Master Study Course „Environmental Sciences – Soil, Water and Biodiversity (ENVEURO)
ZieleOn completion of the MSc the student will have the following competences: Competences within basic science - comprehend and analyse environmental concepts, problems and relationships in a European and global context. - design and execute a research project at the postgraduate level using methods, instruments and tools acquired and present the outcome in a journal article. - formulate the kinetics, equilibrium and mass balances for chemical, physical and biological processes affecting matter circulation in ecosystems within the selected area of specialisation for each student. - develop and use mathematical models describing biological, physical and chemical processes for predictive purposes and in relation to planning and management. - carry out research projects and dedicated analyses within the area of specialisation of the student by use of up-to-date methods and principles, and based on clear formulation of problems, hypotheses and research methods.
AnforderungenStudents can start the ENVEURO programme at any of the partner universities but the typical student is anticipated to start at another university than the one where the BSc was conducted (if not coming from outside the ELLS universities) given that the national scholarship programs allow for this. Students from all countries of the world can apply but must hold a valid visa for the Schengen states. There is one application term per year (1st of January or 1st of February) with study start 1st of September. The same set of admission criteria is used at all universities. Applications are submitted and handled by the partner university hosting the secretariat of the MSc programme (KVL is suggested), but all applications are assessed by the ENVEURO advisory board (see below). Applicants should have a background in natural science with documented completion of basic courses comprising at least two of the disciplines: chemistry, biology/microbiology, mathematics/statistics, physics or natural resources. Admission criteria also comprise language skills and these will be based on performance in a TOEFL test. Students with poor English language capabilities are not admitted. If language is somewhat poor and other skills are good students can be admitted given that they register for a course in English language.
TitelMaster of Environmental Science (MSc)
InhaltSummary
This proposal describes the structure, content and organisation of a new joint MSc program in environmental science entitled “Soil, Water and Biodiversity: the European Approach (ENVEURO)”. The program focus on the relationships between natural resource uses in Europe and the effects it has on environment and health, and aims at providing analytical and management tools as well as environmental technologies for sustainable production systems in areas with high pressures on natural resources. Water resources takes a central role in the program as water quantities and quality is a powerful measure of mass and energy balances in agriculture, industries and households including pollutional loads. Furthermore, Europe is at the global frontier with respect to monitoring and regulation of water resources. This provides an excellent platform for development of a MSc program based on European knowledge and experience leading to candidates who will have excellent skills for jobs in all public and industrial sectors working with optimization of production within the regulative and legislative frames set for maintaining high environmental and health standards.
The MSc which initially will comprise four of the ELLS universities (UHOH, BOKU, SLU, KVL) runs over 2 years and has an extent of 120 ects. It is composed of four semester packages – each with an extent of 30 ects: a basic semester package (BSP), two advanced semester packages (ASP) and a thesis work. The BSP comprise a compulsory one-week introcourse and a 15 ects e-learning course on “Environmental Management in Europe”. After having passed the BSP, the student can choose among five different specialisations: water resources, environmental impacts, soil resources and land use, ecosystems and biodiversity, and environmental management. A specialisation implies that the student has at least one ASP plus the thesis work within that specialisation. Each of the partner universities offers ASPs within three specialisations. Semester packages comprise compulsory and elective courses and study activities. A number of semester packages based on courses taught in English at the partner universities have been composed. The thesis work typically has an extent of 30 ects, but may be extended to 45 ects by inclusion of experimental work during the two ASPs. The thesis is co-supervised by two teachers coming from two different partner universities. A three-week summer course is placed between the first and second advanced semester package. The student has to stay at at least two universities during a full MSc and the stay outside the homeuniversity should have a duration of at least one semester. The typical student is expected to spend the first year at the home university. Students can start at any of the four universities, but a common admission system with common admission criteria will be established and managed by an ENVEURO advisory board. This board is responsible for the curriculum development, coordination, evaluation and academic standards of the MSc program – and refers to the study councils at the partner universities.
The MSc program does not substitute already running MSc programs at the partner universities and it brings in new approaches and competences: i) a strong context where management systems sets the frame for all other activities, ii) a strong root in European experience and with focus on water, iii) a strong interaction between students and teachers stimulated by intro- and summer courses, e-learning and shifts between institutions, and iv) good opportunities for composing strong individual study programs assembled from complementary courses offered by the four European universities.