The Biodiversity Foundation, a public foundation of the Government of Spain, under the Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs, launches the IX edition of the Master’s Degree in Environmental Management and Administration, which will take place during the academic year 2008/2009. This is the second edition taught as a degree of the National University of Distance Education, UNED, in collaboration with the Menéndez Pelayo International University, UIMP.

The Master’s Degree in Environmental Management and Administration stands out for its up-to-date content in relation to the policies and strategies of both the Government of Spain and the European Union and with the methodologies and instruments of environmental planning management. Aimed at university graduates and professionals who wish to improve their training and consolidate themselves as experts in both public and private institutions, the faculty has leading figures in the environmental sector, academic experts and professionals with extensive experience in this field.

The course, which will begin in mid-October 2008 and will end in June 2009, consists of 600 teaching hours corresponding to 60 credits. The pre-registration period ends on September 22.

Since its first edition, held in the 1999/2000 academic year, the Master’s Degree in Environmental Management and Administration of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs has been one of the leading postgraduate degrees in environmental matters in Spain. Backed by its academic career of nine years of experience in the training of professionals in the environmental sector, it has provided a solid theoretical-practical training to students who are currently developing their professional activity as environmental managers both in the Public Administration and in private companies.

Likewise, since its first edition, the master’s degree has had an exceptional network of collaborating institutions and companies. In addition to the theoretical-practical training given, the carrying out of external internships by students in different companies, organizations, and entities, with which the Biodiversity Foundation has signed collaboration agreements, has been essential to perfect and put into practice the knowledge acquired and facilitate their subsequent insertion into the labor market.

After completing the master’s degree, students obtain an innovative, plural vision and close contact with the reality of the environment as a key factor in development, competitiveness and social welfare, together with an analytical and problem-solving capacity to provide solutions to various environmental problems. The opportunity to gain work experience in a professional environment provides the training with a practical dimension that allows trainees to develop teamwork skills.

For more information about the Master’s Degree in Environmental Management and Administration, you can consult the www.fundacion-biodiversidad.es website, from where you can pre-register and download the academic programme. You can also contact the Communication Department of the Biodiversity Foundation on 91 121 09 27.