Advancing environmental education and training for sustainable management of environmental resources in Palestine

Abstract

This article describes the various capacity-building activities at the Institute of Environmental and Water Studies of Birzeit University during the past 10 years. It highlights the gained experience in advancing environmental science and engineering education and training programs as components of sustainable water and environmental management schemes. Furthermore, the major constraints faced, and future plans to sustain and enhance the capacity-building activities, are also introduced and discussed. Critical analysis of the past and ongoing educational and training programs provided clear evidence that environmental education and research capacity building in Palestine is still underutilized and threatened by a persistent lack of financial resources. The data presented should also be of interest to international agencies engaged in strengthening higher education.