Training Programme on Ocean Governance for the Western Pacific Region
Training Programme information:
- Organised by the International Ocean Institute in partnership with the State Oceanic Administration, Ministry of Natural Resources, PR China
- An annual four-week residential programme offered since 2011 in Tianjin, PR China
- Coverage of regional issues of the Western Pacific Regional Seas with special emphasis on ICM and marine environmental protection in connection with the on-going regional programme of PEMSEA
- The programme is structured into six main modules given through intensive lectures, discussion, simulation exercises, as well as field trips, namely:
o MODULE 1: Introductory oceanography to provide the participants with a scientific basis for better understanding of the training programme
o MODULE 2: The legal framework for ocean governance (UNCLOS, Agenda 21 Chapter 17, and relevant laws & policies)
o MODULE 3: Global ocean governance framework with special reference to ICM for the Western Pacific Region
o MODULE 4: Conflict management and consensus building for coordinated development of the ocean resources
o MODULE 5: Managing our relations with the oceans for sustainable social and economic development with special reference to marine environmental protection and natural disaster mitigation
o MODULE 6: Special sessions:
- Presentation of case studies of the ICM implementation given by either invited experts or the participants
- Good practice sharing presentations (national reports) by the participants
- Graduation presentations by the participants on the vision of his/her national ICM with the knowledge and holistic understanding of ocean governance learnt during the training programme
- Field trip(s) and study tour(s)
2022 Training Programme
The two-week training programme, focusing on issues of the Western Pacific Ocean, was held in hybrid format and attracted 26 participants from eight countries, including China. Participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand followed the course lectures online, joined by their Chinese colleagues attending in person in Tianjin, PR China.
2021 Training Programme
The 2020 Ocean Governance Training had to be postponed to 2021, restricted only to local participants due to ongoing travel restrictions. The training programme aimed to contribute to China’s efforts to achieve the SDG 14 and the “dual carbon goal”, focusing on marine ecological conservation and restoration, blue carbon and ocean carbon sink and building, and management of resilient coasts and coastal cities. A total of 16 distinguished lecturers, local and foreigners were invited, the latter delivering their presentations virtually. The training course was implemented through intensive class presentations, discussion, good practices exchanging and sharing.
2019 Training Programme
With the support of the National Marine Data and Information Service (NMDIS) at the Ministry of Natural Resources of PR China, the IOI Training Centre in China organised the seventh edition of the four-week training programme on Ocean Governance for the Western Pacific Region from the 19th August to the 12th September 2019, with the programme being held in Tianjin.
A total of 23 mid-career professionals from 7 countries (Cambodia, China, Egypt, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam) participated in the training programme. The training course was implemented through intensive class lectures, discussions and simulation exercises, as well as study tours and field trips, with the purpose of helping the participants get acquainted with the basic knowledge of ocean management and ocean governance, and to encourage them to make their own contribution towards the realization of SDG 14 within their own countries. The training programme also provided participants with a platform for learning from each other, with the participants presenting reports containing good practices from their own countries, highlighting both the challenges they are facing and also current opportunities. The course was again aptly directed by Professor Mao Bin and supported by Prof Qin Li and the staff assisting IOI China.
As in previous years, a number of fieldtrips were organised around the Tianjin coast, during which participants visited the Institute of Seawater Desalination and the Tianjin National Ocean Museum. A visit was also organised to the National Marine Data and Information Service (NMDIS), the host institution of the IOI China Regional Centre.
A short description of the course is given in the 05/19 edition of the IOInforma which is available for download from the Documents & Publications - IOInforma News Bulletin section (0519 issue).