Mensen die durven denken over de uitdagingen van morgen, daar streven we naar. Daarom is het onderwijs aan onze universiteit stevig verankerd in zes grote onderwijsdoelstellingen: denk breed, blijf onderzoeken, steun talent, bouw mee, verleg grenzen en kies kwaliteit.

De UGent heeft continu aandacht voor kwaliteitszorg en kwaliteitscultuur. Het UGent-kwaliteitszorgsysteem geeft voor elke opleiding informatie over de troeven van de opleiding, de sterke punten én de werkpunten.

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Onderwijsdoelstellingen van de UGent

Kwaliteitszorg van de UGent

1. Strong student satisfaction: A recent alumni survey showed that the great majority of alumni were very satisfied with the programme and with the opportunities it created for their current jobs.
2. Unique and international programme: we offer a two-years (120 credits) interfaculty and interuniversity programme that studies land and water from different perspectives. With its very strong focus on land and water in relation to climate change, food and water insecurity, environmental degradation and engineering applications, the programme addresses directly and indirectly most of the new 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The programme is taught in English and is followed by nationals from all continents, resulting in a unique international and intercultural experience.
3. From theory to laboratory to practice: we offer an attractive, balanced and coherent programme with a wide range of activating didactic methods including field work, excursions, laboratory work, exercise sessions, computer workshops, group discussions, microteaching, scientific communication and classroom lectures. Our students really appreciate this applied and practical approach to teaching, in combination with a solid academic and theoretical formation. Attention is not only given to the latest technological developments and equipment, but also to low-tech alternative solutions encouraging self-reliance; the programme thus addresses candidates from both the Global North and South.
4. Research-based education: students are truly embedded in the research conducted at the research units of lecturers involved programme. Students are trained to write a research project proposal and to present and defend this to a jury and their peers. An important part of the program is allocated to the master dissertation. Students thus get the opportunity to be involved as junior researchers in cutting-edge research. Many of our graduates start PhD studies at top ranked universities in and outside Europe.
5. Delivery of highly demanded experts: the programme delivers well-qualified professionals with careers in theory-oriented and applied research at universities or research institutes; policy making at (inter)governmental and non-governmental organisations; education, training, extension or rural innovation; design, management and interventions at small to medium-sized enterprises or corporate businesses; or take up a consultancy or advisory position.

1. Motivated and engaged lecturers: our highly-qualified, internationally oriented staff specialised in various disciplines related to physical land resources, ensures that both teaching and research closely reflect topical issues in the Global North and South. Lecturers are internationally renowned experts in their discipline. According to a recent audit, few programmes succeed so well in guiding their students to a master’s dissertation.
2. Readily accessible staff: our programme promotes an open-door policy and open one-to-one communication between teaching staff and students. Students are thus not numbers but individual members of the ‘physical land resources’ family, which they highly value. In a recent audit, the open culture and involvement of our students was highly valued.
3. Fair evaluation and examination policy: our programme employs a wide variety of evaluation and examination methods. The evaluations are valid, reliable and transparent. Students highly appreciate the clear communication about the examination forms and content so that they can prepare themselves optimally for the exams. Due attention is given to feedback and feedforward.
4. Highly valued didactical approach: apart from theoretical and practical knowledge, our programme offers several skills inherently tied to a Master of Science, such as the ability to identify a problem, formulate a hypothesis, test it through experiments of proper design, and report results and findings to peers and a more general public. Another, very important asset is the ability to think analytically and synthetically, while still being creative – all part of a problem-solving mentality. Students gain all the knowledge and skills needed to build a successful career as well-qualified professional.
5. Very active alumni policy: through the extensive alumni network that has been built and maintained for over fifty years, the programme is able to adjust and modify its content and learning outcomes according to the demands of the professional field. Alumni are involved in the programme as co-supervisors of master dissertations and give guest lectures.

1. More focus on needs and interests of European students: though the programme focuses on both students from the Global North and South, a recent audit suggested to better target European students. A significant programme change will become effective as of 2020-2021. More attention will be given to mineral resources, geophysics, and environmental programming and modelling.
2. Study load: about half of the students perceive the study load of the 1st master year as heavy, though they also consider it worth the credits. We realise that we offer an intensive programme, but in the end, most students and alumni do appreciate this. The number of assignments given by the lecturers in different course units is now monitored so that students can better plan their work in the first master year.
3. Structured and proactice evaluation policy: though students are very positive about the way they are evaluated, the programme is participating in a pilote study supported by the faculty Office of Educational Support and by UGent’s central Department of Education on how to further improve the evaluation policy as of January 2020.

This study programme is accredited by the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organization (Dutch: NVAO). Accreditation was extended following the positive outcome of the institutional review in 2022.

This information was last updated on 01/02/2023.
In case of questions or suggestions with regard to the publicly available information, please contact the study programme.