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Central and Eastern European EA (Planning and Management)related higher education, a SWOT analysis

Ingrid Belčáková, Faculty of Architecture, STU, EIA Centre

TwoEA-M project seminar in SeoulTwoEA-M project seminar in Seoul, , on 30 November and 1 on 30 November and 1 December 2009December 2009

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Outline

Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) countries – „transition countries“

EU environmental acquis and international EAM conventions – a common basis

Capacity building and education program for CEE (REC initiatives)

EAM education in CEE countries – SWOT analysis

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CEE transition countries

Bulgaria, Czech Republic,Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia Strong planning traditions and similar planning

systems „Regulated“ reforms within EU Accession – since

2000 Western EIA/SEA type EU standardisation of EAM education (Bologna

process, etc...) A lot of common capacity building project last 15

years

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EU environmental acquis and international EAM conventions – a

common basis

• Environmental management standards (e.g.EMAS)

• Environmental Assessment Directive (EIA Directive, SEA Directive)

• Environmental prevention (IPPC Directive)• Public participation(Directive 2003/35/ES)• ESPOO Convention, UNECE SEA Protocol,

Aarhus Convention

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Capacity building and education program for CEE (REC initiatives)

Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe(REC) Regional Initiatives program

organised by REC Headquartes – e.g.Sofia Initiative

National Initiatives Programs in Bulgaria,Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia

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Capacity building and education program for CEE (REC initiatives)

Sofia Initiative Program – regional initiatives SEA Protocol Initial Capacity Development

in Selected Countries of the Former Soviet Union developed by the REC, UNDP-RBEC and UNECE Espoo Convention Secretariat, 2006 in English

SEA training manual for South Eastern Europe, 2003

SEA „train the trainer“ material, 2004)

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• The guidelines on the “Integration of the biodiversity protection aspects in the process of SEA“, in English (unproofed translation); in Bulgarian

• Environmental assessment of the regional operational programme of Bulgaria, 2003, In English

• Manual for Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes in Bulgaria, 2002, in English

REC based national activities and outputs- Bulgaria

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REC based national activities and outputs- Czech Republic

• Assessment of Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Sectoral Operational Programme for Tourism and Spa Industry,in English

• Environmental assessment website of REC CO Czech Republic

• SEA methodology for regional development concepts in English in Croatian and Russian

• SEA Documentation of the National Development Plan of the CR in English

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REC based national activities and outputs- Estonia, Hungary, Poland

Presentation on Estonian SPD 2003-2006 and SEA by Kristel Kiiple, MoF, Estonia

SEA of NDP – a single programming document 2003-2006 in English and Estonian

Link to SEA of regional operational programme of Hungary (in Hungarian)

SEA for the purposes of providing the foundations for the ex-ante assessment of the Regional Operational Programme from and environmental aspect, in English

Review of pilot SEA for NDP Poland in English

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REC based national activities and outputs- Slovenia and Slovakia

Expertise for the programme of inclusion of NGOs in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of the development strategy documents of the Republic of Slovenia in English

Guidance to Public Participation in Strategic Environmental Assessment in Slovenian

Manual of public participation in Strategic Environmental Assessment in Slovenian

Guidance to Public Participation in Strategic Environmental Assessment in Slovak

SEA methodology for regional development concepts in Slovak

SEA methodology for operational programmes in Slovak

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EAM education in CEE countries – higher education support

• Pilot projects – to test and develop EA methods in real-life situations and to establish precedents of good EAM practice

• Promotional materials- to explain benefits of EAM to planners and policy-makers

• Guidelines and professional training– to guide EA for specific types of planning/programming processes

• Professional networking- to establish professional benchmarks for good SEA practice

• Periodic evaluations – to review effectiveness (e.g. annual conferences, etc.)

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EAM education in CEE countries – SWOT analysis criteria

• Academic context (e.g.degree title,emphasis,)

• Programmeimplementation (e.g.duration, programme structure, delivery language, delivery method, assesment method, focus

• Programme requirement and scope (e.g. geographical specialism, entry requirements, fees, credit structure, career opportunities)

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EAM education in CEE countries – SWOT analysis

Strengths• Good professional

background• Unified EU credit

system• Education supported by

a lot of pilot projects and guidelines

• Less expensive courses• Good regional mutual

programmes

Weaknesses• Majority of courses are

provided in national language

• A lot of courses are very much science oriented

• Administrative staff mostly speak just in national language

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EAM education in CEE countries – SWOT analysis

Opportunities• EU supported Erasmus

Mundus master programmes (joint or double degree)

• Strong universities• Improving legislative

base• Education networking• Different bilateral

agreements between universities

Threats• Financial shortage• Still developing donor or

charity system• Unstable economy• Not good accomodation

and living condition for overseas students

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Example of science oriented EAM master programme in Bulgaria