The Urban Environmental Management and Sustainable Urban Development course (UEM&SUD) targets the Environmental Protection Bureaus (EPBs) and local governments responsible for  Urban Development Planning, giving special attention to  waste management, water management and sustainable energy management. The course combines theory and practice with reference to international examples. Furthermore, excursions to practical sites in the Netherlands are organized to deepen the theoretical understanding of the course participants, especially for the waste and energy management components. This course aims to enhance the governmental capacity by increasing the competence of its employees in decision making in urban sustainable planning as well as in evaluation of policy implementation. Policies that minimize the pressure on the environment and that are cost effective. Moreover, the course pays attention to the municipal governance methods for  establishing good relations with citizens and enterprises and for increasing the public awareness of environmental management. Finally, through the course, advanced environmental theories and tools are fit to be applied in the region and may help local governments with building up a “Green” development image.