Mainstreaming of Climate Change Curricula

into MSc programs at Yerevan State University

International Conference on Climate Change Curricula in Higher Education, 7-9 June 2010, Tbilisi, Georgia

Nelli Hovhannisyan

Yerevan State University

The problems of climate changeare being integrated within two programmes

ENVIRONMENTALSCIENCES

AGRICUTURALBIOLOGY

MODULES RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE ARE BEING DEVELOPED

Environmental biotechnology and natural resources 5ECTS

Environmentalprotection 5ECTS

Biofeul and biomass 5 ECTS

Applied methods in biodiversity conservation5 ECTS

Monitoring and Expertise5 ECTS

Ecology and Agrosystems5 ECTS

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)5 ECTS

Alternative Agricultural Systems 5 ECTS

MODULES RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE ARE BEING DEVELOPED

Environmental protection

Soil resources and their protection.Protection of water resources.Vegetate and animal world protection.Power energy and environment.The city and human being.Waste reduction, management and environment.Extraction of minerals and Environment. Management in the field of environment protection.

Principals of rational nature management and environment protection.Protection of atmosphere air.Greenhouse gases (GG):Greenhouse gases and Climate Change. Emissions of GG from natural and anthropogenic sources. Measures and techniques for mitigation of GG emissions.International cooperation.The principals of cooperation. International organizations. Conferences and agreements. Transition towards sustainable development.

Environmental biotechnology and natural resources

Environmental Pollution: Air pollution and its control through biotechnology. Global environmental problems: Ozone depletion, UV-B, Global warming effect and their impact and biotechnological approaches for management of natural resources.

Biopolymers and biodegradable materials.Water pollution and its control. Microbiology of waste water treatments.Microbiology of degradation of Xenobiotics in environment.Bioremediation of contaminated soils and waste land.Solid wastes: Sources and management.

Biofeul and biomass

Definition and classification of biofuels. Biofuel and Climate Change. Review current biofuel policies. Promotion of technological innovation. agriculture and rural development. Climate change and enviromental sustainability. International policy coordination.

BiogasBioethanol and BiodieselProduction of biofuels.Prospective biofuels.Algae Production Concepts. Economic modeling.

Introduction to Biodiversity. Biodiversity conservation within the framework ofglobal targets. National biodiversity strategy and action plan.Threats to biodiversity. Impact of climate change in biodiversiy.Genetics and extinction. Principles of in situ and ex situ methods.Geographic Information Systems. GIS in Designing Protected AreasProtected areas management strategy under climate change. GIS inForest Management and Biodiversity Monitoring. Mapping natural forestsand plantations. Spatial analysis of distribution tree species. Modeling ofclimate change on these ecosystems.

Applied methods in biodiversityconservation

Ecological Monitoring and Expertise

Ecological Monitoring as a system of measurement ofenvironmental conditions and their effects on organismsor ecosystems.Collecting information about ecosystems and environment(national, regional and global levels).Types of ecologicalmonitoring (chemical, biological (ecological), physical).Network of monitoring. Methods of Ecologial monitoring ofatmosphere (greenhouse gases, other pollutants).Monitoring of ecosystems.Modern methods used for implementation of monitoringprogramme. Methods for sampling and collecting data,independent checks for quality control and assurance of data.Basis for statistical interpretation and inference of impacts.Protocols for conduct of environmental auditing. Selecting keyindicators for direct measurement or observation.Search indicators for different ecosystems, and use ofthe precautionary principle can facilitate early warning ofemerging problems.Ecological expertise

Ecology and Agrosystems

Biological support to productionWider ecological functionsProduction intensification through ecosystem management. Adaptation and management of agroecosystems to climate change. Ensuring diversity and abundance of pollination services.Global environmental problems and ecosystems services

Main types of agro ecosystems in Armenia: specific, conditions, problemsMain types of agro ecosystems and risk factors: Soil’s risk factors,Climate’s risk factors, Geomorphologic risk factors.Agro ecosystems and problems of its pollutionSustainable development of agro-forest ecosystemsThe Ecosystem approach as a bridge between the environment and Human well-being

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

IntroductionEcological concepts: Impact of environmental pollution, acid rains, climate change on pest menegementEconomic conceptsPest management concepts

Alternative Agricultural Systems

Overview of Alternative Agriculture. Soil fertility in alternativeagriculture systems.Crop agronomy in alternative agriculture. Biodynamic agriculturetodayEnvironmental impacts of organic farming. Biodiversity, Landscape,Soil, Ground and surface water, Climate and air EnergyFood quality and alternative agriculture: impact of global environmentalpollution and climate changeOrganic standards and certification

TEMPUS Project 2010UA – University of Alicante (Grant holder; EU), SpainUWE - University of the West of England, Bristol (EU)AU - Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (EU)Paulo & Beatriz – Consultores Associados, Portugal(EU)TSU – Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia

(Project co-ordinator)YSU – Yerevan State University (leading Armenian

University) KSU – Kutaisi State UniversityGSAU – Georgian Agrarian State UniversityASAU – Armenian State Agrarian University

The Project

• Led by Tbilisi State University• Develop ‘fit-for-purpose 21st century curriculum to

provide students with education and training, so to develop into graduates ready for the ‘global work-place’

• – scientific and generic skills and competencies• ‘Consultancy input’ from UA, UWE, AU, P&B on

aspects of curriculum structure and content, quality assurance, work placements, student mobility

Specific Objectives

To develop new MSc modular curricula in AppliedBiological Sciences with a focus on ecology and nature protection, agriculture, food science and healthcare biology:

• To design and introduce the ECTS modular based new MSc program.

• To share EU experience of MSc modular program management, Quality Assurance.

• To establish students mobility and joint degree scheme .

MSc program in applied biosciences

2 year MSc course

120 ECTS

Will be delivered in 2012

MSc program

Health biotechnology

Environmental biotechnology

Agricultural biotechnology

Food biotechnology

MSc program sub programs

Modular structure

Semester 1:30 creditsCore general modules

Semester 2:30 credits25 credits – education5 credits – research

Semester 3:30 credits 25 credits – education5 credits from research

Semester 4: 30 credits10 credits education20 credits from research

The aim: To provide students with key scientific interdisciplinary issues on climate change.

Climate change

Modules of agricultural

biotechnology

Modules in environmental biotechnology

Modules in health

biotechnology

Modules in food

biotechnology

Different topics related to climate change are integrated in different

Modules of the programme

University – Industry links

Review and analysis of possible collaborative national/international Companies, survey of companies' demands, specific needs, survey of

labour market, visits and discussion with possible collaborating Armenian / European

companies.

To promote students integration inresearch and industry the practicalclasses, thesis research worksare organized in different private andState research and industry organizationsLike Eco-Noosphere center,Center of Ecological Monitoring,“Ashtarak kat” milk factory, “Ararat”brendy-wine factory, ‘’Kilikia” beerfactory, “Tree project” research areas etc.

Career Center is actively promotestudents integration in researchand industry thought organizationseminars, trainings, workshops with suchnational and International organizations likeUN, USAID, VivaCell, CARD,SYNOPSIS etc.

YSU is actively engaged in development of national and international cooperation/links

with research /industry.

Development of international mobility

Student mobility and credit transfer is a desired outcome of this project. It will be important to create opportunities not only for YSU students to take modules at UA,

AU, UWE and TSU, but also to create new opportunities for the EU students

Development of QA

• Develop module and programme validation and accreditation procedures (the use of peer observation and student feedback, blind and double marking procedures, input from external examiners etc)

• To assure the quality of the student experience, the currency of the curriculum, the academic rigour of the teaching and learning process, parity between modules, the employment relevance of programme contents etc.

Expected Outcomes/outputs

• Developed Curriculum structure and content/ knowledge experience

• Improved QA Procedures/Promoted European Cooperation in QA

• Introduced new teaching methods /Improvement of teaching process

• Students’ industrial placement initiated / strengthened University/Enterprise links

• Mobility Programme initiated/ ECTS promoted

• Marketed new award/ increased competitiveness of partner Universities

• Dissemination of knowledge /Developed partnership among HEIs

THANK YOU