E M T C N E T W O R K
Building capacity in CEE
The goal of the Environmental Management Training Centers Network is to contribute to sustainable environmental training in Central and Eastern Europe through (1) initiating and coordinating international training projects; and (2) facilitating the exchange of experience and expertise among environmental training professionals.
By using its network of 13 leading environmental management training institutions and more than 100 environmental training professionals across Central and Eastern Europe, the EMTC Network and its members assist the region's stakeholders, including national and local governments, businesses, nongovernmental organizations and the public, to identify and effectively address their environmental training needs.
In 1997, the EMTC Network is pursuing major international training projects, including the following:
- A training-of-trainers workshop was held Sept. 1-2 at the Regional Environmental Center in Szentendre, Hungary. The training session addressed a number of Internet tools, such as accessing data by using lists and websites, as well as hands-on examples of how to use the Worldwide Web. This type of training will likely continue next year in an effort to enhance the accessibility of information in the region, especially for the nonprofit sector.
- The Environmental Management and Training Centers (EMTC) Network members met Oct. 2-4 in Sinai, Romania. As with previous workshops, members had the opportunity to exchange experience, make strategic decisions for the future and participate in a training-of-trainers workshop. A Group Dynamics and Teamwork session provided theoretical background and simulation games. The 7th EMTC Network meeting is tentatively scheduled in the second half of June 1998 in Poland.
To enhance its operations, the EMTC Network is offering the following products and services to its members:
- "Training, Management, Funding" - these monthly information sheets dealing with relevant aspects of training, management and funding contain a wide range of practical ideas and suggestions with the aim of providing environmental training professionals with practical advice which is brief, to-the-point and can be used immediately.
- Insight - this quarterly newsletter provides articles and interviews about environmental training, trends, techniques and new developments in Central and Eastern Europe.
- Internet services - this expanded version of a service provides the most pertinent information on the EMTC Network. For more information see http://www.rec.org/REC/Programs/EMTC/EMTCNetwork.html.
How can you make the best use of your membership?
- Take part in projects. Participate in our international training projects. Make the most of your training expertise and gain international experience. To find out about the opportunities, write to us about your expertise and inquire about new and upcoming projects.
- Try out the ideas. The information you will find each month in your mailbox is meant to be used rather than read. Scan it for ideas try them in your practice.
- Turn the ideas into your own. Do not feel that you have to follow the suggestions to the letter - try them out in your own way. Find out how they best work for you.
- Let us know how you are getting on. Are you interested in learning how your colleagues throughout Central and Eastern Europe have been using the ideas? So are they! Write to us about your successes and we will be delighted to add your ideas and comments to the next issue of Insight (with due acknowledgement, of course). Similarly, if you would like to share things that went hopelessly wrong for you, we shall be pleased to include them in the next Insight issue (with due anonymity, if you wish).
If you would like to enjoy the benefits of being a member of the EMTC Network, please write to: The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe, EMTC Network, Ady Endre ut 9-11, 2000 Szentendre, Hungary, Tel: (36-26) 504-000, Fax: (36-26) 311-294
REC * EMTC * PUBLICATIONS * INSIGHT * AUTUMN 1997