| CODE | IES5023 |
| TITLE | Field Study |
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course |
| MQF LEVEL | 7 |
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 |
| DEPARTMENT | Institute of Earth Systems |
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit comprises an intensive international field trip, through which students will be able to acquire additional hands-on practical experience related to the various concepts and techniques covered throughout the programme. The study-unit combines a variety of teaching methods, including extensive fieldwork. study-Unit content will cover thematic areas from across the various study-units included in the MSc Environmental Management and Sustainability programme, including topics of general relevance as well as topics specific to the two elective pathways offered within the programme (Living Resources/Technological Innovation). The field experience will provide students with opportunities to engage with practical issues faced by environmental management practitioners and to creatively explore ways in which these can be addressed through interdisciplinary teams, while working in contexts with which they may be generally unfamiliar, under time pressure. These conditions will replicate challenges often faced by practitioners in the real world. Aspects addressed in this study-unit include: (i) environmental appraisal and monitoring, (ii) stakeholder engagement, and (iii) evidence-based policy formulation. Study-Unit Aims: - Provide students with hands-on practical experience of relevant techniques in environmental management and sustainability; - Develop students' skills in applying theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios; - Develop and enhance students' appraisal and analysis skills; - Train students to work in unfamiliar contexts; - Train students to work successfully with fellow students/colleagues with a different disciplinary background and in an interdisciplinary manner; - Train students to work under time pressure and with limited resources; - Demonstrate how concepts/techniques can be extrapolated, applied and adapted to different contexts. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Understand the crucial role of scientific evidence in policy-formulation; - Understand the inter-relatedness and mutual influence of different Earth system components and of areas at different nested spatial scales; - Appreciate practical constraints that influence sustainability practice in the real world; - Understand how theoretical knowledge can be translated into practical management outcomes. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply project management skills to work under pressures of time and with limited resources; - Apply knowledge of skills and concepts to work in unfamiliar contexts; - Work with partners from different academic/cultural backgrounds. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: Raggamby, A. & Rubik, F. (2012). Sustainable Development, Evaluation and Policy-Making: Theory, Practice and Quality Assurance. UK: Institute for Ecological Economy Research. + assorted readings to be made available directly to students. |
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Fieldwork and Seminar |
| LECTURER/S | Louis Francis Cassar Elisabeth Conrad (Co-ord.) Julian Mamo Mark Scerri |
|
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
|