WRM-12309 Orientation on International Land and Water Management

Course

Credits 9.00

Language of instruction:

English

Contents:

In this course students are introduced to the domain of international land and water management. In small groups they study a land and water management related case by exploring literature and other information sources. The specific focus of the study programme on the domain will be explained. For the purpose, the study program is discussed and graduates from the program present their experiences. Further, students will visit and discuss several land and water management situations in the Netherlands. Finally, students will discuss their expectations and enhance their competencies to communicate - verbally and in writing - and perform - inter-culturally and in groups - in an international learning environment. They will become acquainted with the academic world of Wageningen University.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- organise group processes such as chairing meetings, writing minutes and executing a group case study within a short and strict time frame;
- use the library infrastructure of Wageningen University to find scientific information and to verify the reliability and relevance of this information;
- compose a concise scientific text;
- explain what the study of international land and water management entails and what the relevance of the study program is in relation to the domain;
- explain why they consider international land and water management an important and interesting study;
- understand the relevance of the different courses in realizing the learning outcomes of the study program;
- explain some of the current land and water management and climate adaptation issues in the Netherlands, based on the capacity to carry out a basic problem- and stakeholder analysis of a fieldwork case;
- verbally articulate their views in a clear and culturally sensitive manner in a presentation for a group of fellow students;
- describe several frameworks for analyzing cross-cultural differences and apply these to (self-experienced) intercultural incidents.

Activities:

This course is centered around the domain of international land and water management and serves as an introduction into the world of science. In addition to getting acquainted with the domain, students also obtain academic skills by investigating a land and water management cases in groups. An information technology course is offered (CCI: Computers, Communication & Information (mainly a self-instructing training in advanced MS Office tools), and selected information literacy modules are embedded in this course as well. Furthermore, presentation, and intercultural group working skills are trained. All of these skills are immediately practiced in the case studies. On the two cases, students work in the afternoons in subgroups of about 10 students. The first case study is concluded with a poster and an oral presentation; the second with a report and an oral presentation. Each group is supervised by a coach. In the mornings of this course the domain as well as the study programme and related career options are introduced. Finally, excursions to land and water field locations in the Netherlands show actual and past land and water management issues, on which students will reflect .

Examination:

CCI course: individual examination (a).
Information literacy: individual examination (b).
First case study: poster & presentation (c).
The combined mark of a, b & c is calculated as follows: 0.6 (0.85*c + 0.15* b) + 0.4*a. This mark is 33% of the course mark
The basic understanding of current land and water issues in the Netherlands, as well globally, is demonstrated in a group report and presentation on the second case study. Students are expected to choose a relevant land and water management issue, and discuss it while making references to the course literature, additional sources from the library and the experiences and insights gained during the excursions and group discussions (33% of the course mark).
The understanding of the study program, and its constituent elements, and its relevance for the professional filed is demonstrated in an application letter (15% of the course mark).
In reflection reports the students have to demonstrate the development of their presentation skills as well as their intercultural sensitivity (20% of course mark).
All marks should be > 5.5.

Literature:

Reading material will be distributed at the start of and during the course.