| Summary: | Since 2001, the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) offers a specialised second cycle professional grade in Eco-advising, an intensive graduate program that aims to train professionals in sustainable development (SD). This training, grounded in the reality, is characterized by its transdisciplinarity and the originality of its approach compared to traditional teaching. In 2008, a short program in applied SD was created following the Grade in Eco-advising to accommodate the students wishing to develop skills in SD using distance learning facilities. In 2010, another short program on sustainable management of forest carbon stocks was added. Since May 2011, the Grade in Eco-Advising can be transformed in a Master in Eco-Advising (MSc) by the completion of a short program. Another short program in “Energy and sustainability” is to be offered at Fall 2012.Among the original features of those programs is the implementation of SD by the students in theory and practice all along their training. After ten cohorts, the current format proves to be reproducible and the main lines and key factors of success can be outlined. Among them, the multidisciplinarity of the students and the teachers, the personal commitment, the complex thought, the communication skills, the intercultural dialogue and a broad knowledge of environmental problems. Since its beginning in Quebec, a hundred and ten students graduated from this program which originated from Europe. They perform very well in the workforce and may be considered unique in many ways. The challenge of maintaining this breackthrough is still open.
|
|---|