MSc in Natural Resources Management and Development
with focus on South East Asia Master program in Natural Resources Management for South East Asia (NRM SEA) with one exchange semester in Germany – A cooperation between the Vietnam Academy of Water Resources and TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences)
Global population, economic growth and on-going environmental deterioration are increasing the pressure on existing natural systems. Their ability to provide natural resources such as food, water, and energy is at risk and waning. Under conditions of globalization, these processes are most forceful in developing countries and emerging economies with high growth rates, low awareness, loss of existing traditional knowledge bases and weak governance structures. This calls for specialists and leadership in order to develop and employ managerial, economic, governance, and technical solutions. The objective of the program is to form such experts. Participants are provided with appropriate knowledge and skills to analyze current problems related to the usage and management of natural resources.
The program targets graduated professionals with working experience in public or private institutions, authorities and enterprises of the natural resources sector. The applicants should have an interest in learning and work in an intercultural and multidisciplinary environment.
This special course is a bilateral cooperation between the Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT) at TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences) and Vietnam Academy of Water Resources (VAWR).
ITT has educated more than 700 MSc students from many countries worldwide in the following three key domains: water, natural resources, and renewable energy management. Cutting edge teaching concepts are combined with up to date research applications and fieldwork.
VAWR/CTIC is responsible for water-related country-wide applied research, international cooperation, technology transfer, post-graduate professional training, consultancy services and implementation of water supply and irrigation infrastructure, hydropower and environmental planning.
What do we offer?
- courses and technical field visits on the latest concepts and technologies of water management.
- getting first-hand advice from high-level professionals and entrepreneurs in the natural resources sector.
- training on project management and leadership qualifications.
- information on practice and projects of international cooperation.
- study exchange opportunities with ITT partner universities.
- scholarships.
What do we expect?
In order to participate, you should:
- have a professional or academic background related to the natural resources sector.
- be fluent in English (TOEFL 550 point or IELTS Band 6).
- be willing to take up leadership positions in the future.
- be highly motivated to learn and work in an international environment.
What are your perspectives?
- excellent career opportunities in international cooperation and development assistance.
- working for national and international companies in the expanding business sector “natural resources management”.
- leadership positions in the public and private natural resources sector.
- become part of a network of excellence on NRM.
Academics
Objective
The overall objective is to educate experts in the field of Natural Resources Management who are high on demand for leading positions and are able to manage complex projects for international institutions and companies.
Target group
The ideal student holds at minimum a bachelor degree and has some working experience at an institution or company related to the sector. He or she should be fluent in English and have good communicative skills. The participants may come from a variety of backgrounds: engineering, natural sciences, economics, social sciences.
Teaching contents and aims
The studies cover a period of four semesters. The fourth semester is dedicated to the master thesis. The didactic concept consists of two components: a technical and a social. The technical component provides the participants with the relevant and up to date knowledge necessary to take decisions towards a sustainable management of natural resources. The social component is equally important and aims at equipping the participants with the communicative, intercultural and managerial skills necessary to take up leadership positions in the natural resources sector and to work effectively in the framework of international cooperation.
In class, modern methods of teaching should be applied such as problem-based learning, interactive teaching, concept mapping and computer-based learning.
Content
The studies cover a period of four semesters. The first and second semester take place in Hanoi, the third semester in Cologne. The fourth semester is dedicated to the master thesis. The program consists of basic modules, like “Management of Natural Resources Systems”, “Natural Resources Economics and Governance”, ”International Cooperation and Development” and “Project and Business Management” with the aim of providing an overview on water management, economics, project management and the regional and institutional context. In addition, the participants select ten specialized electives related to topics of natural resources management emphasizing the particular situation and experiences in the South Asian region.
The fourth semester will focus on the preparation of the master thesis. Internships and research stays predominantly in a South Asian country, if possible together with a local institution or company, guarantee the practical orientation of the master research. Vietnamese students should have the opportunity to realize their research in Germany if funding is secured. Tutors pay particular attention that the knowledge acquired in the first three semesters is applied in the individual projects.
Field visits Field visits play an important role as the exposure to real projects and to relevant institutions is of the highest importance in order to meet the objectives of the master program.
Projects In the module “Project I – III” students will have the chance to apply the new knowledge received in the basic or specialized modules to an interdisciplinary case study. The participants should come from diverse technical or managerial backgrounds. The team projects should be related to real projects visited during the field trips or to projects suggested by other partners of the network.
Application
- Screening application: until March 30th
- Final deadline: May 30th each year
- Course starts at the beginning of September each year
Students who intend to apply for the NRM-SEA master program have to send their application from 15.12. until 30.05. each year to ITT, TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences).
Please follow the instruction in the respective online application platform.
The following application documents must be submitted in digital form. Please provide the digital application as one pdf-file and organize the documents in the following order:
Application Form.
curriculum vitae (in tabular form, English language).
document proving the higher education entrance qualification.
graduation certificate.
the academic record of university study.
proof of English proficiency.
two letters of recommendation by former professors/employers.
a letter of motivation explaining why he/she would like to study in the program (1 page).
a research idea related to the master program (2 pages).