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

analysis

Ingrid Belčáková, Faculty of Architecture, STU, EIA Centre

Seminar on Seminar on Experiences in China and the EUExperiences in China and the EU

Nankai University, Tianjin, 20.03.-21.03.2010Nankai University, Tianjin, 20.03.-21.03.2010

http://www.nankai.edu.cn/english/

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

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

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

REC driven international capacity building activities – common curricula background

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

REC driven international capacity building activities – common curricula background

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)

Evolution of EA in CEEStrong planning traditions and similar planning systems <1990• land-use planning - sectoral and territorial planning • provisions for consultations and partial env. evaluations

Country-specific reforms of planning processes – mid-1990ies • „EA“ of spatial plans (Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech

Republic, Slovenia, Lithuania)• „EA“ of strategies outside of spatial planning (Czech Republic,

Slovakia)

„Regulated“ reforms within EU Accession – since 2000• SEA of Development Plans for EU Structural Funds • EC SEA Directive (and UN ECE SEA Protocol)

REC based national activities and outputs - Bulgaria

• 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- 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

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

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• 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

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 practicePromotional materials- to explain benefits of EAM to planners and policy-makersGuidelines and professional training– to guide EA for specific types of planning/programming processesProfessional networking- to establish professional benchmarks for good SEA practicePeriodic evaluations – to review effectiveness (e.g. annual conferences, etc.)

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)

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

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

Example of science oriented EAM master programme in Bulgaria