Project of a Master of Environmental Communication

Project prepared by Mohamed Ali KAMBI Department of Communication

The setting up, since 1993, of an annual report on the status of the environment in Tunisia, translated the government’s wish to inform the social and economic actors interested and involved in the evolution of environment in Tunisia and the measures taken to insure a durable development perspective.

         The mission of this environment policy is to develop and implement the right technologies to inform and sensibilize those involved in the development and particularly contribute to the rehabilitation of Tunisian companies in terms of environmental performance and consequently in terms of their ability to adapt the new norms of production and competition.

The fields of environment cover water purification, soil protection, water management, as well as territorial development, tourism, and the improvement of living. We can distinguish five important environmental missions that are not isolated the one from the other.

1. Nature protection; the management of ecological balances and natural resources.
2. Prevention and treatment of pollution and risks.
3. Life management.
4. Protection of human life.
5. “Social” management of the environment.

Environment Professions:

Environment does not concern only ecologists and botanists. It is the new preoccupation of all those involved in economics. It is not an isolated sector, but, on the contrary, it tends to associate with, and integrate itself in, all the economic sectors of our society: agriculture, industry, health, education, information, law. Thus, professions are opening for environmental demands. These demands are dictated by:

(a)              the social demand:  individuals are asking more and more for quality spaces and healthy food products. They buy products taking into account the environment.

(b)              Evolution of the environmental legislation that pays attention to norms, urbanization law, sound pollution, etc.

(c)              The new technologies in the field.

The Project of a Master in Environmental Communication:

The creation of a master in Environmental Communication falls within a particular context:

1. setting up the new programmes of the Department of Communication
2. The pressing need for “communication” in the field of societal management of the environment at the level of administration, companies, groups.

Conscious of its specificity and its role of developing a quality training for students holding a BA in journalism and communication (or other diplomas), the IPSI is able to undertake, with the cooperation of the CITET (Tunisian International Center of Environmental Technologies), a Master in Environmental Communication.

Objectives of the Training:

Apart from the complexities of the questions related to the environment fields, it is necessary to acquire a kind of “specialized polyvalence”; that is, follow a profound basic training (communication, journalism, human sciences, law, management, etc.) and develop a specialty in the environment: eco-journalist, eco-communicator, eco-counsellor, environment educator. These new professions result from a rising demand in environment. They require multifarious competences to tackle environmental issues in their entirety.

The Master in Environmental Communication is a series of courses preparing for a profession and professional profile capable of:

• conceiving and implementing a communication policy of an environmental organization to inform about improvements brought to products/services and fabrication procedures in this field. It also allows the enterprise to better know how it is perceived in people’s opinion and what it must do to avoid being seen threatening the environment.
• Carrying out operations and environmental studies demanding a scientific technicity as well as a communicative approach combining a professional and an academic approach.

Master Programme:

A.      Specialized courses: Environment (2^nd Term: Jan.April)

Module 1. Institutional and reglementary aspects in terms of environment in Tunisia, European directives, and international conventions. (20 hrs)

Module 2. Environmental management, economic impacts, social environment.

GEP ; ISO 14000 ; Eco-label; EMASE; product life cycle (20 hrs)

     Module 3. Ecology and natural resources. (15 hrs)

     Biological diversity and OGM.

     Module 4. Durable development, agenda 21 (local, national, and international) (15 hrs)

     Module 5. Climatic changes and their consequences on environment and health. (20 hrs)

     Module 6. Pollution: air, soil, sound, water, electromagnetic, wastes (source of contamination, impact, means of disposal). (60 hrs)

B.      Specialized training in journalism and communication

(1^st term: 15 Sept.-31 Dec.)

Module 1. Theories and strategies of organization communication. (48 hrs.)

Module 2. Interpersonal and group communication. (20 hrs)

Module 3. Techniques and tools of communication (printing, multimedia, radio, TV). (32 hrs)

Module 4. Techniques of print press. (50 hrs)

Module 5. Special English. ( 26 hrs)

Module 6. Training/Probation (April, May, and June).

Module 7. Professional project.

C.      Conferences:

Themes:

• Trade and environment
• Industry and durable development
• Tourism and durable development
• Transport and durable development
• Farming and durable development

Targeted learners:

This Master of environmental Communication concerns:

a.      IPSI students holders of Bas in journalism and communication or equivalent diploma.

b.      Candidates holding a BA other than that of the IPSI’s.

c.      Professionals holding Bas other than those of the IPSI and having a training leave.

Enrolment conditions:

The number of candidates is limited to 15. The selection is made according to the following criteria: Candidates whose files are accepted  by the Master Committee are called to a written exam on general culture. Candidates obtaining 12/20 or more are called to attend an interview with the jury and sit for a test in the use of computers. Candidates accepted must attend all the courses and may face expulsion if they do not.