Governance of Risk and Resources
| Degree: | Master of Arts |
| Application required: | Limited intake |
| Course start: | summer semester |
| Course duration: | 4 semesters |
| Form of course: | full-time |
| Language requirements: | none |
| Other: | post-graduate course (continuing education) |
| Language of instruction: | Spanish and English |
Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences
Programme overview
The Heidelberg Center for Latin America (HCLA) in Santiago de Chile offers a Master of Science in Governance of Risk and Resources. This cooperative venture between the Geography institutes of Heidelberg University, the Universidad Catolica de Chile and the Universidad de Chile focuses on the (political and economic) controllability of problem-driven interaction between humans and the environment. It is interdisciplinary in that it brings together scientific, economic and sociological issues.
Course structure
The course takes three semesters and is divided into a compulsory part and a part with compulsory electives part. It concludes with a Master’s thesis.
Part 1: Compulsory subjects
The classes in the first semester are compulsory for all students and are intended to lay the foundations for the course. The modules on Environmental Theory and Policy, Governance of Natural Risks and Governance of Natural Resources bring the students closer to the central theoretical questions of the three topic areas. The modules consist of a lecture and a seminar, concluding with a class test on the lecture and submission of a written seminar paper after oral presentation in the seminar.
In the compulsory module „Research methods“ the students also learn the bases of academic work and are initiated into qualitative research methods and the methodical toolbox of Geomatics and Statistics.
Part 2: Compulsory electives
In the second semester, students can choose between different electives. The classes here are to deepen the elements acquired during the first semester. With the assistance of specific problem-based questions students are taught material to enable them to work out independent, academic and application-related solutions to problems. The topics of the electives are:
- Sustainable handling of natural resources
- Environment and society
- Energy and water resources
- Climatic and seismatic risks
The classes for these subjects are offered by the Universidad de Chile and the Universidad Catolica. They are integrated into the modules of the Master’s courses in Geography. Each module consists of a lecture with a final class test and other graded papers.
In the second semester students also attend the module “Research seminar” offered by the HCLA. This class helps to deepen the methodological foundations such as planning and writing up a research project. On field excursions, students work out questions for scientific investigation and then do their own fieldwork. That way they gain practice and relevant experience for planning and writing their thesis, with which they conclude the programme in the third semester.
Further information on the course is available here.
Research interests
The main focus of research interest is the governance of risks and resources.
Governance relates to the regulation and control systems in political systems, markets or organizations (also companies). The relevance of an interdisciplinary perspective on governance can be shown on the example of the problematic new dimension of natural risks arising from climate change. Climate change exercises not just in arid areas a strong pressure on the economic use of water, for example. Although Chile has for years had a progressive water market, conflicts on water usage are widespread. In turn, they generate (new) risks such as an overuse or contamination of water. The water example also shows that natural risks and human-induced risks can lead to social disasters.
A challenge for governing natural risks and resources lies, above all, in the fact that environmental conditions are subject to change, which calls for constant adaptation and sometimes even new forms of governance. Human-environment systems are changeable because they intensify interaction (see climate change). Another reason is that the governance of risks and resources, in its turn, generates risks. Consequently, using technology for risk control entails new risks.
Formalities
Application and admission
There is an entry restriction and an admission restriction. Please consult the admission regulations.
Closing date for applications
Mid-January for the summer semester, that in Chile begins in March
Application procedure
Current information on procedure
Further information
Website of the Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences
Examination regulations
Examinations board
The respective examinations board or office is responsible for credit transfer, recognition, and examination issues. Further details are available from the academic advisor.
Tuition fees
The Master’s course on Governance of Risk and Resources is a post-graduate programme, for which €2000 is charged per semester. Here is the list of fees.
Furthermore, a contribution must be paid to the student services organisation and there is an administrative charge.
Academic advisor
Dr. Michael Handke
Berliner Straße 48, Room 114
Thu 11.00 -13.00h
Phone: +49 (0)6221-54-5540
E-Mail: handke@uni-hd.de
Contact
Institute of Geography
Im Neuenheimer Feld 348 und Berliner Str. 48
D-69120 Heidelberg
Office
Berliner Straße 48
Phone: +49 (0)6221-54-4570 oder -4571
Fax: +49 (0)6221-54-4996
E-Mail: angelika.hoffer@geog.uni-heidelberg.de
Internet: http://www.geog.uni-heidelberg.de/index_en.html
Map Lageplan
Student representative body
Berliner Straße 48, Room 102
Phone: +49 (0)6221-54-5564
E-Mail: fsgeog@uni-hd.de
Internet: http://www.fsgeog.uni-hd.de/
