1 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 Seoul, on 30 November and 1 December 2009

2 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

3 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

4 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

5 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

6 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)

7 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

8 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

9 REC based national activities and outputs- Estonia, Hungary, Poland Presentation on Estonian SPD and SEA by Kristel Kiiple, MoF, Estonia SEA of NDP – a single programming document 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

10 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

11 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 EA M practice Promotional materials - to explain benefits of EA M 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.)

12 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)

13 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

14 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

15 Example of science oriented EAM master programme in Bulgaria