Year of Award

2008

Document Type

Professional Paper

Degree Type

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Name

Environmental Studies

Department or School/College

Environmental Studies Program

Committee Chair

Len Broberg

Commitee Members

David Aronofsky, Fletcher Brown

Keywords

curriculum, educational reform, environment, environmental education, environmental law, Kosovo, Kosovo universities, new environmental law course, pollution

Abstract

This paper aims to improve environmental problem solving in Kosovo by introducing an environmental law course to the Kosovo university system. No school in Kosovo currently teaches environmental law and lawyers practicing environmental litigation are nonexistent. There are not many experts who can be consulted or who can help draft the environmental laws Kosovo must enact in order to harmonize its laws with those of the European Union. Lawyers having proper and formal training for doing the Environmental Impact Assessment are also extremely limited in number. The first part explains the rationale for proposing an environmental law course at law schools within Kosovo. The objective is to convince the Kosovo Ministry of Education, the highest university authorities, and potential donors, that Kosovo requires the introduction of a new environmental law course. To help teachers and curriculum authorities see environmental law education as a part of the bigger picture, this part includes an overview of environmental legislation, current state of the environment, summary of the major environmental problems in Kosovo, and a characterization of the educational system in Kosovo. The second part of the paper is mostly university oriented and explains how the course should be taught. The third part outlines what the course’s subject matter will be and, more specifically, how students will benefit from the new course. Harmonization of Kosovo laws with those of the European Union will impose substantial burdens on the Kosovo Government and local experts. An overall reform of environmental education in Kosovo is needed, especially in the field of environmental law, to provide the experts who can satisfy both the international community requirements and Kosovo citizens’ expectation for the economic development which will respect their rights to a clean and healthful environment.

Download

Share

COinS
 

© Copyright 2008 Nebojsa Vlajic