The program provides mid-career professionals with a unique opportunity to understand emerging issues, learn about best practices, and gain practical skills to help them design, implement, and evaluate integrated coastal management (ICM) programs. The format of the Summer Institute provides ample opportunities to share experiences and reflect on future challenges with peers from around the world.

An emphasis is placed on effective planning, governance issues and implementation  challenges. The Summer Institute Advanced Program provides advanced training in professional skills that are essential to the successful coastal manager— leadership, communication, group facilitation, conflict resolution, systems analysis and program evaluation. Sessions include lectures, field exercises, small group work, panels, simulations and case studies. The approach draws extensively upon each participant’s experience and education. The final week of the course is focused on helping participants apply their new insights and skills to a challenge faced in their current professional work or to prepare for a new leadership role.