Autumn 2013
9 September to 18 October 2013
Postgraduate Courses on Building Resilience to Climate Change
- Introduction
- Admissions
- Courses
The United Nations University Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNU-ISP), Tokyo, invites applications for the intensive postgraduate programme on Building Resilience to Climate Change. The courses have been developed under the framework of the University Network for Climate and Ecosystems Change Adaptation Research (UN-CECAR). UN-CECAR is a joint initiative of more than 20 leading universities across Asia. It is committed to developing postgraduate educational and research programmes on climate and ecosystems change, adaptation and sustainability science. UNU-ISP acts as the Secretariat for UN-CECAR.
The new courses, conducted at UNU-ISP, cover a range of issues on sustainability and adaptation to climate and ecosystems change. Topics include climate and atmospheric science, impacts assessment, climate and society, ecosystems resilience, risk and uncertainty, integrated solutions for mitigation and adaptation, mainstreaming adaptation into development planning and community-based adaptation. Students also will receive practical training in the use of remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for climate and ecosystems change research.
The assessment will be based on a research paper, presentations, class participation, and intermediate tests. The courses are practically-oriented and will be taught by a highly qualified and diverse team of natural and social science scholars. Each course is equivalent to a regular 2 credit postgraduate course in Japan. Credits also can be transferred to the UNU-ISP Master of Science in Sustainability, Development, and Peace programme.
Target applicants:
- Students who are currently enrolled in a masters or Ph.D. programme, in any discipline;
- who wish to deepen their knowledge on, and gain practical training in, building resilience to climate and ecosystems change; and
- who desire a future career as a climate change specialist.
Course Information
The programme runs from 9 September to 18 October 2013. Course 1 focuses on Science, Impacts and Vulnerability, and Course 2 focuses on Approaches to Adaptation. Practical training on remote sensing and GIS software will be provided in conjunction to the courses. The programme is open to students who are currently enrolled in a university postgraduate programme and who have already identified their thesis topic prior to arriving in Japan. As part of the assessment, students will be required to complete a research paper that links their thesis topic to climate change.
Students who successfully complete the course will be awarded a certificate of completion and a transcript from UNU-ISP. Each course is designed to be worth 2 credits and comprises of 36 hours of teaching time. While a number of universities have negotiated credit transfer agreements with UNU-ISP, ultimately the decision on whether credits are transferrable will be made by the student’s university. Please note that the topics listed below may be subject to change.
Daily Schedule
There will be three sessions of courses each weekday:
10:00-12:00, 13:00-15:00 and 16:00-18:00 hours.
Faculty and Learning Environment
Students will benefit from working closely with an expert teaching faculty comprising distinguished UN-CECAR scholars and practitioners, and UNU-ISP academic staff. Because it shares a building with many UN agencies, UNU-ISP offers a unique learning environment.
The UNU Library offers access to a wide range of academic books, over 10,000 electronic journals, World Bank and OECD publications, and official UN documents. All students will receive a comprehensive library orientation session at the beginning of the course.
A dedicated computer lab will be provided for students, with software to cater to the needs of each course, including GIS, environmental modelling applications, and statistical analysis tools. An online learning tool will be provided for students to access lecture notes, reading lists and other materials specific to each course, as well as a message board and forum to facilitate discussion among faculty and students.
Student Support Services and Housing
UNU-ISP will assist students through the courses, acknowledging that students may experience difficulties in adjusting to a new country and culture. Students will be provided accommodation (in an affordable hotel close to UNU) during their stay in Tokyo.
