Since 1991, the European Union (EU) has been supporting the transition of the New Independent States (NIS) via the TACIS program. "The TACIS Programme is one of the instruments developed by the EU to forge closer economic and political links with the New Independent States (NIS)41. It operates within the wider context of a deepening and evolving relationship between the EU and the NIS, in Partnership and Cooperation Agreements which commit both sides to a new level of political, economic and cultural dialogue. The programme provides grant finance for the transfer of know-how to twelve countries of the former Soviet Union, and Mongolia. In so doing, it fosters the development of market economies and democratic societies. It is the largest programme of its kind operating in the region, and has launched more than 3 000 projects worth over ECU 3 290 million since its inception" (TACIS, 2000).
A large part of the TACIS budget is devoted to cultural and educational projects; in fact, partnerships between universities and HE institutes are becoming an important part of European Union foreign policy. It is clear that future cooperation will rely heavily on cultural links, which must be established and reinforced from this point forward.
The joint TEMPUS TACIS `ENARECO' (Environmental and Natural Resources Economics) project was initiated 1 January 1997. Its main objective was to establish a three-semester, post-graduate study course at the Master's level (M.Sc.) that would qualify graduates as environmental economists. This has been implemented at the Ukrainian State University of Forestry and Wood Technology in L'viv. The Joint European Project (JEP) `ENARECO' had a successful precursor as a one-year project, Natural Resource Economics (NARECO), in 199642.In the process of curricula development, USUFWT has been supported by the European Union universities of Freiburg (Germany), Gent (Belgium) and Padova (Italy). Each EU University has provided training and expertise in the primary scientific areas addressed by the ENARECO.
The main purpose of this project has been to provide a new teaching framework within the Ukrainian higher education system in order to prepare high-level specialists who can combine ecology with economics and who will be able to tackle the demands created as Ukraine moves forward: "..novel ecological, economic and social challenges have to be met. Therefore, sustainable development should be induced as an instrument to balance society's various demands ... and nature's tolerance to human interference" (ENARECO, 1998).
The ENARECO course contains some special features (Essmann, 1999), which correspond to the following main directives:
1. Regardless of the large number of subjects (see Annex I) the basic theme for all classes is the question of how both economic and society demands can be rendered compatible with the requirements of environmental conservation and a careful use of natural resources.
2. The contents of the study course ENARECO are not limited only to the theory of environmentally friendly, resource-preserving economics, but attempts to illustrate in a practical way principles of the various sectors in a political economy. Therefore, the study of agriculture and forestry, tourism and recreation, and land use is supplemented by subjects such as environmental policy and environmental law. With this variety of subjects, the objective of the course is to ensure that students can become experts, capable of implementing the principles of sustainable development in practically all relevant areas of economy and society.
3. The central goal of the program is for students to gain a practical-oriented education. In addition to learning theoretical basics, the goal is to give students practical experience. In this vein, project studies as well as internships in administrative and business environments form an integral part of the ENARECO course.
4. Because the ENARECO course includes such a large range of subjects, it has not been combined with an already existing faculty, e.g., the Faculty of Economics. It would be risky to assume the "parent faculty" could incorporate the new study program and influence its direction and further development. ENARECO has therefore been designed as an independent unit within the University with its own administration, and reports directly to the rector.
5. The new study program is open to college graduates from a variety of different fields. It is not restricted to economists, but open to geographers, law students, forest scientists, ecologists and others.
In an attempt to follow these guidelines, the curricula of the new study course has been structured around seven teaching areas (see the general organization of the ENARECO course in Annex I). These are:
It goes without saying that the ENARECO program is, in the Ukrainian context, unique in the context of speciality areas and courses offered. Hence, it will serve as an excellent model for other universities and higher educational institutions in Ukraine.
41 The NIS comprises the former republics of the Soviet Union, minus the Baltic States, and Mongolia. The Programme is managed by the European Commission's DG1A (Directorate General for External Relations: Europe and the New Independent States, Common Foreign and Security Policy and External Service).
42 During this pre-project important basics were developed which have been instrumental in the implementation of the JEP project, and for the new course which started on 1 September 1998.
