Stakeholder engagement is crucial to the development of public policy, decision-making, and business practice. Decision-making is improved when stakeholder engagement facilitates communications, broadens community support for projects, and garners new resources, data and ideas. It is therefore often employed to tackle complex multi-dimensional problems, such as those encountered in marine spatial planning. This course provides practical guidance on how to plan and conduct effective Stakeholder Engagement processes, with emphasis on issues related to marine spatial planning.

1. Identify stakeholders relevant to current and emerging marine spatial planning scenarios
2. Critically evaluate and select appropriate stakeholder engagement methods
3. Design, implement and evaluate a stakeholder engagement strategy
4. Assess the efficacy of dissemination activities in achieving stakeholder adoption of project outcomes

This module will cover spatial analysis tools, and mapping software used for decision support in marine spatial planning. It will cover the integration, analysis, inference, and uncertainty associated with data and analyses, as well as tools for the storage, manipulation and display of spatial data.

1. Describe the underpinning theoretical concepts, and apply spatial analysis techniques
2. Source, store, format, manipulate data of relevance for marine spatial planning scenarios
3. Apply programming and related technical skills to perform bespoke analyses
4. Draw inferences from the results of analyses, and present outputs in an audience appropriate manner

This module will present international, national, and regional frameworks related to the management and administration of marine resources. Environmental economics will be introduced and discussed using a case study approach. Special emphasis will be devoted to the economic analysis of natural resource exploitation of renewable and open-access resources. The course also addresses the social-ecological aspects of marine protected areas, strategies to manage, control and monitor marine protected areas and their relationship with end users.

1. Describe the application of mechanisms used to manage the marine environment and its resources
2. Provide an overview of the evolving composition of the Blue Economy in Europe
3. Apply economic analysis techniques for natural capital accounting
4. Critically evaluate the socio ecological consequences of strategies to manage marine protected areas

Current issues and challenges associated with the implementation of marine spatial planning in Ireland and Europe. The module will be delivered through a series of guest lectures and workshops from industry practitioners involved in implementing and responding to MSP measures across various sectors including offshore renewable energy, fisheries, shipping, tourism, ports, aquaculture and conservation.

1. Describe the evolution of marine spatial planning frameworks within an EU and Irish context
2. Critically review case studies of the implications of marine spatial planning for the maritime sector
3. Participate in organisational processes/responses to marine spatial planning initiatives

Marine resource management is the management of society's interactions with, and impacts on, the marine environment. Sustainable management involves managing economic, social and environmental systems. In this course, the ecosystem management principles involved in sustainable exploitation and conservation of marine environments and species are considered. A national, European, and global perspective is included, and underlying principles are demonstrated by reference to case studies.

1. Describe ecosystem based management for the sustainable exploitation and conservation of marine resources
2. Recognise the influences of social, ecological, cultural, political, economic, historical, and geographic factors on how marine spaces and resources are used, perceived, and managed.
3. Apply techniques to combine human dimensions with ecological data for a more integrated approach to marine resource management.

This module is designed to offer learners the opportunity to combine the skills and knowledge developed during the programme. Where learners are in relevant employment, they will be mentored by programme staff to develop and conduct a case study in marine spatial planning. Where they are not in a relevant employment setting, they will work with programme staff in ATU to develop and conduct a marine spatial planning case study.

1. Identify, choose, and plan the delivery of a project topic
2. Source and analyse data to underpin the development of the marine spatial plan
3. Reflect on the potential social, economic, cultural and ecological implications of the plan
4. Communicate the plan in written and oral forms, demonstrating critical analysis, synthesis and organisation of knowledge