Augist 2010


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The St Augustine Campus of The UWI is preparing two exciting new biodiversity programmes for the 2011-2012 academic year. A 24-credit Diploma and a 45-credit MSc in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development will be awarded from four regional universities, The UWI, University of Guyana, University of Belize and Anton de Kom University of Suriname.

The proposed Programme expands on the Science & Management of Tropical Biodiversity Diploma and MSc currently run by the Department of Life Sciences St. Augustine, by introducing four new courses and modifying existing courses, based on a regional needs assessment, and designed through the European Union-ACP Funded Edulink Biodiversity Project.

Edulink is an initiative that funds cooperative projects between ACP HEIs and the 15 EU member States that are signatories to the 9th European Fund (EDF).

Andrew Lawrence, a Professor of Environmental Biology at the Life Sciences Department, is a key member of the team designing the programmes. He said the regional needs were ascertained after an electronic survey was done and discussions held with about ten countries, who all asked for basic taxonomy training, among other things. A pilot MSc is currently running, and he says it will be of use in many areas such as policy-making, environment, marine life, etc.

About three quarters of the Diploma and the MSc will be delivered via distance teaching. Continuous assessment rather than final examinations will also be a feature. The Diploma will be offered for one year full-time or two years part-time, while the MSc will run for 18 months full-time and three years part-time.

Courses:

  1. Characteristics of Biodiversity
  2. Threats to Tropical Biodiversity
  3. Environmental Law and Multilateral Environmental Agreements
  4. Environmental Economics
  5. Environmental Impact Assessment
  6. Advanced GIS (geographic information systems)
  7. Management and Analysis of Environmental Data
  8. Sustainable Use and Management of Natural Resources
  9. Conservation & Management of Biodiversity
  10. Pollution and Ecotoxicology
  11. Field Practicum
  12. Taxonomy and Bioinformatics
  13. Research Project
  14. Environmental Resources Policy
  15. Socio-ecology and Natural Resources Management