Program of Natural Resources And Environmental Management
Rational of the programme
Environment pollution and natural resources mismanagement have greatest burden especially in the developing countries. This therefore calls for the need to prevent and reduce the rate of environment and natural resources degradation by improving physical, chemical, biological, cultural and social environmental conditions in our country. This is the reason why natural resources and environmental management is one of the priority areas of the government expenditure. In line with this, the government of Rwanda under the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) has established a certain number of regulations for a sustainable use and management of the environment. Beside this public agency, there is also the Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) that deals with the implementation of these regulations for improving environment and natural resources management strategies.
However, the main challenge identified here is to find people with knowledge and skills for ensuring an environmental sustainability. The shortage of trained graduates in management of natural resources and environment is one of the key reasons of the degradation of the environment in most of developing countries such as Rwanda. Therefore the programme intends to produce specialists in natural resources and environmental management who will be able to integrate theory and practice in critically assessing, analyzing and managing environment and natural resources of the individual and the community. The natural resources and environmental management graduate will acquire the necessary knowledge, and skills through lectures, tutorials, group discussion, practical, research and field works.
Overall aim of this programme is
To produce highly competent professionals in the field of natural resources and environmental management able to find solutions to problems in the area of policy-making and operational decision making on the subject of preserving the environment and sustainable development.
Program Exit profiles:
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be expert in analysing physical, economic and social as well as policy elements of environment and natural resources. Graduates may work with government or non-governmental organisation in areas of land use and forestry system, water resources management, landscapes, energy saving and sustainability, as well in areas of ecology sustainability. Likewise, graduate shall be advisors of policy makers of natural resources and environmental management and other environment related domains.
Programme organization/structure
The programme is taught within 3 years. At the beginning of the programme students are equipped by different generalities and theoretical courses related to Natural Resources and Environmental Management. Then during the remaining years teachings are focused more on practices and specific courses. More attention is given to professional practicum (organizing different field works, seminars, study trips, and so on). More specifically, in the last year students have an internship of two months (20 credits) and present a research paper (memoir).
Programme Eligibility
The programme should be attended by students who completed successfully secondary school level, preferably in the following combinations: -Physics- Chemistry and Maths, -Biology and chemistry, Human sciences, Teaching Training Course-integrated science, Agriculture, and Animal husbandry, and History, Economics and Geography, Economics and Geography. Also guidelines set by HEC on admission are considered.
Programme Details
Programme Title: Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM)
Exit Awards: Bachelor of Arts in Natural Resources and Environmental Management
Modes of Attendance: Full time and Part time
- Year I:
| Module Code | Module component | Credits |
| MAT111 | Mathematics 1111 Elements of Algebria 1112 Analytical elements |
10(1) |
| FBI 113 | Fundamentals of Biology 1131 General Biology 1132 Introduction to Botany 1133 Introduction to Zoology |
20(3) |
| ICT 112 | ICT 1121 Descriptions & application of a computer system 1122 Software applied to Environmental Management |
15(2) |
| SSK 112 | Study Skills 1121 Study skills and strategies 1122 Introduction to scientific research-Academic Writing |
15(2) |
| ISS 122 | Introduction to Social Sciences 1221 Introduction to Sociology 1222 Introduction to politics 1223 Introduction to cultural and Religion |
15(2) |
| PE 122 | Principles of Economics 1221 Introduction to micro-economy 1222 Introduction to macro-economy 1223 Rwandan economy |
15(2) |
| EPE123 | Earth’s Physical Environment 1231 Atmosphere 1232 Biogeochemical cycle |
20(3) |
| STA 121 | Statistics 1211 Descriptive statistic 1212 Inferential statistic |
10(1) |
| English I | Not credited | |
| Total Credit | 120 |
Award: Certificate of Arts in Natural Resources and Environmental Management.
Year II: Level II
| Module Code | Module component | Credits |
| PEC 213 | Principles of Ecology 2131 Terrestrial ecology 2132 Aquatic ecology |
20(3) |
| NRM 212 | Natural Resources Management 2121 Natural Resources Conservation 2122 Integrated Natural Resources Management |
15(2) |
| EEC 213 | Environmental Economics 2131 Economic Analysis of Natural Resource Management 2132 Economics of Renewable Resources |
20(3) |
| WRM 223 | Water Resources Management 2131 Introduction to hydrology system 2132 Integrated water resources management (IWRM) 2133 Water pollution and remediation |
20(3) |
| IGR 223 | Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing 2231 Principles of GIS. 2232 Principles of Remote Sensing |
20(3) |
| EPL 221 | Environmental Policy and Law 2211 Principles of environmental law 2212 Rwanda National Environmental Policy and Multilateral Environmental Agreements |
10(1) |
| SLM 222 | Soil and Land Resources Management 2221 Land Resources Management 2222 Soil and Water Conservation for Agro environmental Management |
15(2) |
| English II | Not credited | |
| Total Credits | 120 |
Award: Diploma of Arts in Natural Resources and Environmental Management
Year III: Level III & Level IV Level III
| Module Code | Module component | Credits |
| FRM311 | Forestry Resources Management 3111 Introduction to Agroforestry 3112 Forestry Resources Conservation |
10(1) |
| WMG 311 | Wastes Management 3111 Solid wastes Management 3112 Liquid Wastes Management |
10(1) |
| EHS 311 | Environment Health and Safety 3111 Disaster Management and preparedness 3112 Occupational Health Safety and Environment |
10(1) |
| EBT312 | Environmental Biotechnology 3121 Principles of environmental biotechnology 3122 Applications of Environmental Biotechnology |
15(2) |
| ECD 312 | Environment and Community Development : 3121 Religious and environment conservation , 3122 Community conservation; 3123 Environmental Education and Advocacy |
15(2) |
| Sub-Total Credits Level III | 60 |
Award: Advanced Diploma of Arts in Natural Resources and environmental Management
Level IV
| Module Code | Module component | Credits |
| EIS 421 | Environmental Information Systems 4211 Information Cycle and Needs assessment 4212 Information networking and data mobilization; |
10(1) |
| EIA 421 | Environmental Impact Assessment 4211 Methods of assessing Environmental impacts 4212 Environmental Inspection and Audits |
10(1) |
| CCD 423 | Climate Change and Development 4231 Introduction to the earth’s climate 4232 Climate change and global environment 4233 Efforts to control climate change |
20(3) |
| ARM423 | Applied Research Methods in Resources Management 4231 Theoretical Framework on Applied Research 4232 Applied Research on Resources Management |
20(3) |
| Sub-Total Credits Level IV | 60 | |
| Total credits Year III | 120 |
Award: Ordinary degree of Arts in Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM)
Year IV: Level V
| Module Code | Module component | Credits |
| PEV 511 | Population and Environment 5111 Demographic explosion 5112 Conflicts and Environment management 55113 Environmental Planning |
10(1) |
| EBD 513 | Environmental Business and Development 5131 Environmental Business for self employment 5132 Entrepreneurship applied to natural resources |
20(3) |
| ETG 512 | Environmental Technology 5121 Introduction to Environmental Technology; 5122 Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development |
15(2) |
| AGR 512 | Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing 5121 Principles of advanced GIS and Remote Sensing. 5122 Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing for environmental management |
15(2) |
| EPM 523 | Environmental Project Development & Management 5231 Environmental Project Development 5232 Environmental Project Management 5233 Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation |
20(3) |
| ITP 523 | Internship | 20(3) |
| RDT523 | Research Dissertation | 20(3) |
| Total Credits | 120 |
Award: Bachelor of Arts in Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM)