SLM-30306 Issues and Concepts in International Land and Water Management

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

BIL courses or equivalent relevant BSc.

Contents:

This course introduces students to issues and concepts in international land and water management (ILWM) at different scale levels, ranging from global to land and water use at the field and farm level. Furthermore, the course focuses on a selection of conceptual approaches that are developed and applied in ILWM, to research and manage these issues.
Students will critically reflect on issues and conceptual approaches in two land and water management case studies. Researchers from land and water management Chair groups will present and discuss their work to enable students to appreciate different conceptual approaches and to understand how these approaches shape research and thinking about ILWM.
The course is organised in two Blocks: Block 1 addresses Issues, and Block 2 Concepts in ILWM. Cases will be introduced in Block 1 and form the context for 2 group assignments that students will work on, one in each Block. In addition, students make an individual assignment covering what has been dealt with in both Blocks. Process inputs in the form of skills training will be provided to help students in their group work. Intermediate feedback on interim products will be provided for learning and improvement purposes.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
1. analyse land and water management issues from different disciplinary perspectives at multiple scales and in different regions (the Netherlands and the global south);
2. explain and understand concepts and research methodologies that are used and applied within ILWM;
3. critically reflect on concepts and conceptual approaches used in a research proposal;
4. demonstrate the ability to work in and reflect on one's personal role in a multidisciplinary and multicultural student team;
5. reflect on and articulate an individual learning process in an individual writing assignment.

Activities:

- lectures by staff and invited PhD students on issues and concepts in land and water management;
- one-day excursion to a Dutch land and water management practice;
- group work on the analysis research projects;
- skill trainings in (de)constructing a scientific argument and speed reading;
- writing of a reflection report and a short individual paper.

Examination:

Attending the practical is obligatory. The examination consists of:
- gGroup presentations and reports (60% of the final mark);
- individual paper (40%).
All marks should be at least 5.5.

Literature:

Scientific Journal papers.
Practical guide.