ESA-60312 European Workshop Environmental Sciences and Management

Course

Credits 12.00

Language of instruction:

English

Mandatory knowledge:

12 credits obtained in the MSc programme

Contents:

Note: The deadline for registration for this course is earlier than usual. Due to course logistics, students cannot register for this course later than March 1.
In this course, a group of 30 students of different nationalities and disciplinary background work together on an environmental problem commissioned by a client. The course consists of three phases. In the preparation period students integrate their knowledge of environmental sciences and natural resource management to make a project plan based on the Terms of Reference received from the commissioner. In this period an applied training in project management, data collection & interview techniques, and team work is offered. A few lectures are given to provide students with additional background information to tackle the issue. The second phase consists of two weeks of field work mainly dedicated to data collection by interviews, a survey and observations on site. At the end of this phase the preliminary results will be presented to the commissioner. Finally, students are expected to analyse the data, incorporate the feedback from the commissioner and write a concise consultancy report. In this final phase supporting lectures on data analysis and consultancy report writing are given as well as feedback on the draft reports. Every student is expected to steer their own learning process and be actively involved by contributing knowledge and expertise to the group assignments and to reflect on this.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- integrate their academic knowledge and general academic skills and attitude to a project dealing with a complex problem commissioned by a client outside the university;
- design solutions for an environmental issue by analysing it, using theory and methods in the field of environmental sciences and environmental management;
- work as part of a multidisciplinary and multicultural team and value the contribution of different perspectives in designing solutions for complex (environmental) problems;
- develop a project management plan (including a data generation plan), execute it and adjust it if circumstances make it necessary;
- reflect on aspects that are of importance for successfully executing a project, like project management, decision making in a complex situation, team roles and team building;
- reflect on their own functioning and contribution to the execution of a project in terms of disciplinary knowledge, academic skills, group dynamics, intercultural setting;
- communicate their findings orally or in writing to the commissioner, in a manner that is consistent with the commissioner's needs and level of knowledge.

Activities:

The main task is to prepare and execute a consultancy project for a real client in an interdisciplinary and intercultural team and contribute to a report for this client. Lecturers, seminars and training sessions are included to support the group project. A two-week field work period dedicated to data collection via interviews, a survey and observations on site is part of the workshop. Students are expected to participate in the above mentioned activities and perform several group- and individual assignments.

Examination:

Based on sub-group report (25%); synthesis report and other common products such as executive summary and poster (25%); individual performance (50%).
The individual performance will be evaluated based on participation in plenary and group sessions (1/2) and a reflection report (1/2). For the evaluation of all these products (i.e. sub-group report; synthesis report, individual performance and reflection report) a rubric is available. Additionally, a pass for the course will only be awarded if the mark for each product is at least a pass. Since attendance of plenary sessions and group sessions is compulsory, students may not pass the course when attendance was too low.

Literature:

A course guide is available, but no textbook or reader.
A special website is designed to support the course and the project.