Overview
1 Background of the programme
The Department of Meteorology was started in the early 1970’s with the core mandate of developing human capacity in the science of Meteorology as well as its applications in various sectors such as water, agriculture, energy and transportation sectors. In the thematic area of climate change, this programme has been developed.
1.2 Philosophy of the Programme
Kenya Vision 2030, the country’s new development blueprint covering the period 2008 to 2030, aims to transform Kenya into a newly industrialised, “middle-income country providing a high quality life to all its citizens by the year 2030”. Several “flagship” projects have been identified and are being implemented. They are expected to take the lead in generating rapid and widely-shared growth. Climate change has been recognised as a developmental issue which may impede the gains expected from some of the proposed flagship projects in the Vision 2030. For instance, the flagship environment project, namely the Water Catchment Management Initiative, calls for rehabilitating of the five water towers (i.e. Mau Escarpment, Mt. Kenya, Aberdares Range, Cherangani Hills and Mt. Elgon). Sustainable rehabilitation of these towers requires skills in climate change science.
The Kenya National Climate Change Response Strategy (2009) identified the need to train skilled personnel in Climate Change Science for sustainable national development. The Master of Science programme in Climate change is uniquely broad in its coverage. It is designed so to tackle the range of knowledge and skills required to address the challenges of climate change and sustainable development. It also provides depth in key areas, drawing upon the internationally recognized teaching, research and consultancy expertise of the multi-disciplinary team of lecturers drawn from many disciplines from within the university, plus visiting lecturers from industry.
Climate Change Science is growing rapidly due to the rapid technological developments. The course structure and content will be constantly revised to align it with emerging knowledge, technologies and demands. The Master of Science programme in Climate Change is designed to provide students, having a first degree, with advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in Climate Change Science. The programme meets the needs of graduates seeking a career in the climate change and Climate risk management and also enables professionals to extend their knowledge or to change career.
This climate change programme will be guided by the need to connect and inspire the Kenyan citizenry and international community to provide leadership and stewardship and to give hope and faith to the Kenyan and international society that it can excel in in the field of climate change with passion, moral responsibility and a strong sense of patriotism in line with the University of Nairobi Philosophy.
1.3 Rationale of the Programme
Climate change has been recognized as a developmental issue which if not urgently addressed, may impede the gains expected from some of the proposed flagship projects in the Vision 2030. The Kenya National Climate Change Response Strategy (2009) identified the need to train skilled personnel in Climate Change Science for sustainable national development. One of the key components of this strategy is capacity building including research.
The Master of Science programme in Climate Change seeks to contribute to the national and global initiatives of responding to climate change effects through capacity building in various components of Climate Change Science including Change hazards, vulnerability and risk assessment; Mitigation; and Adaptation. This programme is unique in its coverage and is designed to cover a wide range of knowledge and skills required to address the challenges of regional and global climate change and sustainable development.
The programme is designed to provide students with both theoretical and practical knowledge in Climate Change Science.
1.4 Goal of the Programme
The Master of Science programme in Climate Change aims to equip students with skills, knowledge and competencies in the science of Climate Change and its various applications. It targets first degree holders interested in pursuing Climate Change Science as a profession.
1.5 Expected Learning Outcomes of the programme
At the end of the programme, the learner should be able to:
- Know the drivers of climate Change (Natural and anthropogenic)
- Use different types of climate models to generate climate change scenarios in relation to future climate change projections:
- Undertake climate risks and vulnerability assessment;
- Determine Climate change impacts and the human response to climate change;
- Differentiate climate change mitigation strategies:
- Determine the Economic, social, ecological dimensions of climate change
- Undertake Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit
- Use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a mapping tool
- Undertake Advanced research techniques in their projects
Structure
Placement of the programme
The prospective students shall be required to apply for the course prior to the beginning of the academic year. Upon receiving the applications, the Departmental Admissions Committee shall competitively select those applications that meet the set qualifications.
The programme will be coordinated under the leadership of the assigned Thematic Head who shall be of at least senior lecturer level.
Quality Assurance Mechanisms
The internal quality assurance mechanism shall include internal moderation of the end-of-semester examinations under the leadership of the thematic head. Upon internal moderation, the internal examiner may be required to revise all or part of the examination questions before they are forwarded to the external examiner for external moderation.
Admission Requirements
1. Obligations of the Student
The student shall be expected to attend not less than two thirds of the total lectures offered, evidenced by signed attendance registers. In addition, the student shall be expected to carry out research under the supervision of an academic member of staff.
2. Lecturer and online Tutor Obligation
The lecturer/online tutor is expected to attend to all the lectures as timetabled and to cause all the students in attendance to sign the attendance register. In addition, an assigned lecturer shall supervise the student’s research project. For online delivery, the tutor will ensure the availability of e-learning materials and effective communication.
Fees and Funding
Exam Regulations
he examinations shall be governed by the general regulations for the Postgraduate Diploma in the School of Physical Sciences and on approval by Senate.
- Written Examinations
- A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in any course unit may, upon the recommendation of the School Academic Board and approval by the Senate;
- The pass mark for each course shall be 50%.
- The end-of-semester examination shall constitute 70% and the continuous assessment shall account for 30% of the total marks for each taught course unit, respectively.
- Each course unit shall be examined by a two-hour written examination at the end of the semester during which the course is offered.
- Continuous assessment shall comprise written assignments, tests, term papers, seminars and practical sessions where applicable.
- The program shall be examined through continuous assessment and end-of-semester examinations.
- Be allowed to sit for supplementary examinations only once at such a time when the supplementary/special examinations are being administered if he/she has failed in four or fewer course units.
- Be discontinued from the University if he/she has failed in five or more course units.
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- A pass obtained by sitting supplementary examinations shall be recorded as 50% in the candidate’s academic record. The examination mark shall count without consideration of the course work mark previously obtained.
- A candidate, who fails in the supplementary examination or has failed to complete the prescribed courses within the prescribed time, shall be discontinued.
- A candidate who, for good cause, fails to sit or complete an end-of-semester examination may be allowed to take a special examination. The results of such a special examination shall be treated like that of a normal examination rather than a supplementary examination.
- The University of Nairobi examination policy shall apply. All the university examinations shall be moderated at two levels: Internally, by academic members of staff in the Department, and Externally, by the external examiner.
- A candidate who engages in examination malpractices shall face disciplinary action.
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