will train fundamental skills with cross-sectoral relevance such as policy advice, presentation skills, project planning and management, which can be applied in the context of their local realities as well as communication across disciplines and cultures, participatory government practices, and understanding of geo-information.

CIPSEM follows an integrative and interdisciplinary teaching approach which conveys not only knowledge on global environmental processes and methods for the sustainable management of resources, but also promotes abilities in a holistic way of thinking with respect to environmental thematic problems and in finding corresponding solutions. The overall approach is to blend academic knowledge with local, traditional and professional expertise.

The lectures are given by professors of TUD Dresden University of Technology and experts from various national and international institutions - from the German Environment Agency, the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, UNU-FLORES, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, the Leibniz Insitute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, among many others. The course program also includes contributions from CIPSEM alumni. Participants are required to carry out a research project with a scientific scope on a specific environment-related subject and present the results of this work in a symposium at the end of the course.

Target groups

This course is particularly designed for experts and leaders of public governance and administration at the national, regional and local level requiring an overall-competence in environmental matters. However, professionals from science, economy or civil society who already bear responsibility for sustainable development in their countries are welcome to apply as well. To be eligible, candidates need to originate from and work in developing countries, including emerging economies. Applicants also need to have several years of professional practice in the course's scope for a mutually beneficial exchange of experiences. A first university degree (e.g. BA, BSc,), adequate communication skills in the English language, and the delegating institution's nomination are mandatory.

Application and participation

Qualified professionals are welcome to apply for this training from March 13 until April 24, 2024 on CIPSEM’s online application portal. The Steering Committee selects 21 participants of this course by June-July 2024. Only selected participants will be informed via email.

Participants stay in our comfortable single studio apartments and receive a stipend to cover basic living expenses (550 €/month). In addition, flights, health insurance, public transport tickets, costs of overnight stays for excursions etc., will be covered. The course office will provide additional manifold assistance.

Participants successfully completing this course will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Management.

Please note that the duration stated at the beginning corresponds to the financing period. This includes the course period from January 16, 2025 - July 18, 2025 as well as seven arrival days before the start of the course and seven departure days after the end of the course.

You can access the online application portal via the following link: https://crm.bu.tu-dresden.de/ausschreibung?1&call=CIPSEM2024-EM48.

Before applying, please also have a look at our hints on application, explanations regarding the application portal and answers to frequently asked questions. For information on other courses, please visit https://tud.de/cipsem/upcoming.

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