1). OVERVIEW OF PROGRAM
The Master of Sustainable Ecosystem Management (SEM) is created to address the urgent need for biodiversity conservation and management in Cambodia as well as in the whole Mekong River Basin facing rapid global environmental changes to ensure the sustainable development within the region. It brings together the social sciences, natural sciences and sophisticated modelling techniques to develop the decision support tools that could be used remotely, regionally or internationally by providing appropriate developing scenarios to stakeholders in response to future change.
SEM is developed under the support of European Project – Erasmus+ Program within the consortium of 4 European university partners: University of Toulouse (France), University of Girona (Spain), University of Ghent (Belgium) and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Austria), and 4 South-East Asia university partners: University of Battambang (Cambodia), Royal University of Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Can Tho University (Vietnam) and An Giang University (Vietnam). The program has been divided into five parts for a total of 54 credits, which is required by the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Therefore, all students are required to complete minimum 42 credits of course work and 12 credits of research work to fulfill the requirements of the program.
Objectives
Sustainable ecosystem management is the study of scientific solutions and societal interventions for an environmentally accountable society and the use of natural resources. Indeed, the two-year master program aims at building up the research capacity and skills by integrative approaches that can be applied to enhance the sustainability of ecosystem in the face of climate change, particularly alteration driven by anthropogenic activities (e.g. dams). Besides of academic background, the SEM is focused on the development of decision support systems that could be answered and mitigated the current impacts induced by human activities such as dam construction, deforestation and pollution. Therefore, the students will be trained with advanced statistical, analytical and problem solving skills to deal with the current trade-off for biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development in the region.
Learning outcomes
SEM educates the scientists of the future and the practical problem solvers in the context of global change. SEM curriculum emphasizes:
- Scientific knowledge and concepts for sustainable development
- Practical skills and leadership
- Independent academic and research skills
- Ability to convey the knowledge and research into decision support tools
- Global perspective on ethics and sustainability facing rapid global environmental change
- Publication in international peer reviewed journals
Prospectus careers
Graduates from the SEM program will become:
- Ecosystem management specialist
- Researcher, lecturer, trainers in academic or research institutions
- National and International freelance consultant on biodiversity conservation and management
- Policy maker and planner
- PhD candidate in various fields of natural and social sciences
- Entrepreneur in assessing ecological properties of the nature
2). COURSE DESCRIPTION
The master course is a combination of course and research work for two-year program of study
Codes |
COURSES |
Credits |
Theoretical hours |
Practical hours |
|
A. Foundation Courses (3 subjects: 6 credits) |
|
|
|
SEM01 |
Community ecology and ecosystem dynamics |
2 |
30 |
– |
SEM02 |
Sustainable management of ecosystem services |
2 |
30 |
– |
SEM03 |
Field methods in ecology |
2 |
30 |
– |
|
B. Core Courses (6 subjects: 18 credits) |
|
|
|
SEM04 |
Conservation biology |
3 |
30 |
15 |
SEM05 |
Climate change adaptation and mitigation |
3 |
30 |
15 |
SEM06 |
Ecological status and reference condition |
3 |
15 |
30 |
SEM07 |
Terrestrial and aquatic ecology |
3 |
30 |
15 |
SEM08 |
GIS & Remote sensing |
3 |
15 |
30 |
SEM09 |
Ecological economics |
3 |
|
|
|
C. Elective Courses (2 or 3 subjects: 6 credits) |
|
|
|
SEM10 |
Environmental law |
3 |
30 |
15 |
SEM11 |
Perspective on sustainable development |
2 |
30 |
– |
SEM12 |
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) |
3 |
30 |
15 |
SEM13 |
Sustainable hydropower |
2 |
30 |
– |
SEM14 |
Evaluation for sustainable development |
2 |
30 |
– |
SEM15 |
Leadership for sustainable development |
2 |
30 |
– |
SEM16 |
Seminars I & II |
2 |
– |
|
|
D. Research Courses (5 subjects: 12 credits) |
|
|
|
SEM17 |
Basic statistics |
2 |
30 |
– |
SEM18 |
Research methodology |
2 |
15 |
15 |
SEM19 |
Scientific writing and communication |
2 |
15 |
15 |
SEM20 |
Decision support systems (DSS) |
3 |
30 |
15 |
SEM21 |
Machine learning |
3 |
30 |
15 |
|
E. Thesis |
|
|
|
|
Thesis writing |
12 |
– |
– |
Total |
A + B + C + D+E |
54 |
|
|
Core Course for MS SEM
- Sustainable Management for Ecosystem services
- Perspective & evaluation on sustainable development
- Community ecology
- Ecological economy
- Ecological status and reference condition
- Machine learning
- Decision support
- GIS and remote sensing
3). ADMISSION TO PROGRAM
Eligibility
All candidates who are currently holding the Bachelor of Sciences or equivalent degree in biology, mathematics, geography, agriculture, environmental economy, community development, or relevant bachelor programs.
Student selection
The selection of candidate is based on the background and academic achievement of candidate. Interested candidates are invited to send their CV (electronic version) to the scientific coordinators or submit their CV at the Post-Graduate School, University of Battambang. Screening and interviewing processes will be used to select definitively the candidates.
Tuition fee: 750 USD per year
Scholarship opportunity and research grant
Under the framework of Erasmus+ CONSEA project, M-SEM is connected to several Associate Partners in Cambodia, Thailand, China and France, such as:
- Ubon Rachathani University (UBU)-Thailand
- Maejo University (MJO)-Thailand
- SouthWest University (SWU)-China
- Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB-CAS)-China
- Région Occitanie-France
- Pearl River Fishery Research Institute (PRFRI)-China
- Institut Français du Cambodge (IFC)-Cambodia
- Institute of Hydroecology- China
- Ministry of Water Resources and Chinese Academy of Sciences-China
Within this framework, students could have possibility to stay and conduct their internship in these associate partners through the support or scholarship of different funding agencies:
- Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA)
- Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC)
- Chinese Academic of Sciences (CAS)
- French Embassy in Cambodia
- Région Occitanie, France
- Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)
Besides, it will take advantages of all the opportunities from the existing programs and/or projects related to their field of study, such as:
- Internship fellowships for students with UBB research grants
- Internship fellowships of the Cambodian universities and government (e.g. MoE, TSA, CNMC)
- Internship fellowships from other projects (e.g. NutriSEA, UNICAM, WAgN-Cambodia)
- Internship fellowships from research and NGO institutions (WorldFish, CI, FFI, CBC, IFREDI, MRC)
- Internship fellowships from existing on-going projects funded by JICA, World Bank and ADB
Enrollment
Institution: University of Battambang
Study regime: Part time (Weekend program)
Duration: 2 years (4 semesters)
Number of credits: 54 credits to be achieved
Language: Khmer and English
Important dates
Deadline of CV submission: 1st September (every year)
Selection of candidates: 25th September (every year)
Registration: 25th September to 15th October (every year)
Semester start: 15th October (every year)
Contact for further information
Scientific Coordinators
Chea Ratha, Tel: 012 319 045 | Email: chearatha@ubb.edu.kh
Seng Ratha, Tel: 095 429 647 | Email: ratha.seng@ubb.edu.kh
Administrators
Tan Solida, Tel: 017 39 59 79 | Email: solidatan@ubb.edu.kh
Chea Ratha, Tel: 012 319 045 | Email: chearatha@ubb.edu.kh
Post-Graduate School is at your disposal for any query or information.