IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

CEC Specialty Group for the World Conservation Learning Network - WCLN

Michael Moss, CEC Special Advisor WCLN

CEC Special Advisor WCLN

Michael Moss

Director
Canadian Centre for Environmental Education
Royal Roads University
Victoria, BC, Canada
Email: michael.moss@royalroads.ca

Kobus MULLER, Specialty Group Leader

Director, School of Public Management and Planning, and Programme Head, Masters in Environmental Management
School of Public Management and Planning
Stellenbosch University
South Africa
Email: kobus.mueller@sopmp.sun.ac.za
http://www.sopmp.sun.ac.za/

Sherif Kandil, CEC Member

Sherif KANDIL, Specialty Group Leader

Professor
Institute of Graduate Studies and Research
Alexandria University
Alexandria, Egypt
Email: s.kandil@usa.net

WCLN Southern Africa is being revitalized. The aim is to facilitate sharing and learning through the World Conservation Institute, using appropriate technologies taking into account the specific context of the end users. . In addition to e-learning, blended modalities of delivery that incorporate verbal traditions will also be considered.

Short-term plans

Complete programme and course mapping exercise (about 80 percent completed)
Make all information available (not only e-learning products) on IUCN and/or local websites
Indentify and recruit CEC members in institutions of higher learning and other providers of learning (e.g. NGOs) areas and countries (with specific emphasis on the recruitment of young professionals)
Market the first World Conservation Institute certificate programmes to potential end users

In the longer-term, this CEC Specialty Group could contribute to a set of regional-specific World Conservation Institute e-learning certificate programmes by (1) identifying regional universities which are strong on specific themes and (2) using the World Conservation Institute as a vehicle to facilitate collaboration by regional institutions of higher learning and other providers of learning in the development of e-learning. The group will also seek to secure or raise funding for national and regional workshops, and to link up with eLearning Africa.

About the World Conservation Learning Network and the World Conservation Institute

We seek to enhance capacity development for the environmental/ conservation practitioner within the parameters established by the core programme and thematic areas of IUCN.

Mike Moss, CEC Special Advisor WCLN, reports that four specific activities have been established as the ongoing activities of WCLN. These span the spectrum of learning and knowledge enhancement, relevant to capacity development, involving:

Information about short courses and programmes;
Information about courses offered by governments, NGOs, private suppliers (this would include CEPA course offerings);
Information about programmes and courses offered by institutions of higher education;
Buidling on the above, we are establishing the World Conservation Institute. The Insitute is to provide a quality programme of on-line courses within a coherent curriculum utilizing courses from an international field of universities. Initially this graduate level credential will be dependent on English-language courses. Subsequent developments will involve the establishment of a Spanish-language version.

Short-term plans

September 2009: MOU signed between Royal Roads University (Victoria, BC, Canada) and IUCN to work collaboratively on the development of the World Conservation Institute. The Institute will deliver a laddered series of graduate credentials (Certificate-diploma-Masters degree)

October 2009: Discussed with CEC KM Special Advisor to develop a template for recording and storing programme and course information and links (see item 3 above).

October 2009: Arranged meeting for CEC Special Advisor Frits Hesselink and Royal Roads University senior administration to outline potential structure and administration of the World Conservation Institute. Timelines for the Institute's development were established.

Ongoing: Members of the World Conservation Institute Steering Committee will begin to collect course and programme information for Australia, USA, Canada, UK ; additional materials from the Middle East to follow.

March 2010: Completion of master list of English-language programmes and courses (350+). Screening and reorganization of results.

April 2010: Institute's Steering Committee reviews materials and develops curriculum framework.

Long-term goals

2010: WCI curriculum established; begin approval process at RRU
2011: Promote programme and enrol first students
2011: Begin fund-raising for support for developing country students
2012: First graduates of the World Conservation Institute