International Diploma Courses at Kew

Supporting international conservation activities

Throughout its history, staff at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have been actively committed to sharing information and skills with colleagues from other botanical institutions around the world. During the 1980s, Kew recognised the increasing need for specialised horticultural and botanical training, and began to establish a series of international diploma courses for people working in botanic gardens, herbaria, arboreta and other plant conservation organisations. This need, articulated in Article 12 (Research and training) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), is no less pressing today and Kew's International Diploma programme continues to train people to enhance their abilities and expertise in identifying and conserving biodiversity and using it sustainably. This programme contributes to the implementation of targets 15 (number of trained people working in plant conservation increased) and 16 (networks for plant conservation activities developed) of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) by building capacity for the conservation of plant diversity.

Plant Conservation Strategies students participate in information gathering activities (Image: Colin Clubbe, RBG Kew)

What does an International Diploma course at Kew offer?

• a wide range of skills in your chosen discipline and the confidence to develop plans and implement actions
• the opportunity to participate in discussions with recognised authorities in the discipline, both from Kew and other international organisations
• the chance to focus on issues that particularly interest you, either through specialised options or project work
• visits to other botanical, horticultural and conservation organisations within the UK, to gain experience of other practices and protocols

Field trips include visits to Oxford Botanic Garden and other plant conservation organisations within the UK (Image: Pat Griggs, RBG Kew)

• a forum for exchanging ideas, problems and solutions with participants from other countries, both during the course and afterwards as members of an international network working towards plant biodiversity conservation

Which subject areas do the courses cover?

• Herbarium Techniques - course currently under review
• Plant Conservation Strategies - dates to be confirmed
• Botanic Garden Management   1 July - 26 August 2013
• Botanic Garden Education  16 April – 18 May 2012

Visas

In order to attend these courses at Kew, students from outside the European Economic Area may need to apply for a Student Visitor Visa from the UK Border Agency to enter the UK. For this purpose, Kew is accredited by the British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education as a Short Course Provider. Further information will be provided to course applicants – you will need to be accepted onto a course before you can apply for a student visitor visa.