A Master of Philosophy in Integrated Water Management

Do you want to;

• Become a water leader for the future?
• Learn from and with some of the leading international experts in the field?
• Gain skills through hands-on, problem based learning?
• Work with classmates from diverse backgrounds?
• Network with water professionals?

There are no other courses in South Africa, and very few internationally, that take such an integrated approach to teaching and learning about water management.

Course information

Fresh water is arguably the most fundamental of all natural resources.  It affects every form of life on earth. One of the most pressing issues of our time is the fragile relationship between societal existence, human well-being and ecological systems. How should scientists respond? Scientists have an obligation to produce new knowledge and communicate new understanding to the public and policy makers. They must help society move towards a more sustainable biosphere. While fundamental research remains eminently important, new approaches are necessary for solving interdisciplinary problems at multiple spatial and temporal scales.

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) with specialisation in Integrated Water Management (IWM) is an offering of Monash South Africa in collaboration with the International WaterCentre and four partner Universities in Australia. It comprises an interdisciplinary foundation semester consisting of four compulsory units and a two-three semester research project. A combination of coursework and research sets this course apart from the normal research-based structure of a masters degree. Whilst the research component in the form of a masters thesis will form the bulk of the degree weighting, the coursework component introduces and exposes students to some of the complex underlying concepts (biological, social and economic) affecting effective water management. The coursework is designed to properly equip and prepare students to plan and execute a high-quality and practically relevant research project.

An important aim of the M Phil (IWM) is to equip students to play leadership roles in the critical interface between science and management of water resources.  The course will provide an integrated approach to managing freshwater resources, which is a relatively new approach. The course will be taught in a South African context using local case studies and examples wherever possible, while also using expertise and case studies from developed and other developing contexts to provide a distinct international exposure.

Click here to download the M Phil course advert (pdf, 175Kb)