External training has two aims: to raise awareness about INTARESE (external training for dissemination) and to develop a set of ‘intelligent’ users who can assess and evaluate the integrated assessment methods, tools and results (external training for users).

External training for dissemination will be aimed at as wide a group of users as possible, in all relevant areas of application including both scientific and policy fields. Different mechanisms and media will be used amongst these different user groups. A major vehicle for training will be the Web: as far as possible training materials will be hosted on the project Web site in an open access form. Training packages will also be constructed and made openly available for use in university courses. At key stages in the project, specially designed training courses will be offered either by individual partner institutions or by a consortium of partners. These may range from one day introductory courses on specific methods or tools to week long courses on integrated assessment, either in general all in relation to specific policy context. Courses may be targeted at scientific users, policy users or both. Where appropriate, courses will be offered in collaboration (and jointly funded) with existing networks - for example, GA2LEN and PINCHE. In the case of scientific users, training will also be provided through workshops and symposia organized in association with major academic conferences (e.g. the ISEE, ISEA, ESRA or Enviro-Info).

Opportunities to provide targeted training to policy makers, industry and local authorities via specialist user groups would also be taken. Examples include international networks such as Euro-Cities, professional institutions (e.g. of environmental health professionals, environmental planners), NGOs, industrial councils and representative bodies, and national planning associations. External training for users will be targeted at specific user groups. Volunteer organisations and individuals will be sought during the process of user consultation carried out as part of WP6.1, as well as through invitation on the project Web site. Training will vary according to the specific topic or materials involved, but will include seminars/workshops, tutorials and distance learning. Seminars and workshops will be organised on user premises; interactive tutorials will be prepared and issued to selected users for testing and evaluation; and copies of protocols, manuals and project results would also be distributed in both draft and final form for the purposes of both training and evaluation. Training will be undertaken using materials purposely designed within other work packages. Users will be encouraged to circulate this experience within their own institution in order to extend the circumference of training.

Timing of training events will be determined in consultation, but three main phases of training are envisaged: during the first 18 months, to provide training on the assessment methodology; during phase two of the project (from month 24 to 30), to provide training in relation to specific policy assessments; and towards the end of the project to provide training in the use of the integrated assessment toolbox.