IPSP in Ecological Water Quality and Management at a River Basin Level

Το Δ.Π.Μ.Σ. των Τμημάτων Βιολογίας, Γεωλογίας και Πολιτικών Μηχανικών του Α.Π.Θ. χορηγεί Μεταπτυχιακό Δίπλωμα Ειδίκευσης (Μ.Δ.Ε) στην «Οικολογική ποιότητα και διαχείριση υδάτων σε επίπεδο λεκάνης απορροής». Tο πρόγραμμα στοχεύει στην παροχή μεταπτυχιακής εκπαίδευσης η οποία αφορά στην εκτίμηση της οικολογικής ποιότητας και τη διαχείριση υδάτων σε επίπεδο λεκάνης απορροής, σύμφωνα με την Οδηγία 2000/60 της Ε.Ε.

Σκοπός είναι η προαγωγή της διεπιστημονικής προσέγγισης και η δημιουργία εξειδικευμένου επιστημονικού δυναμικού για στελέχωση τόσο της έρευνας όσο και της παροχής υπηρεσιών, με άμεσες και έμμεσες θετικές επιπτώσεις στην προστασία του περιβάλλοντος και στο κοινωνικό και οικονομικό πλαίσιο ανάπτυξης της Ελλάδας. Εκπαιδευτικό αντικείμενο είναι η θεωρητική, εργαστηριακή και πρακτική, εργασιακή εκπαίδευση-κατάρτιση των φοιτητών στη συστημική προσέγγιση της παρακολούθησης υδάτινων συστημάτων και διαχείρισης των λεκανών απορροής και αφορά στο Περιβάλλον, στον Άνθρωπο και στη Βιώσιμη Ανάπτυξη.

Στο 1ο εξάμηνο (30 ECTS) οι μεταπτυχιακοί φοιτητές πρέπει να παρακολουθήσουν και να εξεταστούν επιτυχώς σε 8 μαθήματα (Υποβάθρου Γενικών γνώσεων, Επιστημονικής Περιοχής, Ανάπτυξης Δεξιοτήτων). Στο 2ο εξάμηνο (30 ECTS) πρέπει να πραγματοποιήσουν και να παραδώσουν πρωτόκολλο εργασίας της Πρακτικής Άσκησης, ναεκπονήσουν μια Μελέτη Ειδικών Περιπτώσεων, την οποία θα παρουσιάσουν και θα εξεταστούν από επιτροπή. Στο 3ο εξάμηνο (30 ECTS) εκπονούν τη Μεταπτυχιακή Διατριβή Ειδίκευσης την οποία παρουσιάζουν δημόσια και ακολούθως εξετάζονται.

INTERDISCIPLINARY POSTGRADUATE STUDY PROGRAM (IPSP) 

"Ecological water quality and management at a river basin level"
In order for the postgradute students to obtain their qualification from the interdisciplinary postgraduate study program (IPSP) "Ecological water quality and management at a river basin level" of the Schools of Biology, Geology and Civil Engineering they have to complete successfully the 3 semesters that correspond to 90 ECTS (Ministerial decision 1889/14-9-2007/No 67145/B7).
They have to attend and complete successfully the exams of the 1st semester's courses (basic knowledge, scientific area, skill development) that correspond to 30 ECTS. During the 2nd semester, which corresponds to 30 ECTS, they have to follow and present a working protocol of their Internship, execute a Case Study which has to be presented and examined in front of a jury.
During the 3rd semester, which corresponds to 30 ECTS, the students realize a Master Thesis which they defend in public and are examined on it.
A full academic year is equivalent to 60 ECTS units (according to the Greek Law 1466/13-8-2007, No 5/89656/B3, art. 1,2,3) and each semester to 30 ECTS. According to ECTS system in each course is given in ECTS (.=2) the workload required by the student for the full completion of the course.

The program aims to provide high quality postgraduate studies on the assessment of ecological water quality and management at a river basin level in accordance with the Water Framework Directive 2000/60 E.C. The program is organised to promote interdisciplinary approach and produce skilled scientific personnel for research, public service and private sector on water protection, and to contribute in the water protection as well as the social and economic development framework of Greece. The program involves theoretical, laboratory and internship in a systemic approach for monitoring water ecosystems and management of watersheds and concern of the environment, society and sustainable development.
The postgraduates of the IPSP are capable of handling Data bases (Access), bibliographic bases, logistic platforms like Blackboard, Refworks, remote sensing, GIS, CORINE CLC 2000 , simulation models, IMPRESS, DSPIR, SWOT analyses, and univariate and multivariate analyses (e.g.Clustering, CANOCO, FUZZY).

Α degree from a University in Greece or from a recognized foreign institution of equivalent status or from a Technological Education Institute is required but the degree’s subject has to be equivalent to that of the IPSP or otherwise they have to be examined on relevant subjects. 

THE PROGRAM OF THE IPSP
The following courses are taught in English but Erasmus – Mundus students may come to do a project on one of the subjects of the case studies in February but they have to know GIS or they have to learn it in Intensive course which have to be payed.

• Physical functions of a river basin 
• Socioeconomic management, Environmental education and awareness
• Management Authorities of protected areas, Legislation
• Methods of sampling, Typology, Remote sensing, GIS
• Monitoring of the ecological quality, biotic indices
• Assessment of the ecological quality and classification
• Land use, Human pressures, Impact assessment
• Simulation alternative scenarios, Management at a basin level, Restoration of aquatic ecosystems 
• Case Study 
• Internship
• Master thesis

2nd Semester
Case studies are consisted of Field work, sample analysis in the laboratory, collection and evaluation of data, writing and presenting work on which they are examined (15 ECTS).

Internship is taken place during September in Research Centers, Institution Management Centers, Department of Environment and other public bodies (15 ECTS). The evaluation is done by the accepting Centers.

3d Semester
During 6 months the students realize a Master Thesis which they defend in public. The evaluation is done by an examination committee of 3 professors (30 ECTS). The topic of the thesis is determined during the second semester of the first year and it is complited at the end of the 3d semester. The thesis takes place after the graduate student has successfully completed the first two semesters.

More information in English