Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Some thoughts on the prerequisites, structure and implementation of short courses in fisheries in developing countries. Tumi Tómasson Programme director United Nations University, Fisheries Training Programme The UNU-FTP offers six month post-graduate training in fisheries. There is a strong practical element to the training with emphasis on the application of knowledge and skills to analyse issues and solve problems that are of importance in the daily work of the participants (fellows). The main goal of the UNU-FTP is “to help interested countries to achieve their fisheries development goals, through capacity development in key areas and institutions”. The goal is reached by “strengthening the professional capacity of trainees and improve their ability to carry out their duties at home”. The training is carried out within the Marine Research Institute and the Icelandic Fisheries Laboratories in Reykjavík. Both research institutes have strong links to the fisheries sector and their primary function is to carry out research, monitoring and assessment to assist government and industry to improve the management and utilisation of the fisheries resources. The training is highly influenced by the environment in which it is conducted. The way people identify issues, how they approach and solve problems and communicate their findings, is an integral part of the training. Apart from the institutional setup, there are several advantages of having the training in Iceland. Fisheries form the backbone of the economy, the fisheries administration is highly developed and efficient, and the fishing industry and support services are varied and adaptive. Iceland is small in most aspects, but the fisheries compare favourably with any fisheries in the world. The advantages of being situated in a small society are used to strengthen the programme as both expertise and facilities are easy to approach and access. Partner countries of the UNU-FTP should have fisheries that are either of national or provincial importance. The focus of the training programme is institutional capacity building. Key departments, institutions, organisations or companies are identified and candidates are selected for training through a thorough on-site interview process and in consultations with those in charge. The professional background of the fellows, both in terms of education/training and experience, is diverse, but all have completed at least a first university degree and about 40% have a second or a third degree. They all have at least two year work experience and in the programme they assume considerable responsibility to “find their own level” within the programme to derive maximum benefits in terms of individual growth and professional development. They are required to make a number of presentations on various aspects of the fisheries in their home countries and put them into a regional and international context, evaluate their development potential and identify key areas for improvement. 1 The UNU-FTP has been in operation for almost seven years. It started off small, but today about 20 fellows attend the programme each year. Because of the individual attention fellows get and the setting of the programme, further increase in the number of fellows is not envisaged. Instead the UNU-FTP has explored the possibility of holding short training courses in partner countries in cooperation with local fisheries authorities and former UNU fellows. This is in line with the policy of the UNU to take more of the activities of their programmes into the cooperating developing countries. Through visits to partner countries and institutions, and personal acquaintance with over 100 fellows that have taken part in the training programme, the UNU-FTP has accumulated important contacts and identified important areas of further capacity building in the cooperating countries. It is in this light that the UNU-FTP has embarked on the road of developing short courses with partners in their home countries. The model for these courses is described below as a stepwise process, though it is not necessarily as linear as it may seem. 1. Identification of subject and level of course. The fellows of the UNU-FTP are engaged in this process and the outcome depends on the country but also on the individuals. Many developing countries have gradually been gaining control over large marine areas through enforcement of a 200 mile EEZ, and see possibilities for economic growth through development of off-shore fisheries. This generally involves export orientation to expensive but demanding markets, such as the EU, Japan and USA. Fisheries on in-shore and coastal stocks are usually low-technology, low-investment in developing countries and coastal fishermen are usually among the poorest people in these countries. In spite of lack of technology, stocks are frequently overexploited and post harvest losses are a serious problem. Different situations call for different types of capacity building and at different levels. 2. Identification of partners in developing countries. It is important that the training be relevant to the situation in each country. Technical experts from the UNU-FTP work with partners in developing countries, preferably lead by a former UNU-FTP fellow, to set objectives and goals, identify suitable materials, develop new examples etc. A standard training package may be available, but it needs to be adapted and modified to suit local conditions. This includes slide presentations, notes, demonstration materials and other supplementary materials. 3. Where applicable, the training material needs to be translated into the local language. 4. Part of the course development is to conduct the course once or twice (two trials), get feedback from participants and local experts and revise the course accordingly. 5. Finally, the training materials are made available on the Internet. 2 It is important that a group in the recipient country be responsible for the work and conducting of the courses. An initial workshop will take place in the recipient country. In some cases it may be important for members of the group to travel abroad, e.g. to Iceland to acquaint themselves with more developed fisheries. Where possible, work should also be done over the Internet. Courses should only be offered on the basis of a well established need and at the request of the recipient country. Local costs, such as local travel and accommodation for the partners and work facilities, should be paid for and provided by the partner country. This is important to maintain a certain level of commitment from the recipient country. If not, there is a risk that people loose sight of the need and that courses will mainly be attended by “professional course goers”, to limited benefit for fisheries development. A course does not have to be developed overnight. In some cases when a need has been identified, a first step might be to invite potential professional partners to the six month UNU-FTP training in Iceland, or this can be done after the first workshop. 3