Here below you can find all master courses the University Centre offers. All courses are taught in 1-3 week modules running from August through June. See how the courses are organised in the teaching schedule for both programs. Usually 2-3 courses are taught at the same time, but students may only enroll in one course at a time.
The master courses are available to you whether you plan to pursue a degree or just take a course or courses. Please review the options for guest studies to determine how you can apply.
For further information, contact the Administrative Director of Education and Teaching.
People and the Sea: Geographical Perspectives
- Autumn 2024
- Instructor: Dr. Eduard Nedelciu
About the course
The course introduces geographical perspectives on regional development and coastal communities. Emphasis is put on the relationship between humans and nature, and the role of natural resources in regional and community development. Particular attention is paid to aspects of transportation and infrastructure for remote communities in a globalized world.
With a systems thinking focus on sustainability, students will be working to identify and understand local and regional development paths that are embedded in the global context. Furthermore, contemporary challenges of Coastal Communities in the circumpolar region will be addressed.
Instructor
Ed Nedelciu holds a PhD in Environment and Natural Resources from the University of Iceland and Stockholm University. His research focus is on sustainable natural resource management and the economic transition in the context of sustainability transformations. He is part of the SEAS postdoctoral programme on marine sustainability at the University of Bergen. In his postdoctoral project, Ed uses systems thinking and ecological economics theory to analyze the emergence of deep-sea mining, and its implication for policy-making, governance, and academia. He also teaches systems thinking and system dynamics modelling at the University of Iceland and the University of Bergen.
Learning outcome
On completion of the course a student:
- can relate geographical perspectives to coastal communities as well as -regions.
- can use main geographical and systems thinking tools for analysing coastal regions and development in coastal communities.
- has good skills in reading and writing sections of scientific papers on development and sustainability aspects of coastal communities and regions.
- can critically review and discuss basic geographical topics in an oral and written form.
- can understand and explain challenges in regional development from the perspective of different stakeholders.
- can critically assess different sustainability transformation pathways in coastal community development.
Prerequisites: No prerequisites registered for the course
Assessment: 10% class participation, 60% written assignments, 30% presentation
Final Exam: Assignment