This project has been established through academic cooperation between the Faculty of Science and the University of Saarland, Institut fur Biogeography (USIB), Federal Republic of Germany, with financial assistance from the government of Germany through Deutsche Gessellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) to offer an international Master Degree programme in Environmental Science (formerly called Environmental Risk Assessment for Tropical Ecosystems or ERA). The programme has the following objectives:
The first batch of students were admitted to the above mentioned programme in June, 1992. To date, four batches of students have graduated and another two batches are continuing their studies. Students participating in this programme come from Asian countries such as Cambodia, China, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma, Philippines, Laos, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand. Students study under scholarships provided by GTZ, the Department of Technical and Economic Cooperation of Thailand (DTEC), the Petroleum Authority of Thailand and other private organisations.
Apart from running the programme, over the past year the project has also carried out the following cooperative activities:
November, 1996.
Dr. Apollo Economides of Coventry University visited the ERA Project to discuss the possibility of joint cooperation in the future.
December, 1996
.1). Prof.Dr.Dr.h.c.mult. Paul Mueller and Ms. Wichanee Wacharakul, the Institute of Biogeography, University of Saarland, took part in joint discussions with the Dean, Faculty of Science, the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the ERA Programme on the possibility of future cooperation.
2). The Vice-President for Research and Foreign Affairs of Chiang Mai University, and the Chairperson of the ERA Programme, together with Prof.Dr.Dr.h.c.mult. Paul Mueller and Ms. Wichanee Wacharakul from the Institute of Biogeography, University of Saarland, met with the Deputy-Director of the Department Economic and Technical Cooperation (DTEC) to discuss ways of establishing future joint cooperation in the International Programme.
February, 1997.
The ERA Project, together with Pro-En Consultant Ltd., with support from CIDA, Canada, conducted a training programme on EIA State of the Art (Level I) and EIA for Practitioners (Level II) for interested lecturers.
March, 1997.
1) The Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson of the ERA Programme, together with Prof.Dr.Dr.h.c.mult. Paul Mueller and Ms. Wichanee Wacharakul of the Institute of Biogeography, University of Saarland, visited the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to discuss the possibility of future joint cooperation.
2) Dr. Apollo Economides of Coventry University, visited the ERA Programme to follow up on the feasibility of signing a Letter of Agreement for Academic Cooperation in the future.
May-July 1997.
The ERA Project, together with Dr. David A. Levy, Senior Ecologist with Pro-En Consultant Ltd., conducted a training programme on EIA State of the Art (Level I) and EIA for Practitioners (Level II) for 2nd year students.
August, 1997.
Ms. Ann O’Sullivan, Director of International Affairs and Mr. Robert J. Pryce, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, representing Coventry University, signed a Joint Cooperation Project between the School of Natural and Environmental Science, Coventry University and the Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University.
September, 1997.
1) Mr. Patrick Schwarzwaelder and Ms Anke Hettrich, students at the University of Saarland, F.R. Germany, served as Research Assistants with the ERA Project for a period of 6 months.
2) Prof.Dr. Wolfgang von Richter and Prof. Dr. Wesseller, representing the GTZ organization made a study tour of the ERA Project and took part in discussions on the ERA Workshop scheduled to take place in December, 1997.
