Plan de estudios

OBJECTIVES 

The fundamental aim of this Master’s Degree is to train professionals in the field of the Environment who are capable of developing and applying preventative and corrective measures to environmental degradation. The course aims to provide a solid multidisciplinary training that addresses both social aspects and a scientific and technical training in environmental restoration and management, together with the methodologies necessary to contribute solutions and make decisions related to these activities. Likewise, the programme will enable students to acquire the specialised knowledge necessary for conducting competitive research in ecosystem conservation and restoration.

COMPETENCES

General Competences (CG)

• CG1:Capacity for scientific analysis and synthesis.
• CG2:Capacity to manage the information gathered.
• CG3:Oral and written communication of the proposals for action.
• CG5:Capacity to apply scientific knowledge to environmental topics.
• CG7:Basic computer skills.
• CG8:Capacity for criticism and self-criticism.
• CG9:Capacity for decision making.
• CG11:Capacity to conceive, design, put into practice and adopt a substantial research process with scientific rigor.
• CG12:Methodologies needed to carry out a project and/or research work dealing with environmental restoration and the management of natural areas.

Generic Degree Course Competences

• B1:Capacidad de análisis y síntesis.
• B2:Capacidad de organización y planificación.
• B3:Capacidad de comunicación oral y escrita (en la lengua nativa e inglesa) de los conocimientos y conclusiones a públicos especializados y no especializados de un modo claro y sin ambigüedades.
• B4:Capacidad de gestión de la información y de los recursos disponibles.
• B5:Capacidad de resolver problemas, integrar conocimientos y formular juicios a partir de una información que, siendo incompleta o limitada, incluya reflexiones sobre las responsabilidades sociales y éticas vinculadas a la aplicación de sus conocimientos y juicios.
• B6:Capacidad de trabajar en equipo con iniciativa y espíritu emprendedor.
• B7:Capacidad de trabajar en un equipo de carácter interdisciplinar.
• B9:Capacidad de razonamiento y extracción de conclusiones.
• B10:Compromiso ético y respeto por la propiedad intelectual.
• B11:Habilidad de aprendizaje que les permitan continuar estudiando de un modo que habrá de ser en gran medida auto-dirigido o autónomo.
• B13:Capacidad de creatividad.
• B14:Motivación por la calidad.
• B15:Habilidad para transferir resultados de investigación.
• B16:Capacidad de autonomía científica y técnica.
• B17:Capacidad para mostrar información de forma clara.

Specific Competences (CE)

• CE1:Acquire practice in the use of simulation models.
• CE2:Promote criteria for the interpretation of results and the critical evaluation of the models.
• CE3:Acquire skills in biological experimentation methods and techniques.
• CE4:Develop the ability to analyse the distribution and behaviour of chemical elements in the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere.
• CE5:Acquire the ability to analyse processes, flows and balances in ecosystems.
• CE7:Capacity to put one's knowledge into practice to restore and manage the environment.
• CE8:Capacity to propose well-reasoned and reasonable management measures.
• CE9:Understand the factors triggering changes in the abundance of exploited populations.
• CE10:Acquire knowledge about projects: their component parts, the stages they need to go through and the formalities that have to be complied with, etc.
• CE11:Know how to use certain computer programs used to prepare projects.
• CE13:Ability to use analytical technologies and methods that are useful for analysing environmental samples in ecosystems.
• CE14:Ability to use the statistical techniques for sampling and preparing data needed for resource management.
• CE15:Apply Geographic Information Systems to identify and quantify landscape patterns and infer the processes leading to them.
• CE16:Understand soil biology and ecology and their implications for plant health and the working of terrestrial ecosystems, and solve problems related to managing soil biotics.
• CE18:Ability to propose ecotechnological solutions to resolve environmental problems.
• CE19:Apply Ecology to the conservation and restoration of ecosystems.
• CE20:Understand and evaluate the state of conservation and degradation of ecosystems.
• CE21:Understand water indicators in arid environments: Droughts and desertification.
• CE22:Calculate and manage ecosystem status indicators.
• CE23:Capacity to apply plant community dynamics models.
• CE24:Plant population management as a means of managing natural areas.
• CE25:Improve ecological restoration techniques.
• CE26:Capacity to use plant production and planting as tools for acting on the territory.
• CE27:Design, develop and implement conservation and restoration plans for degraded ecosystems.
• CE28:Improve one's ability to write scientific articles: Find information, analyse documentation, interpreting and drafting techniques.

• Structure of the Master’s Degree: credits and subjects
• Distribution of subjects by year/semester
• General course programme

MASTER’S DEGREE: CREDITS AND SUBJECTS

DISTRIBUTION OF SUBJECTS BY YEAR/SEMESTER 

GENERAL COURSE PROGRAMME 

Students should successfully complete a minimum of 60 ECTS credits.  Both compulsory and optional subjects are distributed among 4 modules, including one compulsory module (Environmental Assessment and Ecosystem Diagnosis), worth 20 ECTS credits, and three optional modules, from which students should take subjects worth a minimum of 20 ECTS credits.  These three optional modules are worth a total of 67.5 ECTS credits.  Those students who opt to take either the focus on research or the professional practice module must take the work experience module, worth 20 ECTS credits.  If the focus on academic practice route is selected, students are free to choose from among the different modules offered to complete their remaining 20 credits.

The Modules and subjects which comprise this Master’s Degree are as follows:

• (M1- Subj.1) Compulsory Module: Environmental Assessment and Decision-Making (EADT) worth 20 ECTS credits.
• (M2-Subj.2) Optional Module: Management Tools and Analytical Techniques (MTAT), worth a maximum of 20 ECTS credits.
• (M2-Subj.3) Optional Module: Environmental Management and Diagnosis (EMD), worth a maximum of 25 ECTS credits.
• (M2-Subj.4) Optional Module: Ecosystem Restoration and Corrective Measures (REMC), worth a maximum of 22.5 ECTS credits.
• (M3-P) Focus on Professional Practice Module (FPP) Work Experience (20 optional ECTS credits).
• (M3-R) Focus on Research Module (FRM) Work Experience (20 optional ECTS credits).

The compulsory M1 Subj.1, 8 subjects from among the three subject areas included in M2 (optional module) and the work experience modules are taught at the University of Alicante, thus guaranteeing the possibility of completing the course at the University of Alicante, should mobility  not  be an option.

Two possible routes are envisaged on this Master’s Degree course:

(1) Professionalisation and

(2) Research.

Irrespective of the route chosen students must take the corresponding final modules (M3-P professional practice or M3-R research), since these modules are aimed at equipping students for professional practice, scientific research or academic practice, respectively.  Students who opt for the focus on research module will qualify to prepare their doctoral thesis.

For work experience and/or the research project, students should undertake supervised periods of work in companies, institutions and research centres, such as the Departments involved in the teaching of the course, institutions or research centres such as the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), or scientific parks, etc., where they will acquire the practical training necessary.

• Entry Requirements and Selection Criteria
• Admission and Assessment Criteria
• Pre-enrolment and Enrolment
• Number of Places

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND SELECTION CRITERIA 

According to the Regulations of the University of Alicante, the following requirements must be complied to have access to official taught Master’s degrees:

1. To be in possession of a SPANISH OFFICIAL GRADUATE DEGREE CERTIFICATE or other issued by an institution of higher education  within the EHEA (European Higher Education) that enables the holder to have access  to Master’s degrees in the issuing.
2. To be in possession of an officially approved  FOREIGN HIGHER EDUCATION DEGREE CERTIFICATE that had been recognised as equal to the degree that allows access to the requested studies.
3. To be in possession of a UNIVERSITY DEGREE CERTIFICATE obtained in a University or Higher Education Institution of COUNTRIES OUTSIDE THE EHEA, without the prior approval of their studies. In this case, the following should be considered:

• Non- recognised degree certificates shall require a technical report showing an equivalence statement issued by the University of Alicante (ContinUA – Continuing Education Centre), for which the corresponding fee should be paid.
• Access through this way does under no circumstances imply prior official approval of the holder’s degree certificate, nor its recognition for purposes other than studying a master's degree.

ADMISSION AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

All graduates in Environmental Sciences, Biology, Marine Sciences and Forest Engineering will have acquired sufficient knowledge to be admitted to the Master’s Degree  without the need for additional training.  However, graduates in less closely related diciplines , such as Road, Canal and Port Engineering, Geography or Geology will be required to take up to a maximum of 30 additional credits in specific complementary areas, depending on the type of degree held.

Where necessary, and only under exceptional circumstances, personal interviews will be held. In the case where the degree presented for admission was issued in a country where the curriculum is very different to that of Spain, the centre responsible for teaching the degree will be consulted.  The Master’s Degree Coordinating Committee will assess the suitability of prior knowledge as regards the skills to be acquired on the Master’s Degree.

As regards applicants from countries outside the European Space for Higher Education, the admission procedure will comply with current legislation.

Other criteria which will be considered include: professional experience in the field of environmental applications, and, above all, whether applicants have held a post of responsibility in the management of protected natural areas.

PRE-ENROLMENT AND ENROLMENT 

PRE-ENROLMENT +info

Students who intend to study for an officially recognised Master’s Degree at the UA should complete pre-enrolment in accordance with the guidelines and deadlines specified annually.

ENROLMENT +info

Following publication of the final list of those admitted to the course, an email containing a user password will be sent to successful applicants, enabling them to enrol via the Campus Virtual in accordance with the guidelines and deadlines specified annually.

In the registration process, the documents issued abroad must be official, duly notorised and translated. Further information:

• http://sga.ua.es/en/academic-regulations/legalizacion/legalization-of-documents.html

NUMBER OF PLACES

• Focus
• Degree course specialisation profile
• Professional profile 

Focus 

This Master’s Degree has an professional and research focus. It aims to provide students with an advanced theoretical and experimental training in environmental restoration and management.

Degree course specialisation profile 

The aim of this programme is for graduates to acquire the scientific knowledge and professional skills necessary to undertake professional activities recognised as such by Professional Colleges, whether for Environmentalists or Biologists, within the context of environmental restoration and management.  Specifically,  the aim of this programme is to train students in the fulfilment of the following tasks:

- Conducting environmental assessment studies.

- The Design, management  and accomplishment of restoration projects.

- Literature reviews related to the topics of conservation and restoration of ecosystems.

- Effective management of protected natural areas.

To this end, the Master’s degree includes a network of contacts with companies and organisations in this sector for work experience placements, based on an existing network of exchange, and on the experience of the universities responsible. The list of contacts includes:

• Public government.
• Companies in the forestry sector.
• Companies producing ecological restoration materials.
• Forestry and ornamental plant nurseries.
• Companies working in hillside replantation.
• Aggregate quarry companies.
• NGOs.
• Seed production and management.
• Consultancy firms.
• Others.

Professional Profile 

The basic aim of this Master’s degree is to train professionals in the field of the Environment who are capable of developing and applying preventative and corrective measures to environmental degradation. Similarly, this Master’s Degree programme will enable students to acquire the specialised knowledge necessary to conduct competitive research in the field of restoration and conservation of ecosystems.

TIMESCALE FOR IMPLEMENTATION 

1. Timescale for implementation of the new Master’s Degree Course

2. Equivalence Recognition Procedures, where appropriate, between the current and the new course programme.

Not applicable.

3.   Studies that will be discontinued and replaced by the proposed Degree course: 

The doctorate programme in Conservation and Restoration of Ecosystems and Biological Diversity, MCD2006/2009-00257, will be discontinued.

Internal Quality Assurance System (SGIC) of the Title

• Structure of the Centre for Quality
  • Comission of Internal Quality Guarantee
  • Other Commissions  
• Handbook SGIC
• Procedures
  • Strategic (PE)
  • Key (PC)
  • Support (PA)
  • Measurement (PM)

• Management of the SGIC (Access to ASTUA)

Follow-up of the Title

• Self-reports UA
• External reports AVAP 
• Other reports
• Improvement Plans
• Progress and Learning Outcomes