Decisions and guidelines

According to a decision taken by the Vice Chancellor 2020-08-25, Uppsala University will offer a Master's Programme in Sustainable and Innovative Natural Resource Management - SINReM, from 2020-08-31 (UFV 2020/1162).

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university.

Also required is:

• 90 credits in engineering or science (physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, earth science, computer science, materials science);
• 10 credits in chemistry; and
• 15 credits in mathematics or physics.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English. For more information about English language requirements, see the SINReM website.

Aims

The Master's Programme in Sustainable and Innovative Natural Resource Management - SINReM will provide students with the knowledge, skills and competence that is required for professional work with diverse career options within the field of raw materials. After completion of the education the student will be able to independently analyse problems, synthesise information and conduct professional assessments within their specialized track and understand applications to related fields in raw materials. The education will also provide a good foundation for research education nationally or internationally.

Systematic and progressive training in oral and written communication skills is provided by the education. Upon completion of the programme the student can obtain a joint degree.

Learning outcomes

According to the Higher Education Act, the following applies for second-cycle studies:

Second-cycle studies shall be based fundamentally on the knowledge acquired by students during first-cycle courses and study programmes, or its equivalent.

Second-cycle studies shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, aptitudes and accomplishments in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall:

• further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge,
• develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
• develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work. Ordinance (2006:173).

Objectives for a Degree of Master (120 credits) according to the Higher Education Ordinance, System of Qualifications.

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) students must

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in their main field of study, including both broad knowledge in the field and substantially deeper knowledge of certain parts of the field, together with deeper insight into current research and development work; and
• demonstrate deeper methodological knowledge in their main field of study.

For the MSc in Sustainable and Innovative Natural Resource Management knowledge and understanding includes:

• have a broad knowledge on the entire value chain and its different components, as well as on the environmental, technical, social and economic problems that may arise from waste emissions and a scarcity of raw materials, related to increasing population growth.
• have systematic and applied insights in techniques for qualitative and quantitative exploration and physicochemical characterisation of resources present in the environment. Demonstrate an understanding of physical and (bio-) chemical techniques and industrial processes for extracting resources from ore and the waste that is generated throughout the value chain.
• be able to apply techniques to assess long-term sustainability and environmental impacts of novel and existing products and processes, and evaluate them against international standards.
• have insights in factors affecting the sustainable supply of raw materials and (technological) solutions for optimising material flows in the different parts of the value chain, and be able to compare them, taking technical and economic aspects as well as social and environmental impacts into account.
• be able to select, apply and develop innovative technologies for optimising material flows in the value chain, with a particular focus on resource exploration, sustainable extraction processes, sustainable materials use, and/or resource recovery from waste, taking the industrial process context into consideration.

Skills and abilities

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) students must

• demonstrate an ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, even when limited information is available;
• demonstrate an ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate issues and to plan and, using appropriate methods, carry out advanced tasks within specified time limits, so as to contribute to the development of knowledge and to evaluate this work;
• demonstrate an ability to clearly present and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments behind them, in dialogue with different groups, orally and in writing, in national and international contexts; and
• demonstrate the skill required to participate in research and development work or to work independently in other advanced contexts.

For the MSc in Sustainable and Innovative Natural Resource Management skills and abilities includes:

• use knowledge, ideas and technology to create new or significantly improved products, services, processes, policies, new business models or jobs.
• express openness to innovative scientific developments and their applications in a broad scientific, economic and social context.
• transform practical experiences into research problems and challenges, and transform fundamental concepts or technologies from one domain or part of the value chain to another domain or part of the value chain.
• demonstrate the ability to make decisions and show leadership, based on a holistic understanding of the raw material chain.
• demonstrate intercultural competences, social and communicative skills which are essential to work in an international team and communicate with stakeholders, take leadership positions in the academic as well as non-academic sector, and to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders involved in the raw materials supply chain.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) students must

• demonstrate an ability to make assessments in their main field of study, taking into account relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects, and demonstrate an awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work;
• demonstrate insight into the potential and limitations of science, its role in society and people's responsibility for how it is used; and
• demonstrate an ability to identify their need of further knowledge and to take responsibility for developing their knowledge.

For the MSc in Sustainable and Innovative Natural Resource Management judgement and approach includes:

• identify the short- and long-term future consequences of plans and decisions along the entire value chain from an integrated scientific, economical and ethical perspective, and merge this into a solution-focused approach, moving towards a sustainable society.
• demonstrate awareness regarding global and long-term dimensions of sustainability and a capacity to identify sustainability issues at local, regional and global scales, involving different stakeholder perspectives.
• assess risks related to different approaches that can be used to increase resource sustainability in the value chain, develop scenarios and mitigation strategies, and assess environmental and social impacts, as well as technical and economic feasibility of these approaches and strategies.

Layout of the programme

The Master's programme is a joint programme given by the University of Ghent, Belgium, Uppsala University and the University of Technology in Freiberg, Germany according to the programme syllabus (https://sinrem.eu/programme/). The first semester is hosted by the University of Ghent, the second semester at Uppsala University and the summer semester at the University of Technology in Frieberg Semesters three and four can be chosen from the University of Ghent, Uppsala University or the University of Technology in Freiberg.

The programme has the following study tracks during the second year, semester 3 and 4:

• Georesource exploration (Uppsala University)
• Sustainable processes (TU Bergakademie Freiberg).
• Resource recovery and sustainable materials (Ghent University)
• Circular societies (Ghent University)
• Entrepreneurship (Uppsala University)

The course content is balanced to be suitable both for a possible doctoral programme and for professional activities within companies and authorities.The degree project of 30 credits can be conducted at within the department, or at company/public sector.

Instruction

Education in the Master's programme builds upon the prior knowledge and experience of the students. Students are expected to participate actively in their education and take responsibility for personal learning outcomes as well as contributing to the learning of others. Academic staff in the programme have the primary responsibility for establishing foundations for active individual and collective learning. Continuous educational development builds on a respectful dialogue between students and staff, through which everyone is empowered to contribute to educational evolution and mutual learning.

Degree

The Master's programme leads to a joint degree "International Master of Sustainable and Innovative Natural Resource Management" awarded by Ghent university together with Uppsala University and TU Bergakademie Freiberg. At Uppsala University this corresponds to a Master of Science (120 credits) with Sustainable Development as the main field of study.

Other directives

Apply to the programme through Ghent University, https://sinrem.eu/admission-applying/.