Promoting sustainability, handling conflicts, increasing benefits, conserving biodiversity – the planning and management of Protected Areas (PA) involves many different legal, administrative and technical realities. The demand for highly skilled professionals is growing enormously.
The University of Klagenfurt, Austria, has launched a new international postgraduate master`s programme dealing with these inter- and transdisciplinary issues.

The learning goals are:

• an excellent and comprehensive understanding of the aims and roles of Protected Areas in relation to the conservation of biodiversity and (integrated) regional development.
• detailed knowledge when applying the full range of tools available for the management of Protected Areas so that they can effectively fulfil these aims.
• an ability to analyse and solve problems encountered when establishing, planning and managing Protected Areas, to conduct inter- and transdisciplinary dialogues with all stakeholders and to develop and implement appropriate integrated solutions.
• the development of hard and soft skills to create mutual benefits of nature conservation on the one hand, and for the local population on the other hand, particularly in peripheral regions as well as in developing countries with the aim of sustainable regional development.

Protected Areas are embedded in the societal context and are supposed to serve society. They have to be managed adaptively in a long-term perspective by multi-skilled individuals. The MSc programme "Management of Protected Areas" (MPA) shall provide the educational background and a comprehensive "toolbox" for these professionals.

Special emphasis will be laid in theory as well as practical work in elaborating on the role of protected areas for improving the living conditions of all stakeholders, particularly the local population, for ensur-ing benefit-sharing between the local population and the conservation of biodiversity, and for developing the appropriate instruments and frameworks for empowering the local population in order to participate in decision processes. This emphasis is particularly important for poor and developing regions not only in European countries, but also in developing countries in Asia and Africa. The programme is thus set up to present innovative approaches to make the conservation of biodiversity and the use of traditional and tacit knowledge an instrument for sustainable regional development.

The programme focuses on:

• European and international categories of Protected Areas;
• nature conservation strategies in Central and Eastern Europe;
• the integration of socio-cultural, economic and ecological aspects;
• participative approaches in the management of Protected Areas;
• new technologies and methods.

Internationally renowned experts from various organisations and institutions have been engaged as lecturers. A tutorial system provides an optimal supervision and support of students. By attending the programme, the participants become part of an international network of experts that will enable them to solve complex problems in the everyday life in a Protected Area.

• 1st semester: theoretical and scientific principles of the management of Protected Areas
• 2nd and 3rd semester: practical aspects of the management of Protected Areas (toolbox & best practice)
• 4th semester: supervised implementation of applied and/or scientific research projects

The courses are organised in 9 blocks. In addition to 70 days of presence, there is intensive e-learning support. The courses take place at the University of Klagenfurt and in prominent Protected Areas in Central and Eastern Europe.

The programme will start in September 2011. The general deadline for applications is 30 June 2011.