Claudia Pahl-Wostl

International Masters Programme in Integrated Assessment
University of Osnabrück and University of Twente

The Universities of Osnabrück and Twente are currently developing an International Masters Programme in Integrated Assessment. The anticipated start date is October 2003.

Contents

Overview

In response to the need for a more comprehensive education programme in the field of Integrated Assessment, an international Masters programme is being established at the Universities of Osnabrück (in Germany) and Twente (in the Netherlands). The proposed programme is intended to meet a demand highly requested by scientists and practitioners in the field of IA. The programme will be based initially on available European-based teaching expertise and practical experience, and therefore oriented to students from EU countries. It will in subsequent years expand its curriculum to a more international focus and be open to students from all countries.

Background

Integrated assessment (IA) can be defined as the scientific discipline that integrates knowledge about a problem domain and makes it available for decisionmaking processes. Hence, IA is based on two major conceptual frameworks:

1. the conceptual framework for analysing a problem domain and for integrating knowledge
2. the type of decision making processes which an IA supports.

The integrated assessment community has made considerable progress over recent years in recognising the limits to what can be achieved. First, initial approaches relied more or less on models as means of integration. The decision making process was perceived as a utility maximising choice of (a) single decision maker(s). The measures considered were mainly of the centralised kind, such as taxes. Such representations of the nature of decision making and the available policy instruments presuppose a simple system - much more simple than is relevant to the policy issues associated with complex global change problems such as climate change.

It has since become evident that integration has to encompass both scientific and local knowledge. As a result, the combination of modelling and formal analysis with stakeholder participation has gained increasingly in importance. In particular, the European Integrated Assessment community has taken a lead role in this area. Major issues that were discussed over the past few years include:

1. How to account for and communicate uncertainties?
2. How to design multi-scale integrated assessment processes and models?
3. How to improve the representation of the human dimension, and, in particular, how to combine participatory approaches with formal modelling techniques.

Given its interdisciplinary nature IA draws on a wide range of disciplinary knowledge. However, a more comprehensive education at both the undergraduate and graduate level is largely missing. The proposed Masters programme will thus meet a demand highly requested by scientists and practitioners in the field. The programme will have a methodological focus with modules based on conceptual knowledge and drawing examples from practical projects. The programme will be systemsoriented dealing with the analysis and management of human-environment-technology-systems. Due to the importance of mathematical and computer science technique, strong skills in mathematics are a prerequisite for any participant.

The course will enable participants to:

1. analyse and assess problems from an integrated system's perspective
2. judge the appropriate concepts and tools for the design of integrated assessment models and processes in a specific problem context.

Societal problems, in general, and environmental problems, in particular, can only be tackled from an integrated perspective taking into account technological, environmental and socio-economic aspects. We expect, therefore, that graduates of the programme will have good opportunities to secure employment in industry, consulting and public authorities. They will be excellent candidates for PhD positions involving interdisciplinary projects (as it is currently quite difficult to find good candidates for these positions).

Requirements for Participation in the Programme

Students entering the programme will have a Bachelors (i.e. Diploma) or Masters in environmental science, systems science, environmental engineering, computer science, mathematics, geography, ecology or physics. It is targeted to a student audience and not to professionals in business and/or administration.

Proposed Modules:

1. Systems Science
   Introduction into general concepts of systems analysis, systems dynamics, predictability, system-oriented approaches to problem solving.
2. Integrated Assessment
   Methods for integrated modelling (human-technology-environment systems) and link to participatory approaches, agent based modelling
3. Environmental physics and chemistry
   Basic understanding of the theoretical and experimental background of environmental processes
4. Environmental dynamics
   Basic understanding of process oriented natural sciences - theoretical background, processes, data.
5. Decision making
   (Economic) Decision theory, decision support systems, concepts in behavioural and cognitive psychology, social learning
6. Risk assessment and management
   Formal and informal techniques to assess and manage risks. Sources of uncertainty.
7. Management science
   Concepts of management science in general and how they pertain to the management of environmental problems and human-environment systems.
8. Geography and geographical information systems
   Concepts and tools, data quality and how they pertain to management issues

In the second year, the students will be freer to choose among modules that deepen the knowledge required for the masters thesis.

Application areas - examples (case studies, systems knowledge)

1. River basin management.
2. Regional planning and management.
3. Urban management and city planning.
4. Environmental pollutants in water, air, soil.

Management of the Programme

The Masters programme is a co-ordinated effort between the Institute for Environmental Systems Research at the University of Osnabrück and the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Twente. The programme will profit from the various and complementary skills present at the two universities. It will build on and strengthen ongoing scientific collaboration between research teams at the two universities.

The Masters will be launched as a formal program at Osnabrück in September 2003, but with courses and modules offered at both universities. (For students attending lectures, the commuting time between the two universities is 1.5-2 hours by train and bus.) A specialisation in Integrated Modelling will be offered within the Civil Engineering Masters programme at the University of Twente.

Submit your Views

In order to develop an appropriate Masters programme, the co-ordinators are drawing on the expertise and insights of academics, practitioners and students working in the field of IA. If IA is an important component of your work we invite you to complete an informal (and confidential) online questionnaire.

Online questionnaire click here!

Programme Co-ordinator