Natural Resources Management and Development

Overview

Their ability to provide renewable resources such as food, water and energy is at risk and waning. This calls for specialists and leadership in order to develop and employ managerial, economical, governance, and technical solutions.

The profile of the Natural Resources Management and Development (Master's program) at TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences) is application-oriented. The aim is to educate experts in the field of natural resources management. This requires a diversification of their knowledge and leads to the capability of cross-linked thinking. The answer to complex environment related problems requires economic and managerial competencies more than classical technical knowledge.

The consolidation of different disciplines has not only a methodological dimension but also a cultural and a human one since interdisciplinary team work requires capacities of sharing knowledge and effective communication.

Therefore, the study objectives are focused on

• achieving a consistent and fundamental understanding of natural and social systems as a basis for the sustainable management of renewable natural resources;

• defining and analyzing the risks and problems related to inadequate resource uses (land use, overconsumption);

• selecting and applying the appropriate analytical tools, proper policies and management measures in a given economic, cultural, legal and environmental context on national to local scales;

• selecting and applying the available resources allocation mechanisms (economic, spatial and strategic planning, political negotiations) in a problem-solving/oriented manner;

• managing projects and processes related to natural resources management;

• communicating effectively in multi-stakeholder, intercultural environments with all strata of society;

Accreditation

program accredited until Sep 30, 2022