Education

The Master of Tropical Natural Resources Management programme provides students with in-depth knowledge of three areas (subject majors):

(1) plant production,
(2) the economics and policy aspects of natural resource use in the tropics and
(3) sustainable soil management.

Students will acquire knowledge of biological production systems in the (sub)tropics and gain insight into the different environmental factors that interact with and may affect these agro-ecosystems.

The first area teaches students how to analyse, design, and manage plant production systems in the (sub)tropics, covers the related aspects of integrated soil fertility and integrated pest management, and addresses marketing.

The second area examines how and why actors in biological production systems make decisions concerning the management of such systems and concerning the use of natural resources. Students learn to optimise these decisions at both the micro (management) and the macro (policy) level. This will enable them to translate knowledge into projects, interventions and policies for the sustainable management of natural resources while improving food security and reducing poverty.

The third area, finally, focuses on the diversity of soils in the tropics and their potentials. Students also learn how to study, describe, and predict soil processes quantitatively and to use this information when making decisions on sustainable soil and water management, including soil and water conservation.

This Master's programme is highly multidisciplinary and internationally oriented, with participants from many different countries and continents. Moreover, students are given the opportunity to spend a few months in the tropics to carry out fieldwork for their Master's thesis.

The Master of Tropical Natural Resources Management is an initial Master's programme. You can follow this programme on a full-time or part-time basis.

Profile

The ideal prospective student will have received a good basic academic training in mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry, as well as training in science and engineering skills (statistics, systems analysis). He/she will have received an introductory course on agriculture, agricultural or natural resource economics, and soil science.

For specific admission requirements, click on the desired programme in the 'Choose your courses of study' section.

Objectives

The Master of Tropical Natural Resources Management intends to train bioscience engineers with expertise in the sustainable management and development of natural resources in the tropics and sub-tropics for the enhancement of food security and the reduction of poverty. The programme is designed to provide extensive knowledge in the different biological production systems in the (sub)tropics and their interaction with natural resources and learn to situatie this knowlegde in a social and economic context. Furthermore, students acquire knowledge, skills and competences in one of the 3 specialisation domains (subject majors): Plant Production, Resource Economics and Policy, and Soil Conservation

Upon completion of the programme, graduates possess:
1. in-depth knowledge of biological production systems and natural resources management in the (sub)tropics;
2. an understanding of how biological production systems interact with the environment in the (sub)tropics and how to study these interactions in a systems approach;
3. understand that optimising biological production systems requires the integration of both technical and socio-economic aspects;
4. the ability to translate this knowledge into projects, interventions or policy evaluations for the sustainable management of natural resources, the improvement of food security and the reduction of poverty;
5. the ability to communicate their work both orally and in scientific writing, and the necessary skills to start a science- and/or engineering-based career;
6. the necessary skills and critical attitude to keep up to date with new scientific and technological developments (lifelong learning); and
7. the ability to efficiently function in interdisciplinary teams and a wide range of positions (international organisations, public and private sector, NGO's).

After graduation

Graduates of the MSc programme in Tropical Natural Resources Management may be employed in various professional fields related to tropical agriculture and food production systems, with particular emphasis on plant production, natural resource economics and policy, and sustainable soil management in the tropics. Because of the programme's interdisciplinary approach, responsibilities may range from technical support over project management to policy advice. Past graduates have found employment in public sector organisations, both nationally and internationally, in NGOs and in private companies.

The generic nature of most of the knowledge and expertise gained in the programme ensures that graduates will also find job opportunities outside the tropics in NGOs, public and private organisations, agencies and administrations involved in R&D related to the tropics, and sustainable development of natural resources. Finally, this MSc programme provides excellent preparation for undertaking PhD research. In Belgium, graduates of the programme are entitled to use the title of 'Bio-ingenieur'.

Information sessions

KU Leuven organises a Verderstudeerbeurs each spring. In addition, faculties also organise information sessions for many of their bridging and graduate programmes.

All information sessions for (future) Master's students

(Inter)national

All students are given the opportunity to conduct part of their Master's thesis research at a partner institution or organisation abroad, in particular, in the tropics or subtropics. In addition, European residents can undertake their Master's thesis research at a European university within the framework of the Erasmus programme.

For more information, please visit http://www.biw.kuleuven.be/internationalisering

Spotlight

Founded in 1425, KU Leuven is one of the oldest and most well regarded universities in the Low Countries. Today, KU Leuven is Belgium's largest university, consisting of 14 faculties and offering a complete range of scientific disciplines in the humanities, natural sciences, technology, bioscience and medicine. Supported by nearly 10,000 staff members, these faculties provide high-quality interdisciplinary education to more than
40,000 students, 15% of which are international students from more than 140 countries. KU Leuven actively promotes collaboration with universities and research institutions in the League of European Research Universities (LERU), among many other national and international cooperation agreements.

Contact

Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
KU Leuven
tel. + 32 16 32 17 44
faculteit@biw.kuleuven.be

General information
Study Advice Service
Naamsestraat 80 box 5415
3000 LEUVEN, Belgium
To contact us please complete the contact form on our website.

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