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 shall provide the educational background and a comprehensive "toolbox" for these professionals.

The learning goals are:

• an excellent and comprehensive understanding of the aims and roles of Protected Areas (PA) 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 (MPA) so that they can effectively fulfil their 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 comprehen-sive "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 develop-ing the appropriate instruments and frameworks for empowering the local population in order to par-ticipate 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.

Since those responsible for Protected Areas in general crucially rely on their communicative skills and competence, special attention is devoted to all methods of participation, integration, presentation and mediation.

Many courses therefore involve extensive discussion and presentation units, and are designed as practical and/or academic seminars. Student involvement and critical discussions are a crucial element in the design of the programme. Students are asked to report on their countriesÂ’ situation, to participate in role-play scenarios to account for the broad range of interests involved in planning and managing Protected Areas, and to present papers and seminar reports.

The programme is organised in blocks. Attendance at the courses totals 70 days (totalling 520 hours of lectures, and including many excursions, workshops and discussions), plus 190 hours of distance learning (e-learning). The total working time of students will be about twice the time spent in the courses. The programme starts with one and a half semesters of theoretical foundations and work, followed by two semesters learning the practical tools of designing, implementing and managing Protected Areas. The final courses cover the practical implementation of the tools in a concrete area, and the writing and presentation of the final masterÂ’s thesis.