Last updated: 11 October 2006

[ What is the TSC programme? ] [ What is the TSC Support System? ] [ Central Support Unit (CSU) ] [ Course Development Unit (CDU) ] [ TSC Partners ] [ GEF International Waters ] [ Courses Catalogue ]

The TRAIN-SEA-COAST Programme (TSC) provides its members an effective support system for the development of human resources. This includes three major interacting elements that maintain the viability of the Programme as a whole, including: 

1.          A FRAMEWORK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF COURSES

The framework consists of 13 Course Development Units (CDUs) which are hosted primarily by academic/training centres.

CDUs develop and deliver courses targeted to technical, in-country training.   Training is closely matched to the requirements of the tasks/jobs involved with the outputs feeding directly into the solution or prevention of key problems affecting the coastal areas at the national or regional level.

 The topics of the courses vary from e.g. integrated coastal management, to marine protected areas to pollution control, according to established national or regional priorities. (See training courses) 

 Training courses are fully documented (material-dependent), making the training much less dependent upon individual instructors and thus allowing multiple deliveries of the same course, each delivery having the same quality standard.  CDUs may then import and adapt the courses from other TSC members.  This allows maximum utilization, exchange and distribution of training courses and materials worldwide, thus increasing the cost-effectiveness of the training effort.

 2.                  A COMMON PEDAGOGIC METHODOLOGY FOR TRAINING AND A COACHING AND SUPPORT SYSTEM

 All TSC members use the same powerful training development methodology that ensures the highest pedagogical and technical standards.  In addition, the methodology becomes not only a common "tool" used by all CDUs, but also an effective linkage that binds all the players in the training arena, thus building confidence in the cooperative network and a sense of pride and ownership in the training courses produced.

 The TSC Central Support Unit at UN/DOALOS  reinforces this process through a coaching and support system throughout course development as well as an strict quality control process at 4 stages of course development and delivery in order to ensure that pedagogic and technical standards are maintained. If necessary, the efforts of the Central Support Unit may be supplemented by external consultants.

 In addition, cooperation and sharing among the global network enable human resources to be better mobilized, with a global pool of adaptable training materials available to all members of the network.

  3.        AN ESTABLISHED AND ONGOING COOPERATIVE TRAINING NETWORK THAT IS ANCHORED AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS     

The TSC Programme is network-based and is a mechanism for establishing a rich and valuable flow of information and resources among universities, governmental institutions, NGOs and the private sector.  This benefits the production of courses and enables the maximum transfer of knowledge and skills directly through the global network.

 In addition, because the TSC Programme is demand-driven, and the course content is based upon on-the-ground experiences as well as upon specific projects, public involvement and consultation procedures are built into the Programme.   This makes possible the design and the delivery of training courses that are responsive to local and regional priorities.

Coordination and monitoring of the global sharing system by the TSC Central Support Unit ensures that training materials of the highest standard will be available to all TSC members, who can make use of complete courses, single modules or individual learning materials, adapting them to their own needs.  In addition, the network approach to training offers a global community of trained course developers, subject-matter experts and instructors.

[ What is the TSC programme? ] [ What is the TSC Support System? ] [ Central Support Unit (CSU) ] [ Course Development Unit (CDU) ] [ TSC Partners ] [ GEF International Waters ] [ Courses Catalogue ]