Title: A joint, international masters degree in sustainability: how a truly global programme was established

Authors: Ian F. Spellerberg, Willibald Loiskandl, Graeme Buchan

Addresses: Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation, Lincoln University, P.O. Box 84, Canterbury, New Zealand. ' Universitat fur Bodenkultur, Wien (BOKU), Austria. ' Soil and Physical Sciences Group, Lincoln University, New Zealand

Abstract: A jointly taught and jointly awarded masters programme has been established between Lincoln University (LU), New Zealand and Universitat fur Bodenkultur, Wien (BOKU), Austria. The degree is an international joint |Master of Natural Resources Management and Ecological Engineering| (MNaRMEE). Its main feature is a sustainability in national and international settings. It includes four specialisations: Ecological Engineering, Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management, Risk Management and International Business and Sustainability. New Zealand and Austria have strong similarities, but also numerous contrasting attributes, providing a firm basis for an international perspective. These similarities and contrasts strongly underpin and enrich all four specialisations. The programme|s rationale lies partly in the need for international training in sustainability. This paper describes the programme|s origins, its content and structure and how the problems were addressed. Overall, this new, innovative degree helps to address many of the 18 principles of sustainability in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.

Keywords: environmental education; sustainable development; DESD; international masters programme; sustainability; Austria; New Zealand; natural resources management; ecological engineering; nature conservation; wildlife management; risk management; international business; international training.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2007.012737

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2007 Vol.6 No.1, pp.67 - 80

Published online: 10 Mar 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article