NIFK14035U Sustainable Tropical Forestry School

Volume 2019/2020
Education

MSc Programme in Forests and Livelihoods (SUTROFOR)

Content


To gain experiences with field level realities in a tropical country, including developing and implementing a minor research project related to sustainable tropical forestry. A two-week field course to an environmentally diverse area. This will alternate between tropical environments in collaboration with developing country partners. Students will be exposed to a number of topics and/or taken to a variety of sites which demonstrate a range of natural and managed vegetation, and a range of conservation and sustainability issues. Some of these will involve meeting and discussion with local experts. Most of the time will be spent implementing a minor research project. Supervised research method implementation and research report writing.

Learning Outcome


After finishing the course the student is expected to be able to:

Knowledge:

Understand key contemporary issues in tropical forestry (group defined topics)

Understand key social and political influences on the management of natural resources by different groups of people in particular environmental contexts

Overview of data collection instruments and their limitations

Skills:

Apply principles, theories and frameworks to locally specific knowledge/conditions

Plan and implement field work under difficult conditions; process relevant information in the field

Communicate clearly, concisely and confidently in written format

Make judgment of the usefulness of methods and the reliability of collected data as well as the significance of obtained results

Competences:

Argue cogently and think critically within the parameters of a particular academic discipline

Demonstrate the values of scholarship: inquiry, reflection, integrity, open mindedness, evidence-based thinking, collegiality

Tackle problems by collecting, analysing and evaluating appropriate qualitative and quantitative information and using it creatively

Literature

Course material consists of selected scientific articles and book chapters. Students identify additional group specific literature.

All students must have successfully completed the course "Preparing field work in the tropics" (LNAK10097) in the same year.

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
Students will apply concepts and methods in the field. Students must have completed the prior course “Preparing field work in the tropics” and will implement the project developed in that course. Each student will participate in a supervised group. Each group will conduct fieldwork, prepare and submit a course report. Two weeks' field work in a developing country. Final report to be submitted after the field trip.
The course includes two weeks field trip in a tropical country. Students must cover international travel costs as well as other field work related costs.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 16
  • Excursions
  • 80
  • Guidance
  • 10
  • Project work
  • 100
  • Total
  • 206
Written
Oral
Individual
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Students will present orally their preliminary findings, and submit a group field work report of max. 5000 words. Weight: Presentation 20%, Field report 80%. The final grade is calculated as the weighted average of the results from the part-examinations, and you can pass if the average grade is 02 or above.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several examiners
Re-exam

Students will present orally their preliminary findings, and submit a group field work report of max. 5000 words. Weight: Presentation 20%, Field report 80%.

 

The final grade is calculated as the weighted average of the results from the part-examinations, and you can pass if the average grade is 02 or above.

Criteria for exam assesment

See criteria in Learning Outcome