The ocean provides numerous public benefits yet there is a pressing need to further mainstream Ocean Literacy in governance. Ocean Literacy (OL) is ‘the understanding of human influence on the Ocean and the Ocean’s influence on people’. This course will provide government officials with an overview of the importance of the Ocean. It will showcase the ocean as a source for development, present challenges and introduce tools and approaches for decision-making and governance regarding ocean sustainability.

Aims and Objectives

This course will provide government officials with an overview of the importance of the Ocean. It will showcase the ocean as a source for development, present challenges and introduce tools and approaches for decision-making and governance regarding ocean sustainability.

Expected learning outcomes

Participants will:

• Understand the concept of Ocean Literacy and the importance of the ocean.
• Understand the public benefits and ecosystem services provided by the ocean.
• Learn about the relationship of Ocean Literacy and Ocean Sustainability with other relevant global agendas.
• Understand Sustainability Challenges faced by the Ocean
• Explore tools and approaches for ocean sustainability that could be implemented by government officials in their work.

Target audience and prerequisites

This course is targeted towards government officials from multiple sectors (including resource managers and officials with no previous experience in ocean issues). Representatives of the civil society and academia, as well as students, early career professionals and the general public, may also participate. This course does not require any pre-requisite knowledge. Prior participation in the Ocean Literacy General Course is encouraged but not compulsory.

Course contents

• Introduction to Ocean Literacy
• Diving into the Ocean
• The public benefits and importance of the Ocean
• The Ocean as a resource for development
• Sustainability Challenges and Solutions
• Moving Forward

Language of instruction

English

Instructors

• Francesca Santoro
• Kerstin Forsberg
• guest speakers

Course Format and Duration

This ~ 9-hour long self paced course consists of a series of (online) lectures, case-studies, video messages from guest speakers and quizzes. No feedback is provided, neither a Certificate.

The course is available for self-enrolment between 10 May - 31 December 2021 on the OceanTeacher e-Learning Platform.

Contacts:

• Ocean Literacy: oceanliteracy@unesco.org
• OTGA Secretariat: ioc.training@unesco.org

Costs

No tuition fee.

The UNESCO/IOC Project Office for IODE is certified as a Learning Services Provider (ISO 29990:2010). The OceanTeacher Global Academy is a Project of IOC/IODE supported by the Flanders-UNESCO Trust Fund (FUST) of the Government of Flanders, Belgium.