A Unique International Master’s Degree Programme for Drylands

MSc on Integrated Drylands Management

A Joint Programme of UNU-IRA-INAT-ICARDA-CAREERI-ALRC-GM

Overview

The MSc Programme is designed to enhance the capacity of developing countries to manage their drylands resources. It is intended to provide young professionals and scientists an international perspective on resource management approaches in drylands.

Students enrolled in the 2012-2013 programme will attend a 4-week intensive course held at IRA, Medenine, Tunisia* between October to November. International experts from all partner organizations and their networks, representing different disciplines in drylands management, will facilitate a mixture of lectures, seminars, laboratory applications and field visits to the arid zones of Tunisia. The focus of the course work will be on research and practices for combating desertification, and will include interdisciplinary aspects such as climate change, integrated water and land management, combating desertification, pasture land management, livestock and wildlife in arid zones and economics aspects.

Upon completion of the course work and approval of the research proposal, students will carry out their field research which will be hosted by one of the partner organizations. The six month field and laboratory research will be conducted under the supervision of one of the programme partners. Upon completion of the MSc Programme, students will receive a Master’s Degree from their home university and a Certificate from UNU. The MSc Programme is jointly offered by the seven partner institutions as an internationally accepted degree.

Typically, the graduates from the MSc Programme serve in government departments and agencies (eg., those dealing with agriculture, forestry, natural resources management, and combating desertification), teaching positions in institutions of higher learning, research institutions and doctoral research programmes

*Please note that in order to facilitate the visa application process for studying abroad in Tunisia, applicants must hold a passport with a validity of more than 6 months.

Programme Partners

• United Nations University (UNU)
• Institut des Régions Arides (IRA)
• Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie (INAT)
• International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
• Cold and Arid Regions Environmental & Engineering Research Institute (CAREERI) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
• Arid Land Resarch Centre, Tottori University (TU)
• The Global Mechanism of the UNCCD (GM)

Programme Information

Applicants must already be registered in a Master’s degree programme at one of the Programme partner institutes or
at any other associated university. Further details can be found in the informational brochure.

MSc Programme 2012-13 Brochure (332 KB, PDF)

Fellowship and Travel Arrangements

A limited number of Fellowships will be provided to qualified candidates from developing countries on a competitive basis. These fellowships will cover the travel costs between the country of origin and IRA, CAREERI, ICARDA and TU, as needed. Japanese students may only apply for TU fellowships.

Admissions Procedure

In order to be eligible to apply to the Joint MSc Programme, you must currently be enrolled in a Master's programme at one of the partner institutes or associated institutes. Please consult the informational brochure for complete details on admission.

The 2012-13 application form can be downloaded here:

MSc Programme 2012-13 Application Form (242 KB, MS WORD)

Please complete and sign the application form. The following supporting documents must be submitted together with the application form:

• A letter of nomination from your supervisor/university where you are currently registered in a Master’s programme that certifies completion of the basic course work.
  
• A certified copy of academic transcripts for each institution attended.
  
• An original, detailed MS research proposal of 10 pages clearly outlining the problem statement, literature review, research question, methodology, expected results, workplan and timetable.
  
• Two (2) original supporting letters of reference, one (1) of which must be from your current supervisor.
  
• Evidence of English proficiency (e.g. TOEFL score, English certificate, etc.), where English is not your first language.

*Documents which are not originally in English must be accompanied by an official English translation*

Applications must be received by 15 June, 2012.

Please send application materials to:

MSc Programme Committee
UNU-INWEH
175 Longwood Road South, Suite 204
Hamilton, Ontario  L8P 0A1, CANADA 
Fax: +1 905 667 5510

Email: contact.inweh@unu.edu

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Last updated: 10 April 2012