-
Natural sciences
- Sustainable chemistry
- Aquatic sciences, challenges and pollution
- Environmental science and management
The International Master of Science in Sustainable and Innovative Natural Resource Management (SINReM) programme educates a new range of professionals focused on developing technology, engineering and re-inventing the value chain to make it more sustainable. SINReM gives its students a broad view on the entire value chain and its different aspects. They acquire knowledge on the different (technological) options for optimizing flows of natural resources in the different parts of the chain, ranging from resource exploration over sustainable materials use and use of resources in production processes to recovery/recycling of resources from endof-life products. SINReM graduates are trained to excel in creativity, have an entrepreneurial mind-set, a multidisciplinary view and innovative problem-based technology development skills. They are qualified for a professional career in the private sector (supporting companies in making processes, products and services more sustainable), research sector (applied research at universities or research institutions, or in-company research) and the public sector (consulting in local, regional and (inter)national administrations, defining and implementing policy for sustainable development). The SINReM programme intensively promotes networking and exchange of knowledge and experience between different nationalities, in particular between academic and non-academic partners, scholars and students from Europe and nonEuropean countries. SINReM is offered by a consortium of 3 leading Higher Education Institutes - Ghent University (Belgium), the University of Uppsala (Sweden), and TU Bergakademie Freiberg (Germany) – complemented by a wide range of non-academic partners active in mining and georesource exploration, chemical and environmental technology, development of sustainable materials and recycling technology. Student mobility within Europe is an integral part of the programme, which contains 120 ECTS (2 years). In the first semester in Ghent, the second semester in Uppsala, and during the Summer School and modular course in TU Freiberg, students are introduced to the value chain, management of natural resources, the circular economy, its economic, policy and legal aspects, inventory techniques, the clean technology concept and life cycle assessment tools to assess sustainability of products, services and processes. Moreover, they are exposed to basic training in the different technological tools that can be used to intervene in the value chain. In the second year, students can specialise by following an elective major in georesource exploration in Uppsala, sustainable processes in Freiberg, or sustainable materials and resource recovery in Ghent. Strong interaction with the professional sector is targeted through intensive cooperation with the non-academic partners in thesis research, internships, lectures and seminars. The SINReM programme also provides complementary skills training in innovation management, entrepreneurship, and business case development. The language of instruction is English. Graduates obtain the joint degree "International Master of Science in Sustainable and Innovative Natural Resource Management", jointly awarded by Ghent University, Uppsala University, and TU Bergakademie Freiberg.