Course Introduction

Welcome to the course module on strategic environmental assessment (SEA) - a learning resource that explains SEA theory, practice and methodology.

You can see the structure of the course, and move around the course modules, by clicking on the expandable menu at the left of each page. Within this drop down menu you can navigate through all the sections and pages by placing the mouse over the menu and then by clicking on a page you would like to view. This then shows all the content relevant to the subject heading of that page.

In addition to written text on the subject each page includes other forms of media, including:

  • Videos - from subject matter experts providing their viewpoints;
  • Tables - providing further information or examples; and
  • Illustrations- interactive (with more information when various elements are clicked) and static.

SEA is a rapidly evolving topic. This module provides a core of structured learning materials. In addition, the SEA-Wiki provides information about SEA legislation, case studies, references and other more changeable aspects of SEA.


July 28, 2006 Uncategorized — brendan @ 12:40 pm

26 Comments »

  1. I am very happy that I can now be able to access very important info on line. As a univerisy student (University of Nairobi-Kenya) undertaking a research on SEA in context of the NBI, this course has been very instrumental. I am also a distant student with UNITAR and equally this is very good for my reading. This is a very good form of capacity building for African EIA practitioners who are quite green in the area of SEA. People, can you also be able to organize cheap workshops for African Students like myself? Thank you and keep it up. Lugard

    Comment by Lugard Ogaro — August 29, 2007 @ 2:58 am

  2. Lugard, its indeed very delighting to have you on line and we can have alot to share. I work for the National Environment Management Authority in Uganda and i'm coordinating the development of SEA guidelines for Uganda. There are alot of activities within NBI and i believe we can share experiences and enhance each other.

    Comment by Waiswa-Ayazika — August 29, 2007 @ 11:11 pm

  3. I would like very much to have this course, because i think that my country is in need for this type of courses, so it is good to do that.

    Comment by Yasir Hassan — September 19, 2007 @ 2:49 am

  4. The course would be useful as the planning and policy are becoming more uniform globally due to UN agreements, such kind of course would be useful in near future. Jeeva

    Comment by Jeeva — December 14, 2007 @ 7:03 pm

  5. The course is a very nice tool for sustainable development. I would be happy if UNU / Oxford Brookes let me to propose a spanish translation.

    Comment by Francisco Gallo — April 17, 2008 @ 12:47 am

  6. Hi Francisco, Thanks for your offer. We are looking into it. Ideally, any translation could actually easily be incorporated into this website with the new multi-lingual plug-in that we have developed. Then it is very easy to switch between languages. But we need to discuss whether this proposal is practical and we can support it. We will be in touch if we decide to go further. Regards Brendan Barrett UNU Media Studio

    Comment by brendan — April 24, 2008 @ 9:11 am

  7. I am very happy that now i can be able to get access to information online which is a good thing to develop our education . But i would love to request the module to be send in my email address so that i can be able to read this whole package. I am from Mwanza,Tanzania Isaya

    Comment by Isaya Yunge — June 17, 2008 @ 7:06 pm

  8. Dear Isaya, It is possible for you to download the entire course from the following address: http://sea.unu.edu/download.html Just select the basic version. The file is compressed, so you will need to unzip it. Best regards Brendan Barrett UN University

    Comment by brendan — June 20, 2008 @ 10:49 am

  9. This is a great course. It is vital esp. for us in the developing nations (Zambia my home country). There is so much talk on MDG 7 in my country i.e ensuring sustainable dev. and making the principles of it our integral part of our policy making. With info. like decision makers can be agitated from an informed position. Can one enroll for this course and get a certificate? I would be glad to know. Regds.

    Comment by Gillan Simfukwe — November 12, 2008 @ 5:29 pm

  10. Dear Gillian, There are students taking this SEA course at Oxford Brookes University in the UK and at the University of Agder in Norway. Please take a look at the following for more details: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/schools/be/planning/shortcourses/media/SEA_DL_courses.pdf http://www.uia.no/en/portaler/om_universitetet/oekonomi_og_samfunnsvitenskap/studier/undervisning_paa_engelsk/master_in_development_management Brendan Barrett

    Comment by brendan — November 17, 2008 @ 10:15 am

  11. this is what they mean when they say he who seeks finds.I have found just the right resource to empower myself in the discipline of environmental science.I am a student doing BSc Environmental Science at Bindura University in Zimbabwe.May God Bless you.

    Comment by Gerald Mudare — January 14, 2009 @ 11:55 pm

  12. Brendan, I will like to say that this is absolutely what i need as a student of environmental law. presently i am doing a masters in Environmental law and i find this information amazing, very educative and priceless. I am so happy i discovered this ...and i do not know what i was looking for...well you know what they say if you look you will find. I will be very grateful if you can be helpful in this regard...I am presently doing a research on SEAs and EIAs I will like to know if you are aware of any transboundary SEAs that have been conducted in Africa at this moment. I know SEAs are policy based and that one of its weaknesses is actually the presence of transboundary policies. How can this issue be dealt with?Countries usually have resources that cross frontiers and borders a good example being water resources. I will like to know what exactly happens in the case of a policy, plan or programme on water management where the water resource is found in two countries and the policy of one country in relation to that water resource will affect the other country. How is the SEA carried out on that PPP? thank you...

    Comment by Camila Nkwenti — January 22, 2009 @ 5:56 pm

  13. Dear Camila, Thanks for this posting. You indeed highlight a particularly trouble some area for SEA. Online I could find references to SEAs prepared for the EU trans-European transport networks and for the Nile and Mekong River basins. See this reference on the IAIA website = http://www.iaia.org/modx/index.php?id=39 Perhaps you could approach the IAIA for more information. Best of luck Brendan Barrett United Nations University

    Comment by brendan — January 25, 2009 @ 11:07 pm

  14. Dear Brendan thanks for your reply i really appreciate it.I could not wait to get this reply. i will keep in contact with the iaia and see how far i go with it.All thesame this work is good work for environmentalist and those who are really interested in impact assessment. Again i was going through the notes and i downloaded an mp3 audio learning of the EC Directive by Riki and I will like to know if this course has any audio learning programmes or systems. Maybe your attention has been drawn to this concern and you have commented on it.If you have i am sorry for the inconvenience.However if you have not can you please tell me if there is any developments in this regards and where i can get it?More so its very important bc while i was listening to Riki i got really vital info which really concretises my studies in impact assessment eventhough it concerned the EC Directive.Just let me know please. Thanks Camila

    Comment by Camila — January 27, 2009 @ 1:32 am

  15. Hi Camila, The course does not include any additional audio learning programmes. You are correct however that in many instances audio files work very well. We will look into in the future, rather than relying on video content as much as we do. Thanks again for your comments. Brendan

    Comment by brendan — January 28, 2009 @ 11:27 pm

  16. Brenda, I am aware of the fact that most of the people who contributed to this site for example Riki.I will like to know if you are aware of any web site where I can get the Environmental and Social Assessment Procedure of the African Development Bank(ESAP) of 2001. thank you

    Comment by camila — February 10, 2009 @ 11:50 pm

  17. At last, my government has adopted the SEA into a new regulation No. 32/2009 ... Indonesian term for SEA is KLHS, Kajian Lingkungan Hidup Strategis.

    Comment by Dedi Setiabudidaya — January 1, 2010 @ 7:06 am

  18. how i wish governments of developing countries could appreciate the importance of this course and incorporate them in their political campaigns..as a final year student of university for Development Studies (Ghana), this site has been beneficial

    Comment by AFRIYIE ISAAC — April 11, 2010 @ 12:29 am

  19. I was an environmental consultant for the Metropolitan Company of Brasilia, Brazil in 2002 and as such I invited to make a lecture there professor Heitor Gurgulino de Souza and he talked about the role of UNU on environmental knowledge excellence. Since then I became very much interested on the possibility of becoming a student at this university that seemed to have as an institution every concern that I had as a professional. Today I came to know about this opportunity of learning at distance on UNU. I hope I can accomplish this opportunity and it will be now of much more value for me since now I integrate a team of Sakyamuni Cultural Association an NGO dedicated to solution of social and environmental problem at local community level.

    Comment by Vanilson Lima — April 29, 2010 @ 12:39 am

  20. Until now, I have provided support and input to different elements of SEA without ever having the opportunity to see the bigger picture. With a sudden and enforced career change looming very late in life, this site has given me encouragement and hope that I can do more. Thank you.

    Comment by Jennie — June 28, 2010 @ 8:27 pm

  21. I recently discovered the course and I'm fascinated with it. I would like to know the best way to use it. What is the sequence I should follow. I would also contact with other people in the world who are taking this course. I am a Peruvian anthropologist with extensive experience in development programs in mountain areas and tropical rainforests. I live in NY and work as an independent consultant.

    Comment by Alvaro Puga-Capelli — October 12, 2010 @ 3:54 am

  22. i downloaded sea-local basic version but coul not open it. please help.

    Comment by vats — January 8, 2011 @ 9:27 pm

  23. I’ m interested in a group to study this course. I live in NY. I have little time but could meet for about three or four hours once every 15 days. The rest of the time I can work alone. If somebody is interested can The person who was interested can write me to this site. Alvaro Puga-Capelli

    Comment by Alvaro Puga-Capelli — June 17, 2011 @ 12:50 pm

  24. I have the same problem. Why don't you try to readed on line only.

    Comment by Alvaro Puga-Capelli — June 17, 2011 @ 12:51 pm

  25. I AM A 3RD AND LAST(ENDING 2012) YEAR STUDENT RUNNING THROUGH Bsc Environmental Sciences and Management at SOKOINE UNIVERSITY TANZANIA. I AM VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THESE HIGHLIGHTS BUT I WOULD LIKE AGAIN TO HAVE FULL NOTES ON SEA THROUGH MY EMAIL IF POSSIBLE. THANKS

    Comment by Suleiman Mtoni — June 20, 2012 @ 3:13 pm

  26. Thanks for this course!

    Comment by Luiz Silva — December 30, 2012 @ 10:31 am

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