Natural Resources Management with focus on the South East Asian Region (NRM SEA)

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, economical, governance, and technical solutions. Next to technical and managerial knowledge, they should also be familiar with the practices of projects between Europe and Vietnam and well trained in intercultural communication, language, culture and politics.

The objective of the program is to form such experts in the field of NRM and related concepts and methods within the context of European-Vietnamese cooperation. 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 working in an intercultural and multidisciplinary environment.

The master program “Natural Resources Management & Development - South East Asia” (NRM SEA) 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. The consolidation of different disciplines has not only a methodological dimension but a cultural and a human one, because interdisciplinary team work requires knowledge sharing and effective communication.

Contents

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 of natural resources management and tools emphasizing the particular situation. The first and second semester will be conducted in Hanoi at the Vietnam Academy for Water Resources while in the third semester the student will study at TH Köln, Germany.

The fourth semester will focus on the preparation of the master thesis. Internships and research stays if possible together with 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.

Tuition

Tuition fees in Vietnam, basic course fees for field trips, conference participation and course material

Funding

Applicants may receive one of the limited numbers of scholarships. Available are full time scholarships from the DAAD “Sur-Place” Program for Vietnamese and foreign applicants.