USCB offers Certificate of Ecotourism and Sustainability in partnership with The International Ecotourism Society September 19-21, 2011
Hilton Head, SC – In support of the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC), University of South Carolina Beaufort faculty are partnering with The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), offering workshops which enable participants to earn a Certificate in Ecotourism and Sustainability. The participants in this certification program have come from various countries, such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada, and the United States. Not only will they be attending interactive lectures, but are taking part in a hands-on interpretative boat tour on Broad Creek. This experience will provide persons with knowledge of Lowcountry ecosystems and how they relate to both geographical and historic aspects of the region, as well as the importance of sustainable practices needed to preserve the fragile Sea Islands. According to Ayako Ezaki, Director of Communications for The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), “This is the first time we have partnered with a local organization to offer a Certification in Ecotourism and Sustainability at this conference. We appreciate the opportunity to partner with a local university such as USCB, as this certainly supplements and improves our content.” The USCB professors facilitating the certification workshops are Dr. John Salazar (Hospitality Management), Dr. Joe Staton (Biology), Dr. Robert Landrum (History), and Dr. Eric Montie (Biology). Sustaining the environment has been a long time mission for USCB. Since 2005, USCB has had 49 projects totaling over $2.7 million in grant/contract funding, 35 of these projects being focused on sustaining the Lowcountry Environment, Economy, and Social well-being. USCB has received National awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US Department of Defense (USDOD), and US Marine Corps. They have also received State awards from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, and South Carolina Energy Office.
About the 2011 Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference With over 30 inspiring sessions, 50 leading industry partners, and impactful and engaging keynote presentations, the ESTC 2011 sets the platform for ongoing dialogue promoting innovative ideas and practical solutions, driving change in global tourism. For more information, please see http://www.ecotourismconference.org/. About USCB Located in the heart of the Carolina Sea Islands, the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) is a senior institution of the University of South Carolina system serving the southeast coast of Georgia and South Carolina. USCB has been the fastest growing baccalaureate institution in the USC system since becoming a four year university in 2002.The university has two campuses which serve a diverse student body of more than 1750 students. The Historic Beaufort campus, located on Beaufort’s downtown waterfront, houses an innovative baccalaureate studio arts program in close proximity to Beaufort’s many art galleries. The Hilton Head Gateway campus in Bluffton, S.C., offers cutting-edge Computational Science and Nursing laboratories and is the home to Sand Shark athletics. USCB offers students an exceptional place to learn and live in an environment focused on growth, preservation and opportunity. For more information about the University of South Carolina Beaufort, please visit www.uscb.edu online or call the university’s Office of Public Information at 843-2088030.