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Management of Conservation Areas MSc
UNESCO-Lehrstuhl an der FH Kärnten
Erster UNESCO-Lehrstuhl an einer Fachhochschule in Österreich wird an der FH Kärnten eingerichtet: Lehrstuhl soll in Forschung und Lehre zum…
Profile
The UNESCO Chair for the Sustainable Management of Conservation Areas (MCA) shall provide excellent research and inspiring learning experiences for nature conservation in the 21st century. In particular, the Chair shall contribute to empower and enable personalities, institutions and societies to face the future challenges in the management of conservation areas. The Chair has been established in spring 2020. It shall become an internationally visible hub for excellence, innovation and new technologies in nature conservation. Activities of the Chair are based on an interdisciplinary, holistic and integrated understanding of conservation areas, as advocated and exemplified by UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, (natural) UNESCO World Heritage sites and UNESCO Geoparks.
Unesco Chair
The UNESCO Chair is rooted at the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences where it is established at the Centre for Further Education (WBZ), an interdisciplinary institution for lifelong learning.
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, has launched the UNESCO Chairs programme in 1992. Through this network, higher education and research institutions all over the globe pool their resources, both human and material, to address pressing challenges and contribute to the development of their societies. As per now 114 UNESCO Chairs have been established worldwide, nine of them in Austria. They work within a framework of over 700 institutions in 116 countries. Find more information here: en.unesco.org/unitwin-unesco-chairs-programme.
News
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Management of Conservation Areas MSc
Outstanding opportunity for world bank scholarship
We have fantastic news for all students of the master’s programme Management of Conservation Areas. You can apply for a fully-funded World Bank…
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Management of Conservation Areas MSc
Virtual tour promoting ‘Management of Conservation Areas’ through Europe
In September 2020, our master programme ‘Management of Conservation Areas’ goes on a virtual tour through Europe to spread the word about this…
Team
Michael Jungmeier is chairholder. Throughout his career, the ecologist and human geographer has been focusing on biodiversity research, concepts and tools in nature conservation, on human-nature-relationship and environmental history. He worked extensively with inter- and transdisciplinary research designs and methods and has a long track of academic lectureships at different universities. Jungmeier has worked in planning and consulting of conservation areas, as well as in research and education, capacity building and training for more than 30 years.
Alexandra Liegl is head of the Centre for Further Education. With her team of experts, she is responsible for the quality of the educational offers at the UNESCO Chair. She has long-term experience in conceptualising, administrating and evaluating curricula and individual courses as well.
Monika Auinger is scientific assistant at the UNESCO Chair. She is geographer with a focus on the management of landscapes, rural and urban areas and has specific qualifications in geo-informatics. Monika is responsible for developing and conducting research projects together with partners and stakeholders.
Education
“To our students we offer unique learning experiences on nature conservation and sustainable development. We want to inspire students and teachers as well by exiting learning formats, innovative settings and a professional learning environment. We learn indoor, outdoor and in virtual space.” All educational offers are conducted in cooperation with partners from different sectors and with an interdisciplinary bunch of teachers and trainers.
All, one needs to know about conservation areas, their preparation, planning and management – is provided in this comprehensive master programme. The unique educational offer shall enable participants to:
- achieve conservation goals effectively,
- use new ways of communication and,
- deal with stakeholders in a better way
The course of study is based on profound theoretical bases, international standards and principles on one hand and on practical tools, lively experiences and best practice on the other. Particular emphasis is put on innovative technologies, trans-transcultural learning, the mechanisms of development cooperation and the personal competence to conduct inter- and transdisciplinary dialogues.
- Title: Master of Science “Management of Conservation Areas”
- ECTS: 120 (“Full master”)
- Duration: 2 years, part-time (64 days of attendance in 4 blocks), blended learning
- Partners: International Scientific Board, Institutional Advisory Board, Austrian Experience Pool, E.C.O. Institute of Ecology
Learn, exchange, enjoy. This is the mission statement of a summer university that takes place annually one week in July in the Lakeside Campus in Klagenfurt. It is an advanced training for decision makers and persons responsible for conservation areas.
The academy is comprised of an introductory conference, three intensive seminar days and a two-day field trip. The seminars’ focus changes each year, the workshops are conducted by international experts. This format provides the opportunity for extensive sharing of experiences and discussions at a high level. Participants bring their own showcase or problem. In an intensive 3-days seminar innovative solutions are developed in discussion with peers and internationally renowned experts.
EPA offers outstanding intercultural learning opportunities for executives of conservation areas.
- Certificate: Issued by World Commission on Protected Areas (IUCN/WCPA) and Carinthia University of Applied Sciences
- ECTS: 3 (optional)
- Duration: 1 week (including a two-day-excursion)
- Partners: IUCN/WCPA, international institutions (depending on topic), E.C.O. Institute of Ecology
How are nature conservation measures at extraction sites to be implemented? How can be provided optimal nesting and breeding facilities for different species? How are neobiota (invasive species) or communal green areas to be managed? How are conservation devices such as bat detectors, camera traps and drones operated? The newly developed job profile of a ‘Nature Conservation Engineer’ embodies the competence for all hands-on conservation issues that occur on construction sites, infrastructures and in settlement areas.
Participants are, amongst others, employees of construction companies, of the energy, raw materials and transport industry, from planning departments, nature conservation organisations as well as from the public administration.
- Certificate: Professional Certificate issued by Carinthia University of Applied Sciences
- ECTS: 6 (optional)
- Duration: 1 year, part-time (30 days of attendance)
- Partners: Institute of Civil Engineering (Carinthia University of Applied Sciences), E.C.O. Institute of Ecology
Research
Conservation areas have turned more and more into model regions for both the conservation of biodiversity and equitable sustainable development. UNESCO sites such as biosphere reserves, world heritage sites and geoparks are based and directly interrelated to UNESCO´s goals and values. Hence, these sites have become learning sites for translating international policies and standards into real life contexts. This raises important and exciting research questions that shall be addressed by the UNESCO Chair for Sustainable Management of Conservation Areas.
- Protected area research with a focus on UNESCO World Heritage Sites, UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, UNESCO Geoparks, Nature and National Parks and Natura 2000 sites
- Scientific support and accompanying research on the planning, establishment and management of protected areas and protected area systems
- Applied nature conservation research with a focus on biodiversity, global change, ecosystem services and natural processes
- Applied research and development of conservation technologies, concepts and standards
- Scientific support for sustainability processes in organisations, regions and states
Particular emphasis shall be given to trans-disciplinary and trans-cultural research designs, new methods and new technologies and fair formats of citizen science. Research activities of the Chair shall contribute to strengthening conservation areas locally, nationally, regionally and globally as well. UNESCO sites and UNESCO programmes shall directly benefit from enhanced capacities, research findings and experiences as generated in the Chair´s work.
Material
Management of Conservation Areas
Master of Science program
Galleries
Skill-oriented education for nature conservation in the 21st century (May 2020). Significant steps of the relaunch of the international Master "Management of Conservation Areas", such as "Little Sidney" in Donauauen National Park, the work of the Austrian Experiences Pool and the official presentation of the master in the Dobratsch Nature Park on September 18th, 2018.
Encounters in exciting environments (May 2020). Selected hightlights from the European Parks Academy (EPA) in Carinthia from 2016 to 2019, indicating that this summer university really is a format to learn, exchange and enjoy.
Nature conservation engineers out and about (May 2020). A kaleidoscope of pictures from field excursions, university sessions and workshops.
Looking inside the toolkit of nature conservation engineers (May 2020). Participants of the educational programme present their final seminar work, reaching from conservation monitoring, experiments for vegetation control to ibex tracking and bat nesting facilities.
Certificate Course 'Nature Conservation Engineer' - Success Stories
Magic moments in Carinthian conservation areas (May 2020). Selected parks and protected sites in the Chair´s surrounding, seen through the lenses of the Carinthian photographer Christopher Rossmann in spring 2020.
Carinthian Sites (c) Christopher Rossmann
Outstanding universal values (May 2020). The travelling ecologist and photographer Michael "Mike" Huber documents UNESCO world heritage sites around the globe.
UNESCO sites around the world (c) Michael Huber
