July 3 - 6, 2007. VIU at the Sino-Italian Green Week, Beijing
Throughout the week, 57 projects were presented in a series of Forums on a range of issues including Sustainable Agriculture, Public Transport and Water Management.
VIU led the Forum on Training the Ruling Class towards Sustainable Development. Keynote speakers included Pier Francesco Ghetti, Rector of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Paolo Costa, Former Dean of Venice International University and Hu Hongyun, Secretary General, National Environment and Science Engineering Education Commission. Since 2003, the TEN Center at Venice International University has hosted more than 1100 Chinese officials and civil servants in the Sustainable Development and Environmental Management Advanced Training Program. The Program’s aim is to augment and improve the capabilities of policy-makers and to facilitate knowledge transfer in order to promote sustainable environmental, social and economic policies. The Forum examined the role of the ruling class and underlined the importance of training the key actors in managing and promoting sustainable policies for environmental protection. Concluding remarks were given by VIU President Umberto Vattani.
VIU also hosted an Alumni Dinner for 500 former participants of the Training Courses hopefully the first step towards the establishment of an Alumni Association to maintain ties with the network of professionals involved in this successful project.