Study

Postgraduate diploma course in Geo-information Science and Earth Observation for

Natural Resources Management

The world’s population is expected to reach nine billion people by the year 2045. Although the majority will live in cities, the demand for food and other resources will nevertheless place unprecedented pressure on the Earth’s natural environment. Not only increasing population but also growing welfare leads directly, or indirectly, to problems such as deforestation, overgrazing, and the contamination of land and water resources.

In recent years, we have become increasingly aware that many environmental issues, such as climate change, transcend national boundaries. As evidenced by the seventh of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, which relates to environmental sustainability, as well as other international agendas and agreements, the management of the Earth’s natural resources is of concern to us all.

With developments in remote sensing technology, we are now able to observe the Earth’s surface in great detail and almost continuously. Never before has it been so easy to monitor and map our natural environment. Yet an ability to monitor and map processes such as deforestation, land use change and environmental degradation is only the first step towards solving these problems. To understand the complexity of factors involved, environmental managers must not only collect relevant data but also interpret and analyse them to obtain useful information to support decisions that can lead to more sustainable use of our natural resources. In carrying out these tasks, environmental managers increasingly work together with professionals from a wide range of disciplines. Geo-information technology − in particular modelling and decision support systems − plays an important role in this rewarding multidisciplinary work.

For whom is the course relevant?

The Postgraduate diploma course is designed for young and mid-career professionals who work in the field of natural resources management and who wish to develop a critical understanding of, and competence in, using modern methods of working with spatial data. The Postgraduate diploma course aims at developing practical skills.

Participants will normally have a BSc or similar first degree in environmental science or in a discipline related to natural resources management, such as ecology, forestry or agriculture. If you have such a background and a keen interest and motivation to study in an international multidisciplinary environment, then the Postgraduate diploma course in Natural Resources Management may be for you.

From diploma to degree

Participants who have successfully completed the Postgraduate diploma course are eligible to pursue the MSc degree course at a later stage.

What is the course content?

The Postgraduate diploma course not only emphasizes the multidisciplinary aspects of natural resources management but also offer you the opportunity of in-depth study in your particular field of interest.

During the first block of the course, you will acquire knowledge and skills in applying geo-information science and earth observation to natural resources management. After this, in the second block, you will spend five months developing more in-depth knowledge and technical skills in order to analyze problems and identify and structure relevant information in selected aspects of natural resources management, in particular, Forestry, Agriculture and Environment. Throughout the course, participants have the opportunity to undertake practical work and case studies in the specialized areas of biodiversity, environmental assessment, food security and forest biomass. For further details, see the Study guides.

Following this period of in-depth study, you will complete your studies by carrying out an individual project.

What will be achieved?

Participants will learn to:

• analyse a problem encountered in natural resources management practice and develop an appropriate method for studying and/or solving the problem
• apply appropriate methods for spatial data acquisition, verification and quality control
• use geo-information science and earth observation technology to generate, integrate, analyse and display spatial data
• evaluate and apply relevant and appropriate methods and models for data analysis and problem solving in natural resources management.

Why choose this course?

The course offers a unique opportunity to share experiences in natural resources management with young scientists and professionals from all over the world. The teaching staff have a wealth of research and practical experience in the application of geo-information science and earth observation for natural resources management in many different environments and in many different countries. You will study and undertake research in a friendly, multicultural and multidisciplinary environment.

Career perspective

With their acquired knowledge and skills in the spatial sciences, graduates of the Natural Resources Management courses are well qualified to work in government departments, NGOs and commercial companies operating in the fields of forestry, agriculture and the environment. Others return to or obtain teaching positions in instututes for higher education.

Admission requirements

Academic level and background

Applicants for the Postgraduate diploma programme should have a Bachelor degree or equivalent from a recognised university in a discipline related to the course, preferably combined with working experience in a relevant field.

English language

As all courses are given in English, proficiency in the English language is a prerequisite. If you are a national of one of the countries in this list (PDF), you are exempted from an English language test. Please note: the requirements when applying for fellowships may vary according to the regulations of the fellowship provider.

English language tests: minimum requirements

Only internationally recognised test results are accepted.

Computer skills

Although introductory lessons on computer skills are scheduled in the Postgraduate diploma programme, applicants lacking computer experience are strongly advised to follow basic courses in their home countries.

Notebook requirements

Participants who start an ITC course of nine months or longer (MSc, Master and Diploma courses), are required to have a notebook computer that meets ITC’s requirements. If you do not own a notebook that meets the minimum requirements as described below then you can purchase a notebook through the ITC Notebook Programme. Notebooks purchased through the ITC Notebook Programme will have at least the recommended specifications as described below and will be fully supported and serviced by the ITC Notebook Service Centre. When repairs take more than an hour you will be able to borrow a notebook for the duration of the repair. Of course you are free to buy a laptop somewhere else, but then you cannot make use of these benefits.

If you are planning to bring your own notebook then please check the requirements carefully. Only notebooks that meet the minimum requirements can be serviced by the Notebook Service Centre. Note that only limited service on a best effort base (software issues only) can be provided when you bring your own notebook.

Student notebooks have access to the wireless and wired network at ITC and wired network in the ITC hotel. This provides access to the network disks and printers.

Software that is required for your study is provided by ITC for the time that you are studying at ITC. Microsoft Office you will need to buy yourself.

Hardware and operating system requirements

Notes:

1. If your computer has a different language installed then you can install the free English language pack from the Windows Update site. Notebooks that do not have an English operating system or language pack installed will not be serviced by the Notebook Service Centre. Supervised practicals also rely on an English user interface.
2. Make sure you have a genuine installation of your operating system. Non genuine windows versions cannot be updated with the latest security updates. (Test it here.)
3. Remove unnecessary software from your notebook before you come to ITC. Demo or trial software can conflict with full software versions provided during the ITC course.
4. Bring your installation DVD’s and license numbers in case your notebook has to be reinstalled.
5. Windows 7 student license can be purchased (approximately 55 Euro) at ITC if your notebook does not have the minimum Windows version.
6. You will need Microsoft Office 2010, which you can purchase when you arrive at ITC for less than 50 Euro.
7. Make sure not to bring or install illegal software, because this will not be tolerated, access to the network and ITC software will be denied and support on your notebook will not be given any longer.