Innledning

This academic development of a European Masters degree programme entitled “Master of Inland Water Quality Assessment” was supported by EU Socrates grant nr 29369-IC-I-2002-1-SE-ERASMUS-PROGUC-1.

Partners in this development are Mälardalen University (Co-ordinator), Telemark University College, University of Insubria, Cork Institute of Technology, Lithuanian University of Agriculture, University of Latvia, Autonomous University of Madrid, Masaryk University - Research Centre for Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, University of Veszprem, University of Lodz, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Slovak Academy of Science - Institute of Botany, University of Algarve, Alexandrian Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki and Helsinki University.

It is planned to launch the programme in 2006 at MälardalenUniversity, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid andUniversity of Lodz. During 2006 some of the participant universities will apply for recognition of the programme as an Erasmus Mundus programme. At Telelmark University College the study begins, at the earliest, in the autumn semester 2008.

The programme will consist of 6 mandatory courses worth 6 ECTS credits, 1 mandatory course worth 4 ECTS credits, 24 elective courses (each worth 4 ECTS credits) and a diploma component valued at 30 or 60 ECTS credits. The extent of the diploma work will be determined by agreement between the supervising university and the student.

The launch of the programme is conditional upon recruitment of not less than 10 students. However, the participant universities are free to set their own maximum number of prospective students.

Intending students of the programme should send their application in the first instance to MälardalenUniversity. Their application should indicate the choice of “HomeUniversity” i.e. the university offering courses for their first semester and their diploma assignment. The application procedure will be detailed on the Home Page of the programme. All applications will be appraised by an Evaluation Committee which, during the first year of the programme, will consist of one representative of each university offering the programme. The decision of the Evaluation Committee is final.

The programme will be regularly inspected and reviewed by an Internal Evaluation Panel of representatives from each university offering the programme and also by an External Panel of 4 evaluators representing participant universities not offering the programme.

Number of universities and professors at each University:

Programme startup
MälardalenUniversity, TelemarkUniversityCollege, LodzUniversity and Universidad Autonoma de Madrid plan to commence the Master’s programme in 2006.
MasarykUniversity, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and VeszpremUniversity plan to start the programme during 2007.
In due course, the remaining university participants will announce their programme startup, pending conclusion of discussions concerning legal and resourcing issues.

Målgruppe og opptakskrav

Skills required
A Bachelor degree in biological science or in environmental science
A familiarity with laboratory work.

Prerequisites
An ability to follow education in English
Have 180 ECTS or equivalent (3 years of full-time study)
Have a study plan to fulfil the requirements to study at two different universities
Have organized travel and accommodation

Mål for studieprogrammet

To inform and impart knowledge to the student regarding the various procedures and methodologies associated with the assessment of water quality according to the Water Framework Directive 60/2000 (WFD), as well as knowledge on policy response and practical solutions for reducing the risks of negative anthropogenic impact on water quality. The objective is to teach the student how to conduct water quality assessments in agreement with the WFD.

The students will learn how to:

· plan and undertake water quality assessments for inland water ecosystems using EU-standards for sampling and analysis.

· propose environmental management/risk management measures based on scientific rationale.

· interpret water quality assessments.

· present the outcome of water quality assessments in a format applicable to resource management and to public information announcements.

Studieprogrammets innhold, oppbygging og sammensetning

The language of tuition is English. There is a minimum registration requirement of 10 students per course. Students are strongly recommended to study the mandatory courses before an elective course

The programme consists of the courses listed below and a Diploma work thesis. In order to reach 120 ECTS credits the student may choose a combination of courses valued at 60 ECTS credit and a Diploma work thesis worth 60 ECTS credits or courses valued at 90 ECTS in conjunction with a Diploma work-assignment of 30 ECTS credits. The balance of ECTS points required to reach the selected 60 or 90 ECTS level is obtained by choosing elective courses of appropriate value.

A student may already have studied one or more advanced courses which appear as mandatory courses in this programme. In such cases the ECTS credits may not be used for purposes of examination of the mandatory courses in this programme. However the student may substitute such courses with electives being courses in this programme in order to acquire the necessary 120 ECTS credits for the Masters examination. The complete list of Mandatory and Elective courses developed for the programme is as follows:

Course availability at Universities planning to offer the programme from year 2006:

Variable*: the implementation of each elective course will be at the discretion of each university.
Variable**: Environmental law is planned as e-learning course at Telemark University College.

MDH: MälardalenUniversity
HIT: TelemarkUniversityCollege
ULO: University of Lodz
UAM: Universidad Autonoma de Madrid

Arbeids- og læringsformer

See respective course curricula.

Vurderingsformer

See respective course curricula

Det tas forbehold om mindre justeringer i planen.