EMTC network links five centers

There is a new network of Environmental Management Training Centers (EMTCs) in Central and Eastern Europe. According to Laszlo Karas, who coordinates the EMTC network, "EMTCs are staffed by experts in adult training, and serve as focal points in environmental management training in the Region." There are currently five EMTCs (Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, and Ukraine) and they use training programs developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to train professionals in environmental management. It is part of the EMTC strategy to bring together people from several sectors, including business, local and national government, NGOs, and academia in order to promote integrated approaches to environmental management. The EMTCs also use interactive teaching methods (in contrast to the lecture method) where each participant shares knowledge and experience with the others, and so is both teacher and student.

The first workshop for EMTC directors and staff was held in Budapest on 6 and 7 September. This was their first chance to discuss training and organizational problems and to share successful strategies. As a result of the workshop, Laszlo has a lot of work ahead of him.

Over the next few months, he will be improving communication not only among EMTCs, but also between EMTCs and the public. His first goal will be to establish an electronic conference for EMTC staff, thereby enabling them to "speak" to each other via computer. He also plans to produce a quarterly newsletter for distribution to the public. The newsletter would present information about upcoming courses and events organized by the EMTCs.

The USEPA and the Institute for Sustainable Communities (based in Vermont, USA) established the first EMTC in Bulgaria in April 1993. The USEPA recognized the "strong need for environmental management training in Central and Eastern Europe and in the Commonwealth of Independent States," explains Laszlo. "But it is not enough to support the ministries of the environment; there is also the need to setup an independent, non-profit, non-partisan institution that could specialize in environmental management training." The USEPA has provided enough funds to operate the EMTCs for two to three years, and the EMTCs are already looking for ways of ensuring their existence after the EPA funds are exhausted.

How can you register for a training module? To obtain information on training modules, dates, and locations, contact the EMTC in your country or Laszlo.

Contact:
Laszlo Karas
Project Manager, EMTC Network
REC Head Office

THE BULLETIN * AUTUMN 1994