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2011/2012 msc programmes wageningen university

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welcome `to explore the potential of nature and improve the quality of life this is the mission of our scientists and students wageningen university is one of the world s leading research and education institutes when it comes to life sciences we focus on complex issues in food production the relation between food and health environmental issues and bio-diversity these issues are of great importance and subject to increasing worldwide concern at wageningen we take into account the broader picture before zooming in on the finer details this enables us to both understand processes on a molecular level and their influence on and interaction with higher integration levels such as ecosystems crop characteristics or human health we also interlink socio-economic approaches to problems with biological chemical or physical approaches in the complex dynamics of the modern world it is no longer possible to solve complex issues through a simple mono-disciplinary result or approach this conviction is taught to our students and is the driving force behind our leading research groups our scientific and educational endeavours are internationally oriented and have an impact on society policy and science students and scientists from around the world gather in wageningen to form a large international community that bridges cultures in a natural way this enriches the dynamic climate of our university and gives our master study programmes an extra dimension i hope this brochure arouses your interest and that we may welcome you in the near future as a new member of the international wageningen academic community prof dr martin j kropff rector magnificus `to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life that is the mission of wageningen ur university research centre within the domain of `healthy food and living environment wageningen ur works around the globe conducting research for government agencies and the business community 2 www.wageningenuniversity.eu/master 3

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master of science programmes 8 msc agricultural and bioresource engineering agricultural engineering farm technology systems and control information technology environmental technology agrologistics 15 msc climate studies 16 msc development and rural innovation 17 msc environmental sciences environmental quality environmental systems analysis environmental policy and management environmental technology 25 msc international development studies sociology of development economics of development communication technology and policy 31 msc nutrition and health epidemiology and public health nutritional physiology and health status molecular nutrition and toxicology sensory science 9 msc animal sciences animal breeding and genetics animal nutrition applied zoology animal health and behaviour animal health management animal production systems 26 msc international land and water management land degradation and development irrigation and water management integrated water management 32 msc organic agriculture agro-ecology consumer and market 18 msc food quality management 19 msc food safety 20 msc food technology product functionality product design food biotechnology dairy science and technology european masters degree in food studies food innovation and management sensory science gastronomy sustainable food processing 33 msc plant biotechnology functional plant genomics plants for human and animal health molecular plant breeding and pathology 27 msc landscape architecture and planning landscape architecture socio-spatial analysis spatial planning 10 msc applied communication science 11 msc aquaculture and marine resource management aquaculture marine resources and ecology marine governance 34 msc plant sciences crop science greenhouse horticulture natural resource management plant breeding and genetic resources plant pathology and entomology quality and supply of fruits and berries vegetable production and supply systems 28 msc leisure tourism and environment 29 msc management economics and consumer studies management studies consumer studies economics environment and policy management innovation and life sciences health and society 12 msc bioinformatics 13 msc biology cell biology animal biology plant biology ecology 21 msc forest and nature conservation policy management ecology 35 msc urban environmental management 36 health and society specialisation 30 msc molecular life sciences biological chemistry physical biology physical chemistry biomedical research environmental chemistry 37 sensory science specialisation 14 msc biotechnology cellular and molecular biotechnology process technology marine biotechnology medical biotechnology food biotechnology environmental biotechnology water technology 22 msc geographical information management and applications 23 msc geo information science 24 msc earth and environment 38 water technology specialisation 4 www.wageningenuniversity.eu/master www.wageningenuniversity.eu/master url rest5

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studying in wageningen international character wageningen university has an excellent international reputation study programmes and research are followed by students from over 100 countries through partnerships with numerous dutch and international companies and governments wageningen university has become the largest university in europe and one of the best universities worldwide in the field of life sciences as a result wageningen university students have no problems finding internships challenging work experience posts and career opportunities around the world meet greet representatives of wageningen university attend many education fairs and universities worldwide if you want to meet us in your country or visit one of our open days in wageningen please visit www.wageningenuniversity.eu/master the university wageningen university is one of the leading international universities in the field of healthy nutrition and living environment studying at wageningen university guarantees you premium quality education and an international quality benchmark on your curriculum vitae here you will focus on current and future global issues that are of increasing importance to both industry and government wageningen university is listed in the top 150 of all universities in the world as published by the times higher education ranking furthermore it holds a top five position in the worldwide publication index in the field of food agriculture plants animals and environment in 2009 dutch students voted wageningen university as the best university in the netherlands for the fifth year in a row you are ensured personal guidance throughout your student career here with a teacher-student ratio of 1:9 which allows you to make the most of all the study options provided annual introduction days the annual introduction days aid are held prior to the start of the msc programme the aid is highly recommended for all new students during the introduction programme you can acquaint yourself with wageningen your fellow students and the university the language of instruction is english wageningen university counts over 5700 students of which over 4400 are dutch the other 1300 students are comprised of more than 100 nationalities students have judged wageningen university as the #1 university of the netherlands year after year you can choose out of 30 master study programmes 1167 courses can be followed in which you have a `freedom of choice of 30 ects study points the campus is 11 soccer fields large with 77.000 m2 and offers excellent student facilities you can practice squash to football rugby and more at de bongerd sports centre the than 4500 international students 60 different sports ranging from tennis library is open 14 hours per day there are more student rooms available where more than 95 of students live a room costs on average 273 euro per month for all international students a furnished room is provided students make up 19 of the population of the town of wageningen 54 woman 46 is man the teacher-student ration is 1:9 and the university counts 31.000 graduates that attended before you wageningen is centrally located in the netherlands amsterdam rotterdam and the hague are only an hour s travel by train campus student facilities the campus is 11 soccer fields large with 70.000 m2 and offers excellent student facilities the library is open 14 hours per day there are multiple student associations and sports centre de bongerd offers 60 different sports ranging from tennis squash football rugby athletics and badminton each study programme has its own study association that organises a wide range of activities and services for students there are 4500 student rooms in wageningen most students live in one of the student apartment buildings managed by an independent housing corporation idealis rooms contain basic furniture and fast internet connection usually you share a kitchen and bathroom with 7 other students there is a room guarantee for all international students if you apply before the application deadline wageningen town wageningen university is centrally located in the netherlands amsterdam rotterdam and the hague are only an hour s travel by train wageningen is built on bicycle scale all university facilities and the city centre are within cycling distance most people speak english making it easy to communicate with the locals there are historic and modern buildings high-rise student flats works of art and botanical gardens adding to the diversity of wageningen over 5700 students study at wageningen university and they accounting for 20 of the population turn wageningen into a university town wageningen has a thriving cultural and social life theatres cinemas student clubs bars night life and restaurants create the elegance of a city within the safe environment of a rural village the many international students professors and researchers contribute to the international atmosphere 6 www.wageningenuniversity.eu/master 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msc agricultural and bioresource engineering project watergy the researchers working on project watergy are developing a concept for a closed greenhouse with a closed water cycle the ability to recycle virtually all water offers a great solution to greenhouse farming in hot and semi-arid climates daytime heat retention supports heating at night there is no co2 emission and insects cannot reach the crops the results are promising for both the environment and crop production 70 of all irrigation water is retrieved and crop yields are similar to those in conventional greenhouse farming msc animal sciences project learning from mother animal sciences education and research focuses on improving animal health and welfare an example of a project done by our students and researchers is the project `learning from mother young animals often find the transition from mother milk to solids foods very difficult it can lead to a low food intake and problems related to health and general well being the project learning from mother aims at easing this transition in an experiment in which the sows received anise flavoured feed during pregnancy the piglets showed a better food intake and less behavioural problems when given feed with the same flavouring benefiting both pig and farmer programme summary the agricultural and bioresource engineering study programme educates students in finding innovative solutions to technology-related problems they combine their knowledge of technology living systems and the natural and social sciences with their experience in integrated thinking by taking a systems approach these solutions can be applied to either the field of food or non-food agricultural production graduates of the agricultural and bioresource engineering programme are capable of working as academically-trained professionals during the programme they develop independence and creativity while acquiring skills that enable them to analyse problems and work as part of a team both interdisciplinary and multicultural agricultural and bioresource engineering is a tailor-made thesis-oriented programme the individualised curriculum is based on the specific interests and competencies of the student the most important part of the programme is the thesis thesis tracks agricultural engineering farm technology this topic consists of four main themes automation for bioproduction greenhouse technology livestock technology and soil technology all these topics have the shared goal of designing systems in which technology is applied to the demands of plants animals humans and the environment examples of such applications include precision agriculture conservation tillage fully automated greenhouses and environmentally friendly animal husbandry systems that also promote animal welfare systems and control production processes and various kinds of machinery have to be optimised to run as efficiently as possible and with the least amount of possible environmental impact to achieve this computer models and simulations are developed and improved examples include designing control systems for a solar-powered greenhouse to include a closed water cycle and designing a tomato harvesting robot information technology information and communication play a vital role in our society to optimise production processes and quality in production chains it is necessary to acquire use and store data and information this requires the design and management of business information systems software engineering designing databases and modelling and simulation environmental technology environmental technology revolves around closing cycles and reusing waste products and by-products processes have to be designed in such a way that they either reuse waste or separate it into distinct and reusable components examples include the production of compost the generation of green energy or the design of environmentally friendly animal husbandry systems and greenhouses agro logistics the goals of agro logistics are to get the right product in the right quantity and quality at the right time and to the right place as efficiently as possible while fulfilling the requirements of the stakeholders such as government legislation and regulations this requires the design of effective innovative logistic concepts in agrifood chains and networks examples are the design of greenhouses developed for optimal logistics or designing a dairy production process with minimal storage costs systems or firms in the agro-food chain that produce store process distribute and market agricultural products in the service sector graduates enter careers as consultants or information officers graduates also work for the government as policy makers in the fields of technology and sustainable agricultural production while others enter careers in research at institutes or universities programme summary humans interact with animals in many different ways ranging from raising livestock for food to keeping pets for pleasure animal husbandry and livestock development are constrained not only by technical factors such as feed supply animal health management and genetics but also by infrastructural and socio-economic factors consequently today s animal scientists need in-depth scientific training combined with a critical attitude towards all factors that limit the sustainable development of animal husbandry students focus on specific disciplines such as nutrition breeding health or marketing with the aim of becoming experts in one of these fields our individually tailored programme trains animal scientists to obtain a broad view they will be well-equipped to tackle the problems of sustainable livestock management and to provide proper care for companion animals zoo animals and wildlife specialisations animal breeding and genetics understanding the function and sustainable utilisation of genetic differences in a wide range of species plays a central role in this specialisation students learn how breeding and genetics can contribute to safe and healthy food from animal origin and contributes to the health and welfare of animals animal nutrition students focus on the interaction between animal and their nutrition students learn about the way animals digest and convert food by studying the nutrient flows and the physiology of the animals in relation to the composition of feeds they also learn about the effect of feed in relation to health welfare and behaviour of the animal applied zoology understanding the relationship between structure and function of all systems within the body is the main focus of this specialisation students look at organ structures hormones bone structure or the immune system of animals and learn how these systems respond to outside influences animal health and behaviour knowledge of the adaptive capacity of animals is required to be able to determine how to keep an animal healthy and whether changes affect the animal by looking at animal behaviour stress parameters energy metabolism etc students investigate for example which housing system or feed regime is best for the health and welfare of the animal animal health management students focus on quantifying the risk of transmission of infectious diseases within and between groups of animals they investigate the influence of many factors on this process students learn to combine animal health management at population level with socio-economic aspects by looking at aspects of veterinary epidemiology animal production systems students look at animal production systems in relation to the environment worldwide students learn about human and animal interaction and the influence of animal production on the environment health and welfare of people and animals and the economy variants and international programmes besides these specialisations it is possible to choose a variant which leads to a specific type of career you can focus on research education communication policy and business management there are also international programmes in which different universities provide education together it is even possible to obtain a double degree students can follow a master in animal breeding and genetics in european animal management and in animal welfare admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website other interesting programmes msc animal sciences msc plant sciences msc geo-information science geographical information management and applications specialisation msc organic agriculture other interesting programmes msc biology msc forest and nature conservation msc aquaculture and marine resource management msc agricultural and bioresource engineering and msc organic agriculture your future career most graduates are employed in the agro-food sector in related sectors of industry and trade or at local regional or national government agencies in industry and trade graduates are employed as project leaders product managers technical experts sales specialists or managers graduates work for many kinds of companies including designers of agricultural buildings animal husbandry systems greenhouses and bio-energy production systems others find jobs with it companies climate control computers automated information your future career our graduates work as nutritionists policy makers breeding specialists advisors managers researchers or phd students they work for feed manufacturing companies pharmaceutical companies or breeding organisations but also within regional and national governmental organisations non-governmental organisations or research institutes and universities 8 www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mab neeltje van hulten msc study advisor tel +31 0317 48 27 96 mab.msc@wur.nl dr rené p kwakkel programme director tel +31 0317 48 24 68 rene.kwakkel@wur.nl www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mas 9

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msc applied communication science student susanna tol wetlands can be found all over the world from the polar regions to the tropics these ecosystems are among the most threatened of our planet they are also deteriorating rapidly susanna tol did her internship at wetlands international and after finishing her degree stayed on to work there by combining her knowledge of communication and environmental issues she creates strategies for the organisation s communication and policy activities currently she s involved with issues related to awareness about the need to protect and restore wetlands to mitigate climate change msc aquaculture and marine resource management alumnus eira carballo cardenas oceans and coastal ecosystems provide invaluable goods and services to humanity pressure from human activities and climate change has taken a heavy toll on marine habitats and species and will increasingly continue to do so in response marine protected areas mpas have been developed the data required to evaluate management of these mpas is often fragmented and inadequate eira carballo cardenas msc investigates data-gathering and data management systems in mpas and how these could be enhanced for effective management of these sites after all human influence is a fact and all we can do is try to maximise its positive effects on our environment programme summary in this programme students learn to analyse design and manage the role of communication in social change within several domains in the life sciences such as nature environment water nutrition and health biotechnology and food production our students are trained to adopt an integrative approach that involves social science and technical innovations fulfilling an intermediary role to enhance multi-disciplinarity and interactive cooperation communication is a basic element of change complex processes of change involve different perspectives and perceptions of the various people involved societal processes like climate change poverty disease or ecological degradation require appropriate solutions that integrate insights from all kinds of disciplines and stakeholders opportunities for enhancing mutual understanding and collaboration between science disciplines and society are explored special attention is paid to everyday life situations and how people actively deal with common issues related to the domains of the life sciences there are no pre-defined specialisations in the programme students compile their own thesis tracks by choosing besides the compulsory communication science courses a combination of closely linked courses including a minor in a life sciences domain an internship introduces students to professional practice the major thesis allows them to become experts in a specific area within communication that is closely linked to their personal interests and future career thesis tracks communication in relation to nature conservation the communication courses in this thesis tracks focus for instance on interactive processes and policies that are combined with a minor in forest and nature conservation an example of a thesis written by a student in this field is `communication in nature conservation the relationships between social dynamics environmental policy and management in the nestos delta greece nutrition and health optional communication courses focus for instance on health promotion and behavioural change while minor courses provide in-depth knowledge on nutrition behaviour epidemiology and public health an example of a thesis is `future peer health education and the internet is health education with and for adolescents via the internet effective animal production systems optional courses focus on subjects such as organisational communication and environmental communication minor courses provide a background in animal production systems an example of a thesis in this field is `management of trade in parrots from west central africa other possibilities for linking communication science with a life science domain are ecology and environment forestry and rural development land use planning organic agriculture product design and quality management food technology water management programme summary oceans seas estuaries and lakes have always been a main source of food for humans unfortunately present exploitation levels have bypassed the carrying capacity of these ecosystems leading to devastating effects on the biodiversity and ecosystem functions therefore aquaculture is evolving into a multidisciplinary industry which is sustainable and socially equitable fisheries is in transition to marine resource management from a focus on `human centred management towards `ecosystem based management since society is requesting sustainable fisheries and its certification also new governance systems are needed international agreements like the marine strategy framework directive in europe require a more holistic and integrated approach to marine governance within this programme you will learn all about ecosystems nature conservation sustainable production of aquatic foods and animal welfare graduates are skilled in techniques and methods for analysing and solving biological and environmental problems in aquatic systems by looking at biological social governmental and economical aspects a broad range of approaches is possible in order to realise sustainable aquaculture and marine resource management specialisations aquaculture this specialisation deals with the culture of numerous aquatic organisms such as finfish shrimp shellfish ornamental fish corals sponges and algae in a wide range of culture environments from sea enclosures to semi-extensive ponds and high-tech recirculation systems it requires thorough knowledge and skills to maintain the biological physical and chemical integrity of water bodies and insight in economic and social driving factors the learning outcome of this specialisation is the sustainable production of fish and other marine organisms in a global context marine resources and ecology this specialisation focuses on the sensitivity of marine communities in relation to human interventions including climate change fisheries and habitat destruction sustainable management of the living resources in the sea include models of population dynamics and fishing yield international regulations management tools and economic driving forces the learning outcome of this specialisation is to address limiting factors in order to be able to contribute to an improved biodiversity environmental quality and sustainability of marine ecosystems marine governance this specialisation focuses on the sustainable governance and economics of marine and coastal systems the goals and strategies of commercial enterprises non-governmental and governmental organisations and international institutions are analysed alternatives are developed and their effects are evaluated in relation to both organisations and ecosystems involved the learning outcome of this specialisation is to design goals and strategies for the governance of sustainable marine ecosystems admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website other interesting programmes msc international development studies msc development and rural innovation health and society specialisation of msc management economics and consumer studies other interesting programmes msc animal sciences msc biology msc environmental sciences and msc forest and nature conservation your future career graduates are specialised in building bridges between various stakeholders such as governments and citizens or experts they work for communication consultancy organisations government departments hospitals development agencies commercial organisations and media and knowledge institutes career prospects are communication consultant advising organisations on how to improve their communication processes policymaker formulating policy in cooperation with groups in society process facilitator managing conflict negotiation and change communication manager organising internal and external communication processes of an organisation project manager managing the communication and collaboration between parties throughout the entire project lifespan journalist making scientific knowledge accessible to a broader public communication researcher making a systematic analysis of a communication issue your future career the msc started in 2005 as aquaculture and fisheries it has evolved from a focus on sustainable forms of fish production to the broader scope of the management and governance of sustainable aquaculture and marine ecosystems the interest in sustainable management of the seas and coasts is booming while few professionals are available with an integrated and specialised training in this field numerous types of specialists are needed including technical specialists researchers consultants and project leaders both in commercial governmental and non-governmental organisations 10 www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mcs marleen van maanen nooij msc study advisor tel +31 0317 48 27 72 marleen.nooij@wur.nl dr wilko van loon programme director study advisor tel +31 0317 48 52 16 wilko.vanloon@wur.nl www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mam 11

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msc bioinformatics student tom vd bergh it is sometimes difficult for doctors to diagnose genetic diseases caused by a missense mutations a missense mutation does not necessarily mean that you have the gene associated disease and become ill since not all missense mutations lead to appreciable protein changes tom van de bergh msc created a database for fabry s disease for his final thesis he wrote a computer programme that reads publications and stores all information about fabry mutations in its database genetic researchers can in turn quickly access this database to determine if the mutation they found in a patient has already been addressed in literature and what the effects were this is just one example of how bioinformatics can address real world problems msc biology msc management,economics and consumer studies alumnus anneke paijmans hi i am anneke graduated in 2008 and for almost two years i am employed by grontmij as an ecological consultant grontmij is a big consultancy and engineering firm that is involved in many large-scale building projects such as landscaping railway stations roads in the netherlands certain flora and fauna and nature reserves are protected by law before even a spade goes into the ground i investigate to see if there are protected flora and/or fauna in this area and in what way these can best be mitigated or compensated the same applies for nearby nature conservation areas the nice thing about this job is that i can combine field and desk work and i am involved with society programme summary it is generally known that dna contains information about life but how is this information used biological data from next-generation sequencing efforts micro arrays and other high throughput omics techniques are accumulating at an unprecedented rate using this information means that life scientists must learn to mine these expanding databases for example mapping the human genome has shown that dna not only codes for the vast amount of interacting protein building blocks of the cell but also encodes the many different regulatory mechanisms that determine the development and function of an individual cell programme summary biological issues are at the forefront of the technological progress of modern society they are central to global concerns about how we effect and are affected by our environment understanding the complexity of biological systems at scales ranging from single molecules to whole ecosystems provides a unique intellectual challenge with over 20 biological research groups wageningen university can offer tailormade msc biology programmes that allow students to specialise in a field which appeals to their personal interest to prepare for a successful international career we strongly encourage our students to complete part of their programme requirements abroad specialisations cell biology this specialisation focuses on understanding the basic structural units of all living matter students will become acquainted with highly advanced techniques in the areas of genomics bioinformatics and metabolomics among others insight will be gained into dnaprotein interactions the physiology of bacteria and extremophiles and infection cycles of viruses animal biology this specialisation focuses on the individual organism emphasis is placed on structure-function and genotype-phenotype relationships and on interactions between cells organs and organisms it addresses problems like the role that environment plays in the development and evolution of organisms such as the development of different type of wings for birds living in a different environment plant biology this specialisation focuses on individual plants the focus is on genotype-phenotype and structure-function relationships the specialisation addresses those problems such as what is the role of specific genes in plant metabolism how do plants protect themselves from pests and diseases what is the role of the cytoskeleton in plant cell growth ecology this specialisation allows students to study biological systems at the largest possible scale field and lab observations models and molecular techniques are used to study ecological research questions among other things they address questions such as what are the effects of habitat structure and fragmentation on biological communities can we predict ecosystem stability what are the interactions between various fish species and what effect does this have on the dynamics of fish populations how can foraging behaviour of predators and parasites help to protect plants against diseases research themes there are 10 different research themes to choose from within these four specialisations animal adaptation and behavioural biology bio-interactions biology of micro-organisms conservation and systems ecology evolution and biodiversity health and disease marine biology molecular regulation plant adaptation and systems biology other interesting programmes bioinformaticians bridge the gap between complex biological research questions and this data and use specific computational tools to predict gene function and to demonstrate relationships between genes proteins and metabolites notably almost all life scientists now use these predictions to answer their specific research questions bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that applies computational and statistical techniques to the classification interpretation and integration of large biological sequence data sets the wageningen programme focuses on the practical application of bioinformatics methods in many areas of the life sciences to ensure that students acquire a high level of understanding of modelling and computing principles the curriculum includes training in the fundamentals of database management computer programming structural and functional genomics proteomics and systems biology this training is completed with advanced elective courses in molecular biology and biostatistics msc biotechnology msc molecular life sciences msc geoinformation science other interesting programmes msc molecular life sciences msc animal sciences msc plant sciences msc forest and nature conservation msc biotechnology msc plant biotechnology msc aquaculture and fisheries msc organic agriculture your future career bioinformatics is a new fast growing field of research poorly served by the traditional curricula of life sciences as demand has outpaced the supply of bioinformaticians the first job after graduation is often a phd project at a research institute or university it is anticipated that five years after graduation about one third will stay employed as a scientist at a university or research centre while the others choose for a career at research-oriented pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies your future career many graduates from the biology programme enter careers in fundamental and applied research or go on to become postgraduate studies some find a position as communication officer manager or decision-maker over 80 percent of our graduates find a job within three months upon graduation compared to other dutch universities many biology graduates from wageningen university find a position abroad admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website 12 www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mbf dr peter schaap programme director tel +31 0317 48 51 42 mbf.msc@wur.nl marjolijn coppens msc programme coordinator tel +31 0317 48 24 07 marjolijn.coppens@wur.nl www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mbi 13

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msc biotechnology alumnus sina salim in america and brazil production of maize and sugar cane for bio ethanol takes up enormous swathes of arable land that could otherwise be used for food production this leads to the well-known food versus fuel dilemma an alternative method for producing bio diesel is the use of algae instead currently too much energy is consumed during the growth and harvesting of algae but huge efforts are being made to reduce these energy requirements sina salim is trying to develop a cheap and energy efficient harvesting method to ultimately produce bio diesel from algae a competitor of fossil fuel msc climate studies project survival nl the climate conference in copenhagen denmark in december 2009 drew attention from people and governments worldwide dutch students set-up a project called project survival nl to enhance a fair climate agreement the goal of the project was to attract attention to the under-representation of less-developed countries and to provide support for small delegations from africa a selection of youth delegates from local african organisations involved in sustainability issues and youth participation attended the conference they participated in negotiations about the survival of their country with a focus on climate change activities included networking with politicians ngos businesses youth media and more it was a busy time for the project survival nl group programme summary biotechnology is defined as the industrial exploitation of living organisms or components derived from these organisms its practical applications include age-old techniques such as brewing and fermentation which are still important today in recent decades gene modification has revolutionised the biotechnology industry spawning countless new products and improving established processes more and more types of fermentation are being used and most new medicines are products of biotechnology in addition biotechnological processes are beginning to replace traditional petrochemical products and newly discovered organisms from the sea are being used in marine biotechnology modern biotechnology has become an applied area of science with a multidiscipline approach embracing recombinant dna technology cellular biology microbiology and biochemistry as well as process design engineering modelling and control specialisations cellular and molecular biotechnology this specialisation focuses on the practical application of cellular and molecular knowledge with the aim of enhancing or improving production in micro organisms or cell cultures possible majors molecular biology biochemistry microbiology virology enzymology and cell biology the knowledge and skills gained can be applied in food biotechnology medicine and vaccine development environmental and bio-based technology process technology this specialisation focuses on engineering strategies for developing enhancing or improving production in fermentation bioconversion and enzymatic synthesis possible majors bioprocess engineering food or environmental engineering applied biotechnology and system and control techniques the knowledge and skills gained can be applied in food biotechnology medicine and vaccine development environmental and bio-based technology marine biotechnology this specialisation focuses on the use of newly discovered organisms from the sea in industrial processes applications include production of new medicines fine chemicals bio-based products and renewable energy medical biotechnology this specialisation focuses on the use of modern biotechnology in the development and production of new vaccines and medicines advanced molecular and cellular techniques are used to study diagnostic and production methods for vaccines and medicines possible majors molecular biology microbiology virology and cell biology food biotechnology this specialisation focuses on the application from biotechnology to food processing the approach includes microbial and biochemical aspects integrated with process engineering and chemistry possible majors food microbiology food chemistry and process engineering environmental biotechnology this specialisation focuses on the design and development of biotechnological processes for solving environmental problems by removing waste products or by producing renewable energy possible majors environmental technology bioprocess engineering microbiology and system and control techniques water technology for more information see page 38 programme summary climate studies earth life and society focuses on better understanding and addressing climate change and its implications for nature and society it has become clear in the past decades that the climate is changing across the earth research into the climate system and its dynamics is booming it is leading to an improved understanding of the geophysical and biogeochemical processes involved although many fundamental questions remain unanswered forceful debates are conducted about the impact of climate change on nature and society and about strategies for coping with the impact adaptation and for limiting climate change in the long term mitigation these issues are important the world over and fuel a range of new challenges to both natural and social sciences this msc programme aims to analyse and understand the climate system as well as the societal dynamics of climate change in order to enable society to make informed and future-oriented decisions about climate-change related issues key questions addressed include how will ecosystems be affected and how will these in turn impact climate systems what will be the effect on the availability of water and food how can agriculture adapt to changing climate conditions how will climate change issues influence national and international political agendas and how will citizens and companies respond what will be the economic consequences of climate change and how will they be distributed globally will new social and economic opportunities emerge in the process of adaptation as these changes and challenges become ever more apparent the demand for scientists who are able to understand and investigate them will increase wageningen university has a strong international reputation in this field due to the quality of its research in natural and social sciences and its excellent track record in interdisciplinary research projects it has bundled its expertise and resources in this msc programme specifically aimed at students who wish to focus on the scientific insights in climate change and its implications for nature and society as the largest environmental research and education institute in europe with students from virtually all countries of the world wageningen offers a truly global platform for study in this field wageningen university is one of the academic core partners of the european knowledge and innovation community addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation climate studies earth life and society gives you a broad overview of climate-change related issues you will become an expert in a topic of your choice during your thesis research climate-change related research projects are offered by the following chair groups earth system science environmental systems analysis environmental economics and natural resources environmental policy hydrology and quantitative water management meteorology and air quality nature conservation and plant ecology crop and weed ecology and soil biology these groups all participate in the wageningen institute for environment and climate research and/or the c.t de wit graduate school for production ecology and resource conservation according to recent international panel assessments the quality and relevance of their research programmes range from very good to excellent other interesting programmes msc molecular life sciences msc food technology msc bioinformatics msc plant biotechnology and msc environmental sciences other interesting programmes msc environmental sciences msc geosciences and environment msc management economics and consumer studies your future career graduates in biotechnology have excellent career prospects and most receive job offers even before graduation more than 60 percent begin their careers in research and development many of these msc graduates go on to earn their phd degrees and often achieve management positions within a few years approximately 30 percent of graduates start working immediately for biotechnology companies relatively few begin their careers outside the private sector or in a field not directly related to biotechnology in the netherlands some graduates work for multinational companies such as merck schering plough dsm heineken unilever and shell while others find positions at smaller companies and various universities or research centres such as nki and tno your future career graduates from this programme are well equipped with the knowledge and skills to continue their academic training as a phd student or to start a career as a scientific professional at universities research institutes and environmental and governmental organizations applied climate change researchers and experts are needed by banks insurance companies construction power companies and authorities admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website 14 www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mbt dr sonja isken programme director tel +31 0317 48 22 41 mbt.msc@wur.nl andré van amstel msc study advisor tel +31 0317 48 48 15 mcl.msc@wur.nl www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mcl 15

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msc development and rural innovation student sara groenendijk did livelihoods in nepal improve due to an increase of greenery and thus natural resources this was one of the questions sara groenendijk tried to answer during her thesis she combined her knowledge of natural resource conservation and rural development in the countryside of nepal while conducting observations and interviews she experienced rural living conditions that improved her understanding of people s social and cultural background and their limitations during her stay she learned much about herself nepali culture development work in practice and how not to do research msc environmental sciences alumnus alexander van oudenhoven after finishing his msc environmental sciences he started working as a research assistant with the environmental systems analysis group of wageningen university there he helped to develop a hay fever prediction module allergy radar www.allergieradar.nl allergy radar predicts daily pollen release of six different plant species known to cause hay fever based on temperature data the weather forecast and plant-specific information user feedback allows for constant refinement of the module s predictions this is a good example of scientists and the general public working together to better understand and predict climate related health problems programme summary this programme aims to develop professionals who understand the role of knowledge in societal change processes and are able to link human and technological dimensions of innovation it is a social science programme tailored for students with a technical life science or relevant management background innovations in the field of agriculture natural resource management and food production have a dual nature they consist of new technological practices as well as new socio-organisational arrangements between different societal actors dealing with the links between technological developments and societies in which these are introduced and used requires a fundamental understanding of socio-technical innovation and change processes in other words you will be challenged to integrate your previously acquired technical competencies with new skills at an academic level of thinking in social sciences in order to make innovations work offering a variety of disciplines and problem-oriented courses the programme is taught in an interactive style where learning from each other is emphasised working in small international groups contributes significantly to this mutual learning process the programme is highly thesis-oriented the subject matter methodology and design courses serve primarily as preparation for an empirical research project this entails writing a research proposal conducting the research and completing a thesis thereby offering you the opportunity to apply your newly acquired insights in a field situation international students often apply this knowledge in their home country on a topic relevant to their professional interests and preferences others choose a relevant topic in their field of interest in various countries around the world including the netherlands thesis tracks communication and innovation studies communication and innovation studies examines communication in individual and collective change processes special attention is paid to the role of communication in interactive design trajectories that are geared towards bringing about organisational policy or technological change in societal domains such as sustainable agriculture health food multi-functional land use environment and international development technology and agrarian development the goal of the technology and agrarian development group is to understand how science and technology impact international development problems such as food security health adaptation to climate change and social justice the approach involves analysis of how technology both mediates and is constituted through social relations and institutional arrangements between various actors including farmers scientists and policy-makers every social problem that we face today involves science and technology either as a cause or cure rural development sociology rural development sociology focuses on rural development around the world combining anthropological and social-political interests and practical issues field-based studies are the basis for critical reflection on theories of development and social change themes addressed include food security livelihoods in the context of globalisation poverty and environmental degradation property rights social impact of bio-fuels and conflict policy and politics programme summary we are facing a future with an increased need for the consumption of food water energy and other resources resulting from a growing world population and the demand for higher living standards this will have an enormous impact on our already heavily burdened environment environmental challenges for the future include using our resources efficiently minimising our impact on nature and creating and changing people s awareness and behaviour towards their environment the msc programme environmental sciences is designed for students who want to take up this challenge in finding innovative and sustainable approaches to secure and improve the state of the environment this programme provides insight into the socio-economic causes the characteristics of pollution and degradation of the natural environment and their effects on human beings and ecosystems by taking an interdisciplinary approach students learn to develop analytical tools and models environmental technologies socio-political arrangements and economic instruments to prevent and control environmental problems to allow you maximum flexibility in your individual course of study there are no formal specialisations and compulsory elements are kept at a minimum this enables the programme to be tailored to your individual requirements the choice of the major thesis subject determines which core courses have to be included major thesis research can be conducted in one of ten disciplines and each major can be combined with a minor in environmental communication or education your future career graduates from this programme are well equipped to continue their scientific training in a phd programme or to begin or continue a professional career requiring independent scientific performance students are taught the knowledge and skills needed to communicate with experts from different disciplines allowing them to play a key role in complex environmental and sustainability issues most graduates enter careers in environmental consultancy research and management while others are involved in policy development and higher education admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website thesis tracks environmental quality investigates the physical chemical and biological processes that influence the quality of the environmental compartments soil water and air and the effects of pollutants on humans and ecosystems students can choose to major in aquatic ecology and water quality management meteorology and air quality soil biology and biological soil quality soil chemistry and chemical soil quality or environmental toxicology environmental systems analysis studies the natural and social processes involved in environmental issues it aims to develop integrative tools and methodologies and to apply these in strategic research students can choose to develop such an integrated approach via a major in environmental systems analysis environmental policy and management covers the contribution of the social sciences to environmental research the focus is on the social political legal and economic aspects of environmental issues and the goal is to provide students with the skills for studying formulating and designing innovative forms of national and international environmental governance you can choose a major in the disciplines of environmental policy environmental economics and natural resources or integrated water management environmental technology concentrates on biological chemical and physical processes for water reuse and the recovery of nutrients minerals and energy the aim is to fully understand these processes in order to design and optimise innovative technologies for renewable energy closing nutrient cycles and solving environmental issues you can choose any of these topics as subject of your major thesis research within the discipline of environmental technology other interesting programmes msc international development studies msc applied communication science msc management economics and consumer studies msc international land and water management and msc environmental sciences other interesting programmes msc climate studies msc urban environmental management msc forest and nature conservation and msc aquaculture and marine resource management your future career the programme lays the foundations for a variety of career opportunities usually oriented towards societal problem solving and innovation you can become a researcher or a knowledge broker who ensures a good fit between client demands and research formulation or you might take on the role of process facilitator or communication specialist in a nongovernmental organisation the public sector or the private industry a career as a policy-maker or consultant is another realistic option admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website if you have a social sciences background and an interest in development studies refer to the msc programme international development studies 16 www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mdr marleen van maanen-nooij msc study advisor tel +31 0317 48 27 72 mdr.msc@wur.nl marjo lexmond msc study advisor tel +31 0317 48 20 23 mes.msc@wur.nl www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mes 17

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msc food quality management alumnus hilbert van der werf i finished my study with an internship for unilever and the world food programme in africa and decided to star as a management trainee supply chain at heineken it offers me a good opportunity to get to know various aspects of the heineken supply chain and to quickly develop my professional skills through good coaching currently i am working on my first assignment that focuses on supply continuity management later i am going to attend a brewing course at the university of california msc food safety student hasmik hayrapetyan food safety is a peculiar specialisation whatever you do may have a widespread impact on society and a lot of people may benefit from it it is because food concerns everybody everywhere all the time food safety is of the utmost importance dangers can come into food from everywhere from nature animals humans and the food itself they may be preventable unavoidable or even deliberate in this course we learn to how recognise these dangers and how to minimize them we also learn how to manage the risk posed by dangerous foods to human health and the environment wageningen is a small world within the world people come from all over the world bringing with them their ideas and languages this creates a colourful and fertile ground for learning it is a perfect place for a peaceful study specialisations you will combine food quality management courses with courses based on your educational background and interest these courses can be in fields such as food technology e.g product design process design animal sciences e.g animal nutrition fisheries plant sciences e.g crop science greenhouse horticulture management marketing consumer behaviour law and communication the programme is thesis oriented and tailormade programme summary food quality management assures the health and safety of food and other perishable products e.g flowers and has become increasingly important in today s society this is due to changing consumer requirements increasing competition environmental issues and governmental interests this has resulted in a turbulent situation on the food market and in the agri-food production chain the situation is further complicated by the complex characteristics of food and food ingredients which include aspects such as variability restricted shelf life and potential safety hazards as well as many chemical biochemical physical and microbiological processes to face this challenge continuous improvement in food quality management methods is required where knowledge of modern technologies and management methods plays a crucial role quality issues in food and other perishable products are generally tackled using either a technological or a management approach in wageningen a concept has been developed that combines both aspects this `techno-managerial approach forms the basis of the food quality management programme it provides a comprehensive and structured overview of quality management for predicting food systems behaviour and generating adequate improvements in these systems from a chain perspective programme summary wageningen university is one of the few universities in europe able to offer education and research in all fields of food safety this includes not only technical disciplines such as microbiology and toxicology but also the legal economic and communication aspects the food safety programme at wageningen university is one of the most modern and innovative in the world started in 2000 as the first of its kind it is still the only two-year full-time msc food safety programme offered in europe the programme prepares graduates for careers in the food industry government or consumer organisations the three key players in international food safety management the food industry is increasingly confronted with farm-to-table food safety measures regulations legislation and guidelines aimed at controlling food hazards inspections take place to protect the health and economic interests of consumers such inspections focus especially on dietetic foods food supplements fortified foods food additives food contaminants and residues food irradiation microbiological risks such as diseases that are transmissible to humans from an animal host and more recently the health aspects of genetically engineered foods as a result there is an increasing demand for managers with expertise in food safety evaluation who are able to survey and monitor the chemical microbiological and physical parameters of product composition and product safety food safety experts are able to understand and analyse the variation in quality and safety of products they are also able to assess the potential risks involved in the adoption of new production methods and processing techniques food safety evaluation concerns food constituents agro-chemicals environmental contaminants and natural toxins specialisations the first year of the programme consists of a series of compulsory courses in food microbiology toxicology food law risk assessment food safety economics and food safety management there are no distinct specialisations however students can choose optional courses such as quality management or food and ingredient functionality the second year of the programme consists of the thesis and internship while both must be in the general field of food safety there has to be a specific focus on research toxicology/microbiology policy law economy or communication other interesting programmes msc management economics and consumer studies msc food technology and msc food safety other interesting programmes msc food quality management msc nutrition and health your future career graduates of this programme will be experts in the field of food quality management and can enter careers in agribusiness research and public administration typical positions include quality assurance manager responsible for the quality of the ingredients for a specific product designer/specialist working on the quality aspects of fresh products in the development process advisor/consultant advising companies on certification researcher studying the improvement of existing quality assurance systems in the food industry policy advisor developing policies for a government ministry in the field of european food law your future career the market for those who complete this programme is promising and all our recent graduates have found jobs with relative ease the demand for university-trained professionals in this field is currently higher than the number of available graduates most recent graduates found jobs in the private sector or at food safety research institutes where they often work as phd students many graduates enter careers in government and go on to managerial positions due to the increased efforts of the eu in the development of national food safety organisations there will be many more job opportunities in various european countries admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website 18 www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mfq jamila de jong msc study advisor tel +31 0317 48 46 33 mfq.msc@wur.nl dr ralf hartemink programme director tel +31 0317 48 35 58 mfs.msc@wur.nl www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mfs 19

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msc food technology student harmke klunder it is rich in proteins unsaturated fats vitamins and is available in large quantities all over the world you may conclude `the ideal food ingredient however would you still think so if it turns out to be about insects `with three other students we added insects to a third world food product thereby winning an international competition by the ift institute of food technologists malnutrition in africa could be fought by enriching their daily porridge sorghumpap with protein enhanced termites as food ingredients technologist it is possible to look beyond the products found on the shelves of the local supermarkets msc forest and nature conservation alumnus koen de rijck he works as an expert for wwf on high nature value farmland in bulgaria and romania influencing policy at a ministerial level making making studies and sharing experience alternates with capacity building activities for stakeholders in the countryside very challenging in a fast developing country where biodiversity is not an issue agriculture is not a sexy topic many people left the countryside leaving behind closed schools and elderly people an uphill fight but the potential impact for biodiversity is huge specialisations product functionality this specialisation focuses on the composition of food especially on the role of various components ingredients or structures in the quality and functionality of the final product it deals with sensory nutritive and textural aspects of foods in relation to their components you major in food chemistry or food physics product design while many new products are launched every year not all succeed this specialisation deals with the design and development of new or improved products the focus is on the various processes used in food technology and on the design of new products from a consumer perspective particular attention is paid to modelling new product concepts/processes as well as predictive quality control you major in food process engineering or product design food innovation and management this specialisation combines courses in food technology with courses in management and innovation studies it is intended for students who wish to work on product development in small businesses or plan to start their own business you major in management studies but there is also significant participation in one of the food technology groups food biotechnology this specialisation focuses on using micro organisms or enzymes in food production microbial and biochemical aspects are integrated with process engineering and chemistry the focus is on biotechnological food production you major in food microbiology food chemistry process engineering biochemistry or microbiology dairy science and technology this specialisation focuses on the dairy production chain its core programme consists of dairy-related courses and several additional courses such as food components and health advance fermentation science and predicting food quality during the second year you complete a dairy-related thesis research project and internship sustainable food processing this specialisation focuses on food processing with special emphasis on sustainability it is mainly aimed at students who would like to work in the food industry the thesis can be carried out under the supervision of one of the following groups food process engineering or operations research and logistics european masters degree in food studies this international specialisation is developed in cooperation with the universities of cork ireland lund sweden and agro-paris tech paris france as well as with ten large industrial partners for more information see www.eurmscfood.nl gastronomy this specialisation focuses on the combination of food technology with cultural aspects of foods as well as molecular gastronomy it is mainly aimed at students who would like to work in the food services programme summary the food technology programme at wageningen university has been in place for more than 50 years and is considered one of the best and most innovative programmes in its field in europe wageningen university offers high-level courses and research in all areas of food science ranging from advanced technical fields such as process engineering or chemistry to fields with a more economic or sociological focus such as marketing and gastronomy the wageningen food science faculty is larger than that of any other european university it includes professors and lecturers from a wide range of departments food chemistry food physics food microbiology product design and quality management and food process engineering food technology covers nearly all aspects of food science and technology as a result of being a very broad field students are required to choose one of the following specialisations programme summary this programme focuses on policy sustainable management and conservation of forest and nature i.e the best ways to deal with phenomena such as global climate change deforestation loss of biodiversity ecotourism timber production hunting and animal reintroduction plans by governments ngos private companies and other groups in this field require insight into all aspects of forest and nature conservation the msc forest and nature conservation study programme represents an integrated approach to natural resource management that can be applied at different scales to diverse ecosystems and in varying political and social contexts a tailor-made structure an outstanding research environment and three comprehensive specialisations contribute to making the programme challenging for undergraduates from both the natural and social sciences specialisations policy the central object of study is the dynamics between people organisations and institutions within policy making and policy innovation processes often referred to as `governance relative to forest and nature conservation issues in time and space this specialisation addresses the entire policy cycle including formulation design implementation and evaluation of policies and plans for the conservation and sustainable management of forest and natural areas at both local and global levels management forest and nature management is always rooted in a societal context a detailed analysis of the scientific principles which underlie various policy and management options chosen for a particular theme is a necessity the proposed solutions are evaluated for scientific soundness realism and feasibility in terms of their impact on both nature and people what for instance is the best option for wildlife conservation do populations need to be managed or not how does one determine an optimal population level how should the effects of various management activities be evaluated how should the perceptions of different people be dealt with which types of research are needed it is possible to simultaneously specialise in forest management wildlife resource management and management of ecosystems and landscapes ecology the emphasis is on understanding the ecological processes that form the basis for the structure composition and functioning of forests and natural areas each profile can be specified further for example by focusing on tropical forestry landscape ecology animal ecology forest resource management plant ecology biodiversity conservation or tropical nature conservation you will conduct your thesis research within the research programmes of wageningen university associated research institutes such as alterra www.alterra.wur.nl/uk or as part of other relevant projects other interesting programmes msc biotechnology msc nutrition and health msc food quality management other interesting programmes msc animal sciences msc biology msc development and rural innovation msc landscape architecture and planning msc geoinformation science msc international development studies admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website your future career the demand for employees in this field is currently higher than the number of graduates from the programme thereby making job market prospects very interesting graduates find jobs with relative ease especially in the netherlands and western europe recent graduates found positions in the private sector from small and midsized companies to large multinationals at wageningen university or other universities as phd students or at research institutes domestically and abroad graduates also work in the field of process technology at innovation centres innovative food companies or government agencies most achieve management positions in restaurants retail and catering industries during the second year the thesis and internship can be carried out under supervision of the following groups food chemistry food physics or rural sociology sensory science for more information see page 37 your future career the programme provides an excellent preparation for dutch as well as european and non-european jobs career possibilities include positions at research institutes and universities government ministries and local authorities many jobs are also available at state and private forestry and nature services and environmental assessment agencies examples include the european forest institute various branches of birdlife international and landscape and animal protection organisations such as ravon in the private sector graduates can find jobs at engineering and consultancy bodies or financial institutes such as royal haskoning the national fund for rural areas or forestry companies graduates often begin their career by doing research working in knowledge transfer or preparing policy documents eventually their careers usually shift towards advisory work consultancy and project management admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website 20 www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mft dr ralf hartemink programme director tel +31 0317 48 35 58 mft.msc@wur.nl dr wim braakhekke study advisor tel +31 0317 48 26 08 mfn.msc@wur.nl www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mfn 21

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msc geographical information management and applications alumnus gineke snoeren she is a former gima student and currently employed as a business consultant at esri nederland gis offers many opportunities and will become more important in the future that is why i decided to enrol in this programme the course has two advantages first it does not focus solely on gis techniques but also looks at management second the blended learning system is great it combines contact teaching with distance learning distance learning means the possibility to study in your own time less contact hours but still contact with teachers and students at set times a variety of people take the course not only dutch and foreign students but also people who are already employed in the field of gis you learn a lot from each other msc geo-information science alumnus danny de roo he obtained a bsc landscape architecture and a msc geo-information science degree he works for the port of rotterdam as a consultant his daily activities consist of preparing analysing and presenting different types of spatial information that is relevant to the port of rotterdam danny is very positive about the connection between his study and his current job mgi covers a lot of areas within the field of geo-information and remote sensing and it forms a great basis for your future career programme summary the msc geographical information management and applications gima offers a challenging programme in the domain of geographical information sciences gis it will help you to develop your knowledge and skills in the field of geo-information management and geo-information applications as a future geo-information specialist you have to address a wide number of fundamental issues in today s society such as how can we make governments and other organisations spatial plans accessible and understandable to citizens and businesses in order to ensure its compliance with their construction projects what information do businesses need when looking for suitable locations for sales outlets in order to reach potential customers how to combine observation data and pre-existing knowledge to assess the current situation of a crime scene how can organizations legally manage their geo-information so employees in different departments understand which data files are available and accessible for their project what measures need to be taken where and on which scale to deal with natural hazards and humanitarian disasters the programme teaches among others how to apply and manage geoinformation in organisations and projects by critically understanding and using state-of-the-art geo-information theories and technology specialisations there are no formal specialisations within gima specialisation takes place via the free options within the different modules and via the thesis and internship topics programme summary geo-information gi is derived from spatial data and it is indispensable for domains like spatial planning water management nature conservation environmental management agriculture energy supply disaster management traffic and safety geo-information has become increasingly important to society the msc programme geo-information science at wageningen university offers a unique blend of geo-information science methods technologies and applications especially the combined use of earth observation techniques remote sensing and geographic information systems gis for problem solving within the environmental and social disciplines is an asset of the wageningen approach wageningen ur including alterra has the largest group of gi-scientists in the netherlands students with various backgrounds in environmental sciences social sciences and ict follow this programme the geo-information science programme contains courses on the acquisition storage analysis and visualisation of spatial data students are taught methods and techniques regarding gis remote sensing and geo-information processes such as data capture data analysis and data presentation they are trained to recognise describe and analyse problems in relevant environmental application fields this includes training in the development of prototypes they also learn about the technical and organisational role of geo-information in institutes and companies how to communicate adequately and keep abreast of scientific and technical developments in geo-information and how to apply these developments in specific fields depending on background research topics and previous education students may also select relevant courses in application domains or ict specialisations there are no formal specialisations within the geo-information science programme students will specialise by taking advanced courses in application fields or programming and by completing a thesis and internship in one of the following fields geo-information infrastructure geo-sensor networks quantitative remote sensing spectroscopy and thermal remote sensing monitoring and scenario studies coupling of gis and spatial models visualization and communication admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website this programme is registered in croho as msc geographical sciences at utrecht university code 60732 particularities of the programme this msc programme is offered by four renowned universities in the netherlands utrecht university delft university of technology university of twente and wageningen university it is organised for both part-time and full-time students the structure of the programme is mixed and consists of distance learning 80 with contact weeks on location at the four universities 20 each year the duration is two years full-time and four years half-time exemptions are possible for students who have relevant working experience after their bsc making it possible to complete a half-time programme in approximately three years other interesting programmes msc geo-information science other interesting programmes msc geographical information management and applications msc forest and nature conservation msc landscape architecture and planning msc environmental sciences msc agricultural and bioresource engineering your future career graduates in gima have excellent career prospects the demand for managers and application specialists in geo-information in the professional market is constantly increasing our alumni are employed in both the private and public sector by companies consultancies government organizations and research institutes as managers specialists and researchers your future career graduates in geo-information science have excellent career prospects most of them receive job offers before graduation most of our recent graduates have started as researchers in phd programmes or research institutes or as technical specialists consultants or project leaders in companies all over the world such as royal haskoning arcadis or grontmij others are employed in local or central government agencies and ngos including environmental assessment organisations admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website 22 www.msc-gima.nl dr ron van lammeren programme director tel +31 0317 48 15 53 gima@geo.uu.nl willy ten haaf msc study advisor tel +31 317 48 18 65 mgi.msc@wur.nl www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mgi 23

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msc earth and environment alumnus nick gorski he came from canada to wageningen because of the excellent reputation the netherlands has in the field of water during his time here he conducted two thesis research projects the first dealt with the fluxes of sediment-bound contaminants in a river basin in south-western turkey the second involved the development of a new modeling methodology for heterogeneous flow and solute transport in unsaturated soils i had the opportunity to do classes field work and research in other countries it was an excellent way to put what you have learned into context after graduating in wageningen nick went on to work for the kwr watercycle research institute in nieuwegein netherlands msc international development studies alumnus janneke vreugdenhil poor people are very vulnerable to natural disasters some development projects therefore include disaster risk reduction strategies the irrigation system in the province oddar meanchey in cambodia is an example of this type of development project it has been built to allow rice production during the dry season janneke vreugdenhil spent some time studying how effective this development project has been for the local community has the irrigation system reduced the risks of drought for food production and so reduced the vulnerability of the community by investigating the benefits to the local community from this disaster risk reduction project janneke is already actively involved in development during her studies programme summary planet earth is a fascinating and complex system supporting all life and containing priceless natural resources that are exploited by mankind for the supply of food water energy and other commodities it is the foundation for mankind s prosperity and quality of life planet earth however is under significant pressure and it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain an ever growing human population and to secure a sustainable society for future generations scarcity of water soil degradation loss of biodiversity vulnerability to severe weather and climate change are just a few examples of major issues that need to be addressed geoscientists at wageningen university study planet earth and its liveability using tools from physics chemistry biology and mathematics they build a quantitative understanding of the composition structures and processes of the earth and its atmosphere as well as its resources and the influence of human activity thus geoscientists have an important role to play in improving natural resource management and in removing obstacles to sustainable development as of september 2011 wageningen university will offer a new msc programme in earth sciences incorporating the current msc programmes hydrology and water quality meteorology and air quality and soil science this rearrangement follows the growing recognition of the complex dependencies and relationships existing within the earth system increasingly processes are being studied at the interfaces of the traditional spheres of the earth lithosphere pedosphere hydrosphere atmosphere and biosphere research involving different disciplines leads to new developments that are directing basic research students of the msc earth and environment will learn to consider the earth as a coherent system with intense and significant interactions between its compartments study of the earth system largely focuses on understanding of the interdependent physical chemical and biological processes and on developing models that describe these processes on relevant scales this allows scenarios to be developed which describe expected local regional and/or global changes and the time scale on which they will occur in wageningen the focus is on the earth s `critical zone -including the atmospheric boundary layer where flows of energy and matter determine the conditions for sustaining life hence the name earth and environment students of the programme will develop advanced modelling skills with due attention to methods for up and down-scaling they will learn to think in ranges of temporal and spatial scales specialisations students of the programme will specialise by selecting a major thesis subject and its preparatory courses the msc earth and environment is a comprehensive programme offering its students a wide choice of thesis subjects there are options in each of the fields of geophysics environmental chemistry and systems ecology offered by the chair groups of aquatic ecology and water quality management earth system science hydrology and quantitative water management meteorology and air quality nature conservation and plant ecology soil biology and biological soil quality soil chemistry and chemical soil quality soil geography and landscape soil physics ecohydrology and groundwater management students also have the opportunity to focus their study on the atmosphere on the soil or on surface water the combination of profound disciplinary training with an earth system s approach prepares graduates from the msc earth and environment for dealing with the scientific and societal questions of the future the programme further allows space for several elective courses and it has a special variant in preparation for a phd study programme summary this programme deals with worldwide processes of development and change with an emphasis on livelihoods agro-food networks and the environment it focuses on transformation processes both in europe and in developing countries in a dynamic international context it approaches the study of social economic political technological and environmental change from various perspectives you will develop a critical understanding of recent development theories learn to plan and conduct research and become skilled at translating research findings into development policies intervention strategies and institutional innovations you will learn to include the diverging views of various stakeholders and to work in multi-disciplinary teams depending on your previous education you can follow one of the specialisations specialisations sociology of development this specialisation focuses on social transformation processes especially the local consequences of globalisation and environmental change and the way people cope with uncertain circumstances themes studied include natural resource degradation refugees and migration post-disaster reconstruction social unrest poverty and lack of access to resources crucial to livelihoods of people this specialisation applies sociological and anthropological perspectives to development problems with special attention given to understanding the differing interests and views of numerous actors you can choose a major in disaster studies environmental policy rural development sociology or rural sociology economics of development the central themes in this specialisation are the role of agriculture in development food security and the global food crisis regional economic issues sustainable use of natural resources rural-urban income disparities and issues related to poverty and the role of institutions these themes are examined from a microeconomic perspective to gain insight into the behaviour of individuals and institutions and from a macroeconomic perspective to obtain insight into development processes at regional and national levels you can major in agricultural economics and rural policy development economics environmental economics and natural resources or regional economics communication technology and policy in this specialisation social transformation and sustainable development are examined with a specific focus on communication technological innovations and policy processes an important theme is how technologies and policies are developed in the interaction between various parties e.g governments social organisations and citizens and the role of communication in these processes another theme is the relationship between technological change in the agricultural and food sectors institutional processes and social transformation you can choose a major in communication and innovation studies law and governance or technology and agrarian development research master variant to prepare for a future career in scientific research e.g a phd position you can opt for the research master variant of this programme.which places extra emphasis on research competencies and knowledge of disciplines and can be followed within each of the specialisations but an additional assessment will be made after being admitted to the msc programme admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the programme website if you have a background in a technical or life sciences field and an interest in development studies refer to the msc programme development and rural innovation other interesting programmes msc biology msc climate studies msc environmental sciences msc international land and water management msc plant sciences other interesting programmes msc development and rural innovation health and society msc applied communication science msc international land and water management msc leisure environment and tourism msc management economics and consumer studies your future career graduates from this programme are well equipped with the knowledge and skills to continue their academic training as a phd student or to start a career as a scientific professional at universities research institutes and consultancies depending on their specialisation graduates may take up positions as meteorologist hydrologist water quality scientist or soil scientist in the public or private sector your future career graduates are employed in capacities such as researcher teacher consultant advisor communication adviser or policymaker in various international organisations you could work for example as policymaker in a government or semi-governmental institute as development expert in an international non governmental organisation such as fao world bank european union actionaid international admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website oxfam novib or fair trade or consultancy company or as researcher and/or teacher at a university or research institute 24 www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mms or eu/mcs alet leemans msc study advisor tel +31 0317 48 21 71 mee.msc@wur.nl dr sudha loman study advisor tel +31 0317 48 46 37 mid.msc@wur.nl www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mid 25

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msc international land and water management alumnus stef smits after graduation stef smits joined the irc international water and sanitation centre in delft the netherlands irc is a knowledge institute in the field of drinking water supply and sanitation for developing countries stef works on applied research and learning projects in the field of small-scale domestic water supplies and integrated water resources management in various developing countries during short visits he supports partner organisations and their research through for example training courses and dissemination activities the nicest thing is that one day you may be on a field visit at meetings with communities and the next day you do a presentation for ministers or donors or may be at a conference or workshop msc leisure tourism and environment alumnus alfredo kaegi it is not often that you are afforded the possibility to pursue a career and have it turn it into so much more after coursing over immense theoretical icebergs during my stay in wageningen i headed back home to honduras to start the field work of my thesis during this period all the theories collided with realities some stuck together and others bounced off bringing into focus the phenomenon that had caught my attention and later became a source of inspiration for my thesis i am currently working for the ministry of planning and external cooperation of honduras as a capacity building and institutional relations specialist mle´s multidisciplinary approach has provided me the tools necessary to reveal the complex details that reside within tourism sustainable development and social-spatial planning programme summary the programme focuses on the scientific analysis of the physical environmental technical and socio-economic aspects of land and water management and their mutual interactions students develop comparative insights into the development of land and water management take a scientific approach to various research paradigms and acquire a problem-oriented interdisciplinary attitude towards land and water management and rural development issues graduates will not only be able to study these issues but also design sustainable and efficient solutions to land and water management problems specialisations land degradation and development although soil and water are our most important natural resources they are often not used in a sustainable manner resulting in land degradation and waste of water this specialisation deals with land and water management interventions in farming systems at both field and watershed scale aimed at preventing reducing or reversing losses of soil water and plant nutrients these losses occur in all climate zones and in nearly all farming systems the focus in education and research is on rain-fed agriculture and natural resources management topics covered include erosion processes as well as the planning design and socio-economic evaluation of soil and water conservation measures irrigation and water management students in this specialisation concentrate extensively on water use in agriculture with irrigation ­ from farm to watershed level ­ as the main focus topics include irrigation processes irrigation systems design and improvement of existing systems and practices irrigation and water management emphasises the complete integration of engineering and agronomic issues with the socioeconomic and institutional aspects of irrigation development topics therefore include not only the design and operation of irrigation systems but also the social frameworks that define water management such as gender issues and institutional and legal constraints to land and water development integrated water management this specialisation focuses on the integrated management of hydrological systems such as catchments and river basins integrated water management involves a process of participatory planning decision making and implementation to achieve sustainable use of land and water resource systems competition for water ­ in terms of both quantity and quality ­ between various uses and users has turned water management into a political issue that must be managed according to the needs of various stakeholders at all policy levels graduates must be capable of analysing different forms of water use by various stakeholders within a given context and have to understand the strategies and viewpoints of decisionmakers and assess alternative water management systems programme summary the leisure tourism and environment programme is characterised by a worldwide transdisciplinary critical and innovative approach the focus is on the relationship between leisure and environment with special attention for tourism more and more people throughout the world are spending a growing proportion of their time and money on leisure this means that the economic and social importance of leisure and tourism services is growing tremendously there is increasing awareness that leisure in all its manifestations has major consequences for cultural political technological economic and geographical transformations throughout the world in this respect leisure has become a powerful agent of both cultural globalisation and regionalisation leisure and tourism can provide a major contribution to quality of life and social well-being they have long been recognised for their role in community and regional development but also for their impact on the environment the aim of the leisure tourism and environment programme is to analyse the development behind the fast growing leisure and tourism industry it involves the study of leisure and tourism from a historical and philosophical perspective in a global multicultural context the study integrates the role of governmental business and `third sector organisations in the innovation process towards sustainable tourism development debates about globalisation processes as well as the experience of leisure and tourism within the spatial natural and social environment comprise a large part of the programme besides this theoretical approach to leisure and tourism the study also focuses on advanced quantitative and qualitative research methods and techniques commonly used in research concerning leisure and tourism the programme is international and multicultural faculty members from many parts of the world come to wageningen and give lectures in the programme bringing together an extraordinarily wide range of academic experience also the class room itself is very international with students from various educational and professional backgrounds coming together to critically discuss contemporary issues your future career the msc leisure tourism and environment programme is designed for students who seek a career as an academic professional or as a scientist the programme prepares students for work in three major areas policy and planning research or consultancy and development a large proportion of our graduates find employment with government agencies or non-governmental organisations in the areas of policy development and implementation this is achieved at local regional or international levels many graduates are employed by consultancy agencies research institutes or network organisations that link different interest groups such as leisure and tourism organisations with conservation institutions or private business with government organisations and communities others continue their academic careers by entering a phd programme at a university admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website other interesting programmes msc hydrology and water management msc international development studies msc management of agro-ecological knowledge and social change msc geo-information science msc landscape architecture and planning msc forest and nature conservation other interesting programmes msc international development studies msc management economics and consumer studies msc development and rural innovation msc applied communication studies msc landscape architecture and planning your future career graduates find jobs in a wide range of fields including design and implementation policy-making project management and research and education they are employed by international organisations such as the food and agricultural organisation of the un fao the international water management institute iwmi or ngos involved in international or national development such as the netherlands development organisation snv or oxfam international some graduates also work for ministries and other governmental organisations in the field of international cooperation such as the dutch dgis and the german gtz while others find jobs in private or public institutes in their home countries for graduates interested in design and implementation there are also job opportunities at international consultancies in the netherlands this includes firms such as arcadis grontmij oranjewoud and dhv consultants admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website 26 www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mil erik heijmans msc programme director tel +31 0317 48 27 70 mil.msc@wur.nl jan philipsen msc or katharina zellmer msc tel +31 0317 48 27 71 48 43 84 mle.msc@wur.nl www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mle 27

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msc landscape architecture and planning master atelier students margriet van vianen and hanneke schavemaker the assignment at the atelier was to develop a sustainable plan for the urban expansion of almere city in interdisciplinary groups the almere-west group focused on the urban expansion in the direction of amsterdam and the possibilities of almere as `water city the almere-east group focused on the concept of `urban agriculture the activity of raising processing and distributing a variety of food and non-food products located within the urban growth boundary the group process was challenging nine different people with different study backgrounds opinions and characters worked together in one group on the assignment msc management economics and consumer studies eureca students interested in consumer studies have a unique opportunity eureca the european master s programme in consumer affairs is offered by four universities aarhus university technische universität münchen warsaw university of life sciences and wageningen university it is a two-year world-class integrated program focused on consumers in their economic social and ecological environments participating students are encouraged to spend a semester at a partner university as an exchange student with the possibility to graduate with a double degree how big is your world programme summary landscape architecture and planning focuses on the deliberate construction and reconstruction of the environment it involves research into and the planning and design of landscapes to create maintain protect and enhance places the study integrates concepts and approaches from the arts with those from the natural and social sciences and incorporates the latest advances in technology landscape architecture and planning is concerned not only with the creative process of making plans and designs on various spatial scales and temporal horizons it also involves the organisation of interactive or participatory decision-making processes with the aim of generating plans and policies attention is also paid to developing and managing scientific knowledge specialisations landscape architecture landscape architecture is concerned with challenging and sustainable landscape design on the basis of a sound understanding of landscape formation processes together with contemporary design theory and methodology it links creative design processes both to the arts and to scientific knowledge covering ecological and behavioural fields of study design of metropolitan landscapes and the urban realm is the core of the major socio-spatial analysis this specialisation focuses on the analysis of the interaction between space and society this is accomplished by examining how social and cultural developments and changing policies transform spatial practices characteristics and perceptions the dual relationship between space and society is approached from a multidisciplinary perspective incorporating theories and methodologies from sociology anthropology geography and psychology spatial planning spatial planning is concerned with the organisation of planning processes and both the theoretical and practical knowledge needed for spatial interventions the role of planning is ultimately to formulate plans that meet the economic environmental social and cultural needs of society moreover planning aims to suggest implementation strategies for these plans spatial planning must be carried out with recognition of an ever changing society including its different ambitions conflicts and interests specialisations management studies this specialisation includes several options students can investigate and analyse the strategies and operations of companies in production and distribution networks as well as the dynamic decision-making processes involved in production alternatively you may choose to focus on the various aspects of marketing and consumer behaviour in business agribusiness and the food industry it is also possible to acquire expertise in facility management information systems operations research logistics information management or quantitative decision modelling consumer studies this specialisation allows you to study the behaviour lifestyles and consumption patterns of consumers and households students will acquire insight into the economic and sociological aspects of consumers and households and the factors determining consumption behaviour and patterns alternatively the role of communication between the various actors in the food chain or consumer technology can be studied economics environment and policy analyse the economic behaviour of various participants in the agricultural sector and rural areas in developed countries or study the pivotal role of agricultural and rural development in low-income countries if students are more interested in environmental issues they can focus on the economic or policy aspects of national and international environmental problems or the processes of environmentally-induced social change in modern industrial and developing societies management innovation and life sciences the goal of this specialisation is to integrate technical and managerial knowledge examples of how this interaction can be of optimal use are complex innovation processes in production logistics or market development these processes have a high technological character in which innovation plays a central role and for which good communication and managerial skills are necessary three different profiles can be studied within this specialisation innovation management innovation in decision support and economics and innovation in operations management health and society more information on this specialisation is available on page 36 research master variant to prepare for a future career in scientific research such as a phd position opt for the research master variant this variant offers an extra focus on research competencies and knowledge of disciplines it can be followed within the specialisations management studies consumer studies and economics environment and policy more specific information on this specialisation is available on www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mme programme summary management economics and consumer studies deals with the interrelationships between producers consumers and society-atlarge the programme studies the dynamics in the agri-food chain involving suppliers producers retailers and consumers focusing on how they affect each other and how they affect and are affected by the economy and society the domain of this programme is business and all the components of industry including production distribution and final use or consumption it covers managerial economic sociological and environmental aspects ­ internal and external ­ of households and businesses in the netherlands europe and the rest of the world in both developed and developing countries other interesting programmes msc climate studies msc leisure tourism and environment msc applied communication science msc urban environmental management msc geo-information science msc development and rural innovation other interesting programmes msc international development studies msc food quality management msc applied communication science msc development and rural innovation your future career graduates with a management studies specialisation have career prospects as managers or consultants in the traditional business sector and in hospitals financial institutions auditing or accounting companies and government departments graduates with a consumer studies specialisation have career prospects as consultants researchers managers or teachers in public or private research organisations businesses research institutions government agencies or universities graduates who specialise in economics environment and policy have prospects in research teaching or policy-making at universities the public sector government agencies non-profit-organisations or research organisations in the private sector graduates with a management innovation and life sciences specialisation have prospects as managers or consultants in business especially in the biotechnology industry the health sector and in product development and innovation or as university instructors or researchers graduates in the research master variant are well prepared to pursue a career in scientific research your future career graduates of landscape architecture and planning work in various fields and positions related to landscape land use and the environment the programme prepares students for five major career paths landscape architects spatial planning consultants project managers policy advisers and landscape researchers most graduates are employed by consultancy and engineering companies planning and design bureaus district water boards government agencies and universities a number of graduates work for large multinational firms such as oranjewoud arcadis or grontmij while others are employed by small and medium sized companies admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website in addition to these admission requirements a design portfolio is requested if you want to apply for the specialisation landscape architecture admission requirements for general admission requirements see page 40 more information about specific admission requirements can be found on the website 28 www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mlp jan van nieuwenhuize msc or stijn heukels msc tel +31 0317 48 34 74 48 18 96 mlp.msc@wur.nl jamila de jong msc study advisor tel +31 0317 48 46 33 mme.msc@wur.nl www.wageningenuniversity.eu/mme 29

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