Master of Science in Natural Resources & Environment
No doubt that economic growth and social development are two intertwined objectives of all societies. Achieving these two objectives and sustaining the outcome of invested funds and exerted efforts require special attention to protecting natural resources from exploitative uses and wastes.
The sole purpose of Environmental Management is to safeguard natural/environmental resources and ensure sustainable development at large. Environmental Management is a set of procedures and applications that an organization adopts and applies. Organizations are either a commodity producer, such as a farm, petrochemical establishment or energy-producing plant, or service producer organization, such as hotels, restaurants and resorts, commercial centers, office buildings, etc. They can be governmental entities, private sector companies, or non-profit organizations. In all cases, these organizations need to elaborate and implement an Environmental Management System (EMS). The concepts and tools of environmental management seek to realize better management of natural resources and protect them from irrational use and all sorts of pollution as well.
The program strives to meet the needs of the GCC society for skilled human resources capable of dealing with the challenges of sound environmental management and actively contributing to sustainable development.
Through its well-planned modules, the program is designed to provide its students with the skills, knowledge, and competencies in environmental management to function effectively in diverse organizational settings engaged in the field.
Professionals and decision-makers in the field of crop production, protection, irrigation water management and Landscaping who want to pursue their education for higher Post-Graduate Diploma and MSc levels, as well as graduates holding suitable BSc degrees such as Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Geology, Engineering, Remote Sensing and GIS and Agro-Meteorology can apply.
Vision
A program that is instrumental in empowering the GCC countries to protect their finite natural resources enabled the pursuit of sustainable development. The program seeks to assist the GCC countries in maintaining a clean and healthy environment that enhances the quality of life for present and future generations.
Mission
The Environmental Management Program endeavors to offer a unique curriculum of study, research, and community services. The program offers courses, conducts research and provide technical assistance and training aiming to protect, restore and enhance environmental quality towards good public health, environmental integrity and economic viability.
Program Objectives
- Availing the GCC region and the Arab world with experts and specialists in the field of Environmental Management.
- Conducting research and teaming up with national, local, and worldwide institutions and associations to examine issues about the protection and management of environmental and natural resources.
- To provide technical assistance and training to local, national, and regional institutions on environmental management systems and related issues, such as disaster risk reduction, environmental justice, environmental economics, environmental statistics, decision-making and the like.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the program, the graduate should be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to use concepts and sciences applicable to environmental management
- Apply scheme/s for EMS related to managing an ecosystem or economic activity.
- Recognize adequate research methodology and techniques for problem-solving.
- Design and apply systems for quality assurance, including but not limited to codes of practice and standards, health and safety requirements and environmental issues
- Select appropriate mathematical methods and computer-based software for modeling and analyzing problems
- Incorporate economic, societal, environmental and risk management dimensions in an environmental management scheme
- Think critically and develop communication skills using technical and scientific language.
Program Outline
The Environmental Management program is targeting policymakers, managers and environmental specialists in governmental agencies working with environmental issues and challenges. Executive managers and environmental specialists in corporations are also the primary audiences of the program. Graduate students who wish to pursue their studies in the field of environmental management are encouraged to join the program too.
Research areas include:
- Environmental management for sustainable businesses, private sector companies, and Non-Government Organizations, including ISO 14000 certification, EIA procedures, risk management and the like
- Environmental management and planning for public institutions, particularly environmental planning and policy formulation, environmental assessment, energy management, waste management, climate change, and the like.
- Supportive measures for successful environmental management and planning. These measures using economic incentives, financial instruments, environmental awareness, laws and regulations, environmental statistics, environmental education and the like.