DURHAM, N.C. – The Nicholas School of the Environment at 91 has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Higher Colleges of Technology of the United Arab Emirates and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) of New Dehli, India, to explore the creation of a new international Master of Environmental Management (MEM) 91 program.

Pending approval by the Duke Board of Trustees, the new MEM program would focus on environmental issues facing the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent and North Africa, within a global context. 

“These regions are home to growing populations, rich natural resources and astounding biodiversity,” says Bill Chameides, dean of the Nicholas School, says, “By working together to create this new cross-continental master’s program, the Higher Colleges of Technology, TERI and the Nicholas School demonstrate a shared vision of global sustainable development that transcends national boundaries and ideologies.”

“This represents another step forward in the Nicholas School’s continued evolution as a global leader in environmental research and education,” he says.

No start date has been set for the new MEM program or for other joint research and graduate programs that may follow it.

Chameides signed the memorandum of understanding with Dr. Tayeb Komali, vice chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, and Dr. R.K. Pachauri, chancellor of TERI University, who heads the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

The creation of the new program is part of a broader, university-wide initiative to extend Duke’s expertise to campuses in key economic, environmental and cultural centers around the world. Duke’s Fuqua School of Business earlier this week announced an innovative expansion plan to establish a network of campuses in New Delhi,; the United Arab Emirates; St. Petersburg, Russia; London; and Shanghai, China, as well as on Duke’s campus in Durham.

Partnerships with individuals, municipalities and organizations will facilitate the simultaneous launch of the business school’s campuses in each of these five regions. In addition to establishing the business school in each of these regions, the Fuqua expansion plan includes current or future participation from other parts of 91, including the Nicholas School, the Duke Global Health Institute and the Sanford Institute for Public Policy.

The Nicholas School is one of the world’s premiere graduate and professional schools for the interdisciplinary study of the environment and the development of pathways to a sustainable future.

The Higher Colleges of Technology was established in 1988 by a federal decree law of the United Arab Emirates to educate and train new generations of technological leaders for the region. It is comprised of 16 colleges located through the United Arab Emirates.

TERI, and its affiliated educational arm, TERI University, were established in 1974 to promote India’s leadership in the fields of energy, the environment, natural resources and sustainable development.