European Landscape Masters Course in Landscape Protection, Management and Planning

With regard to the proposed initiative (Annex nº1) to start administrative steps in relation to a future II level  European Landscape Masters course in Landscape Protection, Management and Planning, as established in the Outcome Document (Annex nº2) and as agreed during the second meeting of Directors of Landscape Masters courses held in La Rábida (Spain) on 20 and 21 May 2010,

the Initiative Group formed by the Universities of Algarve, International University of Andalucia, University of Seville, University of Florence, University of Nova Gorica, University of Paris-La Villette and University of Wageningen, have made the relevant enquiries to their different academic authorities and have confirmed that in most cases there is interest (Annex nº 3) and capacity (Erasmus University Charter, Annex nº4) to jointly participate in the following  call of the Erasmus Mundus Programme.

The Initiative Group of the future Masters course has also achieved initial support from the Council of Europe (Cultural Heritage, Landscape and Spatial Planning Division) and from RECEP-ENELC (Annex nº 5) and is hoping to achieve support from the UNISCAPE General Assembly that will be carried out in Turin (Italy) on 16 October 2010.

On this basis and with new participations, or future supports, it is expected that the candidature of the European Landscape Masters course in Landscape Protection, Management and Planning will be presented to the new Erasmus Mundus call (April 2011) so that the Masters course can enjoy the resources and advantages of the mentioned cooperation and mobility programme in the field of high level European education. The initiative is still open to all members of UNISCAPE. After the UNISCAPE General Assembly, the Initiative Group (in its current or extended composition) will have to elaborate a cooperation formula and a programme of shared contents (see Annex nº6, which contains as an example the International Masters course in Human Rights already in place).

The secretariat of the Initiative Group (Centro de Estudios Paisaje y Territorio directed by Florencio Zoido Naranjo) has carried out the relevant enquiries in the University of Sevilla and the Universidad Internacional de Andalucia (taking into account the current Landscape Masters course that both universities carry out jointly) and they accept the leadership of this initiative if this is what is decided by the members of UNSICAPE which participate in the initiative.

We invite all representatives of UNISCAPE member Universities to participate in this exciting project which will be presented as a specific point during the next assembly.

Carlo Magnani                                 Florencio Zoido                                Bas Pedroli
President UNISCAPE                     Vicepresident   UNISCAPE            Director UNISCAPE