IPGL (www.ipgl.at) is a hub for international post-graduated training, research and networking in the area of limnology and freshwater ecosystem management for more than 35 years. IPGL organizes several training programmes and acts as interface platform linking research institutions world-wide. IPGL aims to support research capacity enhancement processes in developing countries for achieving the Millenium Development Goals. Almost 500 young scientists from developing countries have attended training courses organized by IPGL, the EAWA (Eastern Africa Water Association - http://www.eawanet.org ) has been initiated, and recently a truly joint M.Sc. programme with UNESCO-IHE (http://www.unesco-ihe.org) and Egerton University (www.egerton.ac.ke) has been launched. Important aim of IPGL is to initiate and facilitate joint research projects between southern & northern institutions with special emphasis on the Eastern African region  - e.g. the European Union sponsored fish-aquaculture project BOMOSA (http://www.bomosa.org).

IPGL courses are offering practical training on field-work, laboratory methods and data analyses – all the way from sampling-design to data interpretation and implementation of management measures. Practical research training can be done in small groups only, thus the number of course participants is limited to 20 persons maximum.

The quality of IPGL courses is based on the excellent collaboration of many renowned research institutions in Austria and several institutions in the world. As a result of this cooperation, IPGL courses are held at several locations and centres of excellence in Austria, such as: Mondsee (Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute for Limnology), Lunz (WasserCluster Lunz - Inter-university Center for Freshwater Ecosystem Research) and Vienna (University of Vienna, Vienna University of Technology, BOKU University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna). IPGL courses are also held in Trebon, Czech Republic, hosted by the Czech Academy of Sciences (Institute of Botany and Institute of Systems Biology & Ecology) and ENKI.

• 18-months Master of Science programme in “Environmental Science, specialization in Limnology & Wetland Ecosystems (LWE)”

The LWE programme provides an integrated course for scientists, technologists and engineers who have an interest in aquatic ecosystem research and management. Provided are knowledge and skills to address environmental problems and interact with stakeholders, managers and policy makers for appropriate remedial actions. LWE is a joint programme between IPGL, Egerton University and UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education - in cooperation with other science & management institutions in Europe and Eastern Africa.. The MSc degree is awarded by the UNESCO-IHE (academic credits according to ECTS). The M.Sc. programme structure/curriculum consists of three trimesters of 4-months each, which are held in The Netherlands (UNESCO-IHE), Kenya (Egerton University) and Austria (IPGL/AAS), followed by a 6-months research period.

It is our pleasure to announce that the upcoming LWE (now called LWM - Limnology and Wetland Management) programme is under review at the moment and will become even more attractive in 2012. Thus, we are inviting you to study in three different countries together with students from all over the world. All three study locations are world-famous tourist locations - Vienna (Austria), Nakuru/Egerton (Kenya) and Delft (The Netherlands) – thus, go for studying where others are going for holidays and sight-seeing!
More information and a flyer is available here

• 3-weeks short courses

• Lake Ecology(held at Egerton University, Kenya)
• Stream & River Ecology (held at Egerton University, Kenya)
• Wetlands for Water Quality (held at Egerton University, Kenya)
• Fisheries and Aquaculture (held at Egerton University, Kenya)
• Microbial Communities & Ecosystem Functioning (held in Austria at WaterCluster Lunz - Inter-university Center for Freshwater Ecosystem Research)
• Conservation and Restoration Ecology (held in Austria at WaterCluster Lunz and BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna )
• Group work/Integrated Water Resource Management & Management of Aquatic Ecosystems (held in Austria at Vienna University of Technology)
• Water Quality Monitoring & Bioindicators (held in Austria at BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna and Vienna University of Technology)

Further information on all short courses: http://www.ipgl.at/training/short_courses/

Participants of all short-courses receive a certificate including academic credits according to ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) and Kenyan CF’s awarded by Egerton University for courses held in Kenya.

• 4-months special training programme for scientific technicians

Truly tailor-made 4 months programme, which is designed according to the specific needs of the employing home institute of the participants. Special emphasis is laid on practical work and laboratory sessions. Participant receive a certificate of attendance.

Further information on the special training programme for technicians: http://www.ipgl.at/training/spte/