MSc in Natural Resources Management and Development

MSc in Natural Resources Management and Development

The master program “Natural Resources Management & Development” (NRM) provides a practice-oriented and skills-based learning experience in which students develop their capacity for critical thinking and creative problem-solving. It addresses bachelor’s degree holders principally of Engineering, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences, who aim to deepen their knowledge in Natural Resources Management and wish to acquire management and leadership skills as well as regional and intercultural competences. These experts ought to be able to assess natural resources and develop appropriate solutions considering the complex linkages with economic, social and ecological aspects.

What do we offer?

• courses and technical field visits on the latest concepts and technologies of natural resources 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:

• be highly motivated to learn and work in an international environment.
• have a professional or academic background related to the natural resources sector.
• be fluent in English (TOEFL 550 points or IELTS Band 6).
• be willing to take up leadership positions in the future.

What are your perspectives?

• excellent career opportunities in international cooperation and development assistance.
• working for national and international companies in the expanding business sector.
• leadership positions in the public and private 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 Cologne, the third semester can be used for study exchange or can be studied 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 natural resources management, economics, project management and the regional and institutional context. In addition, the participants select 10 specialized electives related to topics in natural resources management emphasizing the particular situation.

The fourth semester will focus on the preparation of the master thesis. Internships and research stays, if possible together at a local institution or company, guarantee the practical orientation of the master research. 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 “Project” modules 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

The application deadline is determined by your situation and requirements.

• Apply for DAAD scholarships (only DAC-List countries).
• Deadline: 30.09. every year to start studying the following year.
• Applications should be submitted as a hard copy to ITT (read more).
• Foreign applications for the same year.
  • Application Period: from 01.02 until 31.03 each year.
  • Application documents should be submitted to UNI-ASSIST.
• German applications for the same year.
  • Application Period: from 01.05 until 10.06 each year.
  • Application documents should be submitted to TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences).

Please follow the instruction in the respective online application platform.

The following application documents are required:

• 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 (TOEFL 550 points, IELTS band 6).
• a letter of motivation explaining why you would like to study in the program (1 page).
• a research idea related to the master program (2 pages).

New demographic, economic and climate pressures on the availability of safe and sustainable supplies of food, water, and energy require new strategies to manage our precious natural resources. In order to face this global challenge, the demand for experts who can analyze complex human-environmental system and develop suitable solutions is growing. Tropical and subtropical regions represent a special case as they often have additional challenges and exhibit highly unstable environment. The Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT) at the TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences) aims to enable people of various technical and cultural backgrounds to better solve the complex issues related to environmental problems with an interdisciplinary and intercultural approach at the graduate and postgraduate level. Studying at the ITT does not only mean achieving a master’s degree but going beyond one’s professional and personal borders. Through manifold training and modern methods of teaching and learning, we realize the concept of lifelong learning and put the student in the center of our education efforts. We believe that our alumni are an important part of the global network of scientists and professionals. We cooperate with key regional, national and international organizations within the fields of resources management, development co-operation and higher education in addition to providing teaching, research and capacity development worldwide.

The ITT Network

Future through cooperation ITT built up a broad and active partner network consisting of universities, research institutes, the public and the private sector since its formation in 1978. The network includes around 30 partner universities and numerous institutions of development and cooperation around the world, thus providing an ideal opportunity for exchanging knowledge and working on common research projects. In addition, the many small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) involved in ITT’s projects give us a strong edge in terms of applied research. The growing Alumni network currently consists of over 700 (since 1984) professionals who finished their career at ITT and are now successful professionals working on natural resources management questions. The ITT international network has experienced a major development with the foundation of CNRD (Centers for Natural Resources and Development). CNRD is supported by the DAAD and the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). CNRD is a knowledge hub and network regarding issues on assessing and managing the natural resources base as a prerequisite for sustainable development. The central point of the network is in Cologne, where the activities with all partners worldwide are coordinated. CNRD is connecting universities worldwide promoting academic exchange and cooperation in the area of the management of natural resources, in particular, related to Water, Land, Ecosystems and Renewable Energy Resources. It fosters interdisciplinary approaches to natural resources management related to the Post 2015 Agenda and the envisioned Sustainability Goals (SDG). Membership to the network CNRD is open for any HEI which offers to significantly contribute to reaching the goals of CNRD. For more information, please visit: http://www.cnrd.info Memberships The ITT is part of the following alliances:

• Water Science Alliance e.V.
• German Water Partnership (GWP)
• Aqualon, Wupperveband
• Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall e.V. (DWA)
• Umweltcluster Bayern
• Association of Postgraduate Programmes with special Relevance to Developing Countries (AGEP)
• RESERVE
• Higher Education for Sustainable Development (HESD)