Objectives and Career Opportunities
Objectives
The Master Programme “Integrated Natural Resource Management” (INRM) offers theoretical and methodological knowledge, analytical concepts and applicable skills in the field of management and conservation of natural resources. Students develop a basic understanding of the interaction of natural and social systems as well as sustainable use of resource systems recognising their potential vulnerability and protection requirements. The highly interdisciplinary curriculum is based on the comprehensive expertise gathered at the Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences in the Faculty of Life Science. It integrates knowledge from both (1) the natural sciences, including ecological systems and production techniques, and (2) the social sciences, such as economics, political science, and institutional and organisational analysis. Learn more about the diverse research foci of the Thaer Institute.
Linkages of the Programme to numerous research activities facilitate a strong focus on understanding and developing scientific concepts and methods. The integrative character of the Programme is deepened by the introduction of priority areas that allow for individual in-depth studies of coherent areas of interest. This provides unique opportunities for combining knowledge areas (e.g., natural sciences, social sciences) and priority areas (e.g., sustainability modeling, climate change, conservation), which enable students to acquire specific knowledge and key competencies targeted towards their future plans.
The programme structure aims at qualifying students for either further academic study or a professional career in the broad and dynamic field of natural resource management in the context of coupled social, ecological and technical systems.
Career Opportunities
Alumni of the INRM Master Programme are currently employed in all private and public branches of resource management: soil protection, landscape management, water protection and water regulation, river management and flood protection, emission protection and climate protection policy, nature protection and reserve management to biodiversity policy and preservation of genetic resources, co-existence of conventional and GMO cropping, implementation of agri-environmental measures, organisation of ecological farming, production of renewables and bio-energy, multifunctional restructuring of agriculture, sustainable regional management and project management, implementation of EU environmental directives, development cooperation and international environmental conventions.
Future employers may be:
- international organisations and administrations operating in the fields of environment, development, agriculture, food, fishery, forestry and landscape;
- national authorities, such as ministries, NGOs, environmental and agricultural associations, chambers und agencies, environmental co-operatives and foundations;
- private environmental service enterprises, e.g. doing environmental tolerance testing, environmental certification, environmental consultation;
- private environmental industries;
- public and private R&D institutions, e.g. research institutes and universities.