A series of lectures on ICZM and MSP started yesterday (31 August 2022) for the master’s students of the Syrian Virtual University (SVU). This cooperation between the PAP/RAC and the SVU has been agreed and defined by an MoU. It is related to the Master’s Programme of Qualification and Specialization in Integrated Management of Natural Resources. The PAP/RAC team contributes with seven two-hour lectures to the third semester focussed on Integrated Management of Natural Resources. Ms. Reem Abedabboh, the former PAP/RAC National Focal Point for Syria, is the course coordinator and we have jointly selected the topics of the most relevance for the students. These are the following:
- ICZM: general introduction and the ICZM Protocol
- ICZM process: implementation and case studies
- Marine Spatial Planning: Introduction to MSP: conceptual framework; planning steps; practical examples
- Land-Sea Interactions: importance, concept, integration into MSP
- Development and implementation of the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) for safeguarding the Mediterranean Sea and coast
- Climate Change and ICZM: background, need for integration of CC into ICZM/MSP
- Adaptation to CC through ICZM: best practices, implementation of projects
The assignments for the students will follow and the PAP/RAC team will use its experience from the MedOpen advanced virtual course on ICZM on how to structure the assignments and their assessment once delivered by the students.
PAP/RAC is particularly proud to have this opportunity, in particular due to the difficult situation that Syria faces for more than a decade now. It is worth mentioning that Syria ratified the ICZM Protocol in February 2011. We sincerely hope to have close cooperation with our Syrian colleagues, including the transfer of knowledge through lecturing in this on-line course.
