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Education is central to all environmental initiatives, not only in ensuring an
adequacy of skills among decision makers and environmental managers, but also in
creating greater public awareness.  A more knowledgeable public can ensure more
effective participation in decision-making at all levels, including decisions by
individuals about their attitudes and lifestyles.  The establishment of the Institute
within the University inevitably means a major focus on graduate education.

The institute is promoting the expansion of teaching environmental studies at
postgraduate level.  An undergraduate programme would probably be too diffuse
and superficial, given the multi-disciplinary nature of the subject.  The Institute also
develops short, in-service training courses, particularly to meet the demands of
people already working in the field who do not have the opportunity to return to
university for a prolonged period.  Such courses, designed to meet the needs of
people already in positions where they influence environmental policy and practise,
are used to improve understanding of policy makers and others of the nature of
particular environmental issues, their consequences, and the options for dealing
with them.  In-service training for University personnel in subjects such as
consultancy and project proposal development are also carried out.  The subjects
of short courses are determined by demand.  In coordinating the design of these
courses, the Institute holds preparatory discussions with the relevant user groups,
to identify clearly the needs and expectations of those attending a course.  This
ensures that the design of the course, and the material prepared for it, matches
the needs of the users.  Attendance at such course is recognised through the
award of certificates.

The courses offered focuses not only on the training needs of middle or upper-level
managers. There is a wide scope for the development of courses at farmer,
technical, and extensions levels. Indeed, the demand for training is so great that
the institute plays a part in many cases by facilitating the development by others of
the training programmes needed, rather than attempting to fulfil the needs alone.

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