General information
This online course introduces the concept of environmental flows, explains why they are necessary, how to assess and implement them and what they can achieve and what they cannot.
Course structure: The online course Environmental Flows is offered in full distance learning mode offering participants to study in his or her own time. Participants complete the course in a part-time, online learning mode over a period of 16 weeks with a total workload of 140 hours (equivalent to a course of 3 weeks full-time). It is expected that a participant spends about 8 hours per week in the course by reading, listening and watching videos, participating in discussions and working on assignments.
The web-based eCampus (based on Moodle) is used for downloading training material and communication. Interaction with other participants and the course instructors is organised through eg forums and discussions in Moodle.
Course Content: During the online course the following subjects will be discussed:
Fundamental concepts (2 weeks)
- To understand the key river functions and their relations to different natural and altered flows
- To understand the importance of seasonal cycles to the functioning of the river ecosystem
- To be able to explain the purpose, costs and benefits of environmental flows
Situation analysis (2 weeks)
- To evaluate the different situations that exist globally (in terms of natural resources and socio-economic issues) and to understand how these influence the context of the area of interest
- Have knowledge of the different international and national laws, policies and institutional set-ups related to environmental flows
- Understand the different types of services ecosystems provide for society
Science of Environmental Flows (2 weeks)
- Knowledge of the key physical, chemical and biological processes of a river system and their interactions
- Understanding how riverine organisms and their habitats are influenced by flow and flow variation
Assessment Methodologies (4 weeks)
- Be able to define the main types of EFA methodologies, and to describe the information and tasks required for the assessment
- Understand and be able to explain the advantages and disadvantages of the different EFA methodologies
- Be able to recommend a particular EFA methodology for a river known to him/her, given a particular level of resources and time-scale
Implementation (2 weeks)
- To be able to list different options for implementing EFs and describe the advantages and disadvantages
- Name factors of success and impediments for environmental flow implementation (technical, social, institutional, political)
Case studies - Lessons learnt (1 week)
- Recognize and appreciate the endless variety of river types, bio-physical conditions, social and environmental priorities which need to be acknowledged for effective implementation of environmental flows
- Understand the consequences of different levels of exploitation for the sustainable management of rivers
Group project (3 weeks)
- Apply understanding, insight and skills gained in the course to come up with a realistic environmental flow recommendation, strategic plan and practical solutions
Partners: This course has been jointly developed by UNESCO-IHE, World Wide Fund for Nature, The Nature Conservancy, IUCN and Deltares.
Upon completion, the participant should be able to:
- understand the importance of balancing the use and protection of the natural water resources
- describe the key hydrological, hydraulic, geomorphological, biological and ecological processes, their interactions and importance to sustaining fresh water ecosystems
- have a good overview of the available methods used for assessing environmental flow for rivers, wetlands and/or coastal zones
- to describe social, economic and environmental impacts of an environmental flow on the different water users and uses
- manage an environmental flow process.
This online course introduces the concept of environmental flows, explains why they are necessary, how to assess and implement them and what they can achieve and what they cannot.
Content
The highlighted icons, represent the fields of education (in compliance with ISCED Classification) engaged during this course/programme.
Venue
Delft, Netherlands
UNESCO-IHE (Online course)
Westvest 7, 2611 AX Delft
Application
Click here to apply: http://www.unesco-ihe.org/application-form-unesco-ihe-regular-short-courses-and-...
Cost:
<p>Course fee: € 850</p>
Prerequisites:
You should at least have a Bachelor Degree in a relevant field of study, some years of working experience and a good command of the English language. The online course is designed for professionals active in water resources management, environmental conservation and/or research. Typically they will belong to government institutions such as ministries of water affairs, environmental affairs, agriculture or river basin organisations.
For whom? The online course is designed for professionals active in water resources management, environmental conservation and/or research. Typically they will belong to government institutions such as ministries of water affairs, environmental affairs, agriculture or river basin organisations.
Such people will be in a position to introduce and promote the concept of Environmental Flows in water policy, planning and management. Others will be employed in research institutions, or in engineering or environmental consultancies.
Application Procedure:
Apply using the online application form. Please note that there is a strict first come, first served policy. It might be the case that a course is fully booked before the registration deadline at UNESCO-IHE passes. Therefore we advise you to register and pay for the course as early as possible. Students will be registered as online course participants after payment of the required tuition fees.
Start: 04 September 2017
End: 12 September 2018
Deadline IHE application: 21 August 2017 - 23.59 (CET)
Grant Opportunities:
Most of the UNESCO-IHE online courses are eligible for NFP fellowships, and candidates from NFP countries are always encouraged to apply for one (Deadline NFP: 26 January 2015). Discounts on the tuition fees are also available and apply to the following:
- 30% for UNESCO-IHE alumni
- 30% for UNESCO-IHE G-PoWER partners
- 10% for UN family staff members
- 10% for groups of 5 or more (provided that the course starts at the same time and a group application has been sent)
Qualification
Assessment:
Each subject ends with a tutor or discussion assignment for which participants have to use their newly acquired knowledge and interact with the teacher and the other participants using the discussion platform of the Moodle platform. The final mark for the course is based on individual assignments, contribution to discussions and the final group project. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a Course Certificate issued by UNESCO-IHE.
Credits:
This online course introduces the concept of environmental flows, explains why they are necessary, how to assess and implement them and what they can achieve and what they cannot.
Course structure: The online course Environmental Flows is offered in full distance learning mode offering participants to study in his or her own time. Participants complete the course in a part-time, online learning mode over a period of 16 weeks with a total workload of 140 hours (equivalent to a course of 3 weeks full-time). It is expected that a participant spends about 8 hours per week in the course by reading, listening and watching videos, participating in discussions and working on assignments.
The web-based eCampus (based on Moodle) is used for downloading training material and communication. Interaction with other participants and the course instructors is organised through eg forums and discussions in Moodle.
Course Content: During the online course the following subjects will be discussed:
Fundamental concepts (2 weeks)
- To understand the key river functions and their relations to different natural and altered flows
- To understand the importance of seasonal cycles to the functioning of the river ecosystem
- To be able to explain the purpose, costs and benefits of environmental flows
Situation analysis (2 weeks)
- To evaluate the different situations that exist globally (in terms of natural resources and socio-economic issues) and to understand how these influence the context of the area of interest
- Have knowledge of the different international and national laws, policies and institutional set-ups related to environmental flows
- Understand the different types of services ecosystems provide for society
Science of Environmental Flows (2 weeks)
- Knowledge of the key physical, chemical and biological processes of a river system and their interactions
- Understanding how riverine organisms and their habitats are influenced by flow and flow variation
Assessment Methodologies (4 weeks)
- Be able to define the main types of EFA methodologies, and to describe the information and tasks required for the assessment
- Understand and be able to explain the advantages and disadvantages of the different EFA methodologies
- Be able to recommend a particular EFA methodology for a river known to him/her, given a particular level of resources and time-scale
Implementation (2 weeks)
- To be able to list different options for implementing EFs and describe the advantages and disadvantages
- Name factors of success and impediments for environmental flow implementation (technical, social, institutional, political)
Case studies - Lessons learnt (1 week)
- Recognize and appreciate the endless variety of river types, bio-physical conditions, social and environmental priorities which need to be acknowledged for effective implementation of environmental flows
- Understand the consequences of different levels of exploitation for the sustainable management of rivers
Group project (3 weeks)
- Apply understanding, insight and skills gained in the course to come up with a realistic environmental flow recommendation, strategic plan and practical solutions
Partners: This course has been jointly developed by UNESCO-IHE, World Wide Fund for Nature, The Nature Conservancy, IUCN and Deltares.
Apply using the online application form. Please note that there is a strict first come, first served policy. It might be the case that a course is fully booked before the registration deadline at UNESCO-IHE passes. Therefore we advise you to register and pay for the course as early as possible. Students will be registered as online course participants after payment of the required tuition fees.
Start: 04 September 2017
End: 12 September 2018
Deadline IHE application: 21 August 2017 - 23.59 (CET)
Each subject ends with a tutor or discussion assignment for which participants have to use their newly acquired knowledge and interact with the teacher and the other participants using the discussion platform of the Moodle platform. The final mark for the course is based on individual assignments, contribution to discussions and the final group project. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a Course Certificate issued by UNESCO-IHE.
Upon completion, the participant should be able to:
- understand the importance of balancing the use and protection of the natural water resources
- describe the key hydrological, hydraulic, geomorphological, biological and ecological processes, their interactions and importance to sustaining fresh water ecosystems
- have a good overview of the available methods used for assessing environmental flow for rivers, wetlands and/or coastal zones
- to describe social, economic and environmental impacts of an environmental flow on the different water users and uses
- manage an environmental flow process.
This online course introduces the concept of environmental flows, explains why they are necessary, how to assess and implement them and what they can achieve and what they cannot.
You should at least have a Bachelor Degree in a relevant field of study, some years of working experience and a good command of the English language. The online course is designed for professionals active in water resources management, environmental conservation and/or research. Typically they will belong to government institutions such as ministries of water affairs, environmental affairs, agriculture or river basin organisations.
For whom? The online course is designed for professionals active in water resources management, environmental conservation and/or research. Typically they will belong to government institutions such as ministries of water affairs, environmental affairs, agriculture or river basin organisations.
Such people will be in a position to introduce and promote the concept of Environmental Flows in water policy, planning and management. Others will be employed in research institutions, or in engineering or environmental consultancies.
