Short Course Environmental Impact Assessment

Introduction

Environmental Impact Assessment is a widespread instrument on assessing the environmental effects of new to be developed projects or policies like for instance a new motorway, a chemical industrial site or a waste policy plan.

Many countries have legislation on EIA, based on experiences of other countries or on international protocols, like the EU Directive on EIA. Besides that, EIA is a method to assess quite different aspects of environment. So it also confronts the EIA-researchers with methodological problems. EIA is not only an assessing instrument but also helps in decision-making.

Learning about and practicing preparing an EIA is as well a complex as a challenging job. Taking up this challenge is the main task in this course.

Course content

The E.I.A. short course is a course of 10 weeks. The first two weeks include basic trainings on: cooperation skills, research methodology, writing skills, computer skills, presentation skills and getting familiar with the other international students, the staff and the learning environment. After these two weeks students have to do an impact assessment on a large infrastructural or planning project in the area around Deventer (for 8 weeks). As part of the programme there are lectures on E.I.A. as a tool, on the interactive process, on Multi Criteria Analysis and the applicability within EU and in other countries. Guest lectures will be asked to share their experiences. The course also includes excursion to areas where impacts are planned or already realized.

For their own EIA-project, students have to do literature research, interviews, organize excursions for data collection, to analyze the impact. The impact assessment is done in small groups of 5 or 6 (international) students. Students have to present their work in a professional way, with reports and an oral presentation, and will be examined as group in a final session at the end of the period. The course really has an applied character.

Specific Requirements

This short course is aimed at students with at least 3 years of education in a course relevant for doing Environmental Impact Assessments like Civil Engineering, Ecology, Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Science or Technology.

Besides that, students wanting to apply must meet our general entry requirements.

Career prospects

Working as (junior) professional researcher/consultant at consultancies, NGO's or as civil servant in executing EIA's.