PAs, law enforcement agencies, recent graduates and university students will be able to train with the School of Specialization in Environmental Disciplines. A concrete initiative?

One more possibility for those who want learn about the environment and its needs and critical issues: last 17 October the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) and ISPRA inaugurated the first National School of Specialization in Environmental Disciplinesopen to recent graduates and university students, but also law enforcement and public administration.

The training offer on the environment in Italy

The environment, for better or for worse, is now at the center of national and international debate even if the measures adopted do not always go in the direction of its protection and safeguard. Climate change, land consumption and wicked decisions are destroying our country.

Yet, on paper, the training offer in our country is not lacking. For years there have been degree courses focused on the environment, and degree courses that have activated specific exams, both in the Faculty of Science and in that of Engineering.

But there is also the course in Human sciences for the environment, like the one at the University of Roma Tre, as well as the Doctorate Course in Circular Economy offered by the University of Turin. And these are just a few examples.

Then, just recently, ISPRA has collected and published the data that tracks a overview of the training offer on specialist environmental topics provided by National System for Environmental Protection (SNPA), made up of the Regional and Provincial Environmental Agencies (ARPA/APPA) and ISPRA itself, both through training courses and through work-training alternation paths (curricular and extra-curricular internships, courses for transversal skills and orientation – PCTO).

The courses are not only aimed at the staff of the agencies themselves, but also relating to internship courses aimed at undergraduates and young graduates activated within the framework of agreements with universities or higher education institutions.

For the year 2023 – writes the Agency – there is a slight increase, compared to the previous year, in the number of environmental training courses activated in the SNPA (204) (…) The internships activated were a total of 285, while the students who 2,017 attended the courses for transversal skills and orientation in the 2022/2023 school year.

A new opportunity

specialization school in environmental disciplines

With the activation of the School of Specialization in Environmental Disciplines, the opportunities for training on the environment certainly increase.

They are needed new professionalisms – explained the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto – but even more there is a need to constantly adapt one’s skills and knowledge, because change is impressively rapid (…). There ecological and energy transition is becoming more and more of a priority and needs to be handled with caution

The reference is to communication, which is not always effective in our country.

It is necessary that the voice of those who spread and communicate this topic is well-founded, precise and clear: only in this way will it be possible, with the appropriate training tools, create consensus and build new professional opportunities in a continuously expanding sector that combines economic growth, innovation and environmental protection

There environmental training it is fundamental, from schools to universities to the world of work. A recent study, in fact, has shown that awareness is not enough to increase environmental sensitivity.

Especially in some contexts, such as in Public Administration and in general where there is the power to make decisions, it is necessary for staff to be adequately trained. We only wonder if, in addition to training, they are perhaps not necessary investments and courageous choiceswhich at the moment do not shine and do not multiply, to really change course.

Sources: Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security / ISPRA