Sustainable Energy Governance in Unesco Designated Sites

Venues: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Period: Sept. 29, 2012 - Oct. 5, 2012
Application deadline: Sept. 12, 2012

UNESCO has been entrusted by the international community in promoting education and international cooperation on renewable energy since the establishment of the World Solar Commission in 1995.
The Declaration on Solar Energy and Sustainable Development of the World Solar Summit in Harare recognizes the significance of the role of renewable energy to reduce environmental degradation caused by the adverse impact of human activities. As a result, UNESCO has become the executing agency for the Global Renewable Energy Education and Training Programme (GREET) focused on: enhancing national capacities and knowledge base, sharing of scientific knowledge and best practices, supporting pilot initiatives, providing technical assistance.
In consideration of the above, having also in mind that the United Nations General Assembly declared 2012 the International Year of Sustainable Energy for all, the UNESCO Venice Office - UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture commits to educate, training, networking and promote conference activities on renewable energy in SEE. The chosen strategy is to employ a crosscutting approach, by leveraging the knowledge and expertise of UNESCO programmes and merging external resources accordingly. In such a perspective, the Office has been working during the last years in sustainable development and sustainable energy related issues by interfacing natural sciences with social sciences, cultural and natural sites.
With this in mind The UNESCO Regional School represents an unique educational opportunity to enhance capacity building in sustainable energy by conveying in a single venue a substantial capital of knowledge developed in UNESCO designated sites (World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves) in Europe. These sites have proved they have an important word to say about sustainability, in terms of education, management, and scientific knowledge to be regionally shared and possibly applied.
Experienced lecturers will highlight, through which methodologies, to link advanced technology in the field of energy efficiency and the preservation of historical buildings and natural settings. A broad array of narratives from UNESCO designated sites in Eastern and Western Europe will constitute the backbone of the front desk part of the school. However, renovation and adaptation of physical structures alone won’t exhaust the educational purpose of the course since the energy governance issue will also be investigated. In particular, trainees will be taught how to manage energy into the planning and management of UNESCO designated cultural and natural sites, and how to use traditional to contemporary buildings.
The course will also include a number of team working sessions and on field exercises which will use the World Heritage Site of Dubrovnik as a real training scenario laboratory.

The following candidates are eligible to apply:

Current postgraduate students (master’s and PhD candidates) in natural and human sciences on sustainable energy governance related topics;
Postdoctoral researchers in natural and human sciences on sustainable energy governance related topics.
Graduated energy related professionals working in the public (municipalities, agencies, research institutes) or private sectors (enterprises, NGOs, etc.) with at least 3 years of experience in the field of Sustainable Energy.
Knowledge of and work practice in UNESCO designated sites would be an advantage.
All candidates should have good knowledge of English. They should work in teams and in an interdisciplinary fashion. They will be required to take part in all the activities foreseen in the school programme. At the end of school, they will be required to make a public presentation as decided and assigned with the tutor(s) on a particular module/theme at the conclusive session of the International Conference ‘Delivering Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Historic Towns’.

Students will receive an official Certificate of Attendance.

No fees will be required by selected participants. The organizer will cover full board accommodation costs. Official language of the school is English.

Application shall be submitted by email to veniceoffice-sc@unesco.org and to d.poletto@unesco.org.
Candidates shall provide their CV and a short letter of motivation (both documents in English).
Selected candidates will be notified of the outcome of evaluation by September 14.

Unesco Venice office

Mr. Davide Poletto
Programme Officer
Email: d.poletto@unesco.org
Tel: + 39.041.2601 526

Mrs. Cristina Faccia
Senior Programme Assistant
Email : c.faccia@unesco.org
Tel: + 39.041.2601 520


City of Dubrovnik

Mrs. Biserka Simatovic
Department of Entrepreneurship, Tourism and the Sea
Email: bsimatovic@dubrovnik.hr
Tel: + 385 (0)20.638 209