Vocational Education and Capacity Building

Promoting sustainability in vocational education for protected area management

ICPL was originally established within the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 1990. The Centre built a global reputation, particularly from 1994 onwards, through its residential and distance learning masters programmes in 'Protected Landscape Management: integrating conservation and development'. During their 10 years' duration, these programmes attracted over 250 students from more than 60 countries across 6 continents.

More recently, ICPL has been focusing on building the capacity of other institutions around the world to develop and deliver through distance learning, their own regionally-focused, vocational education programmes in this field. This approach ensures affordable access to education for in-post practitioners even in the remotest areas, and helps host countries to develop their own education and training resources for greater sustainability of provision. The UK Government's Darwin Initiative is currently funding a major partnership project with the Centre for Environment, Agriculture and Development at the Univeristy of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, to this end. ICPL is also working with the University of the South Pacific in Fiji to develop a distance learning programme that meets the conservation management training needs of small island developing states.