Green growth tourism school next week

Hasselt University launches first summer school on Green Growth and Travelism with a special TED-Style Maurice Strong Evening

‘Green Growth and Travelism (GG&T)’: The first Summer School with specific focus on sustainable mobility and biodiversity, has been organized by the Transportation Research Institute, Hasselt University, Belgium.

Says the school: "Today’s world is changing rapidly and we are facing economic, social and environmental challenges compounded by intensifying climate change. In order to create a bright future, the idea of Green Growth has been developed as a strategic response. "

"Its application for tourism and mobility is recognized as a key element of sustainable global socio-economic development. The case of Travelism, short for Travel & Tourism, in the context of a Green Growth paradigm transformation will be extensively discussed."

The week also includes the first in a series of very special global events to celebrate a new spirit of Green Growth & Travelism. It reflects the half century vision of Maurice Strong – one of the great pioneers of the sustainable development movement, Secretary General of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and Patron of the Strong University Network (SUN).

It is to be held as the highlight event of the 5-days Summer School on Green Growth & Travelism, taking place at Hasselt University along with the National Park Hoge Kempen and Greenearth.travel.

The evening will take the form of a "TED" / "Ashoka" style series of "10 minute" stories from internationally recognized experts followed by interactive participation with the audience. This will focus on sustainable nature, culture, biodiversity and their link with the powerful Travel and Tourism Sector – against the backdrop of the changing climate, booming population, unstable economy and inadequate social inclusion.

The event will be held in the amazing art studio of Golden Nica Award winner Koen Vanmechelen amongst his lifetime work linking art, biodiversity and connectivity.

Koen will present the keynote talk and will be followed by Goldman Award winner and renowned conservationist Ignace Schops, President of ICTP Geoffrey Lipman as well as presenters from Microsoft, McKinsey, Exeter University and UNWTO. The evening will close with drinks and a buffet.

The GG&T Summer School 2014 will be organized from Monday 25 August 2014 to Friday 29 August 2014.

It will take place in Belgium, at Hasselt University (Campus Diepenbeek | Agoralaan Building D | 3590 Diepenbeek) with field visits to Hoge Kempen National Park in the Province of Limburg and to the European Parliament in Brussels.

A series of lectures devoted to a specific topic or case study, will be  given by renowned experts in the field of green growth, travelism, mobility and biodiversity who will share their knowledge and experience during these five days:

• Geoffrey Lipman – Director of Greenearth.travel and president of ICTP
• Ignace Schops – Director of Regional Landscape Kempen and Maasland                       
• Geert Wets – Professor and director of the Transportation Research Institute at Hasselt University, Belgium                        
• Terry DeLacy – Professor in Sustainable Tourism and Major Events at Victoria University Australia                       
• Shaun Vorster – Extraordinary Associate Professor at the University of Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa                       

Field trips will be organized to the Hoge Kempen National Park in the Belgian Province of Limburg, the perfect environment to learn about biodiversity, and to the European Parliament in Brussels to help understand the geopolitical and sociopolitical impacts of change.

The subjects handled during the lectures and visits will be discussed in interactive debates, focusing on practical applications and career development for course participants.

Further information HERE

Valere Tjolle

@valeretjolle

[email protected]