Applications open for the WASCAL masters research program

June 4, 2024 oppor4u 0 Comments

The West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) is a regional organization in West Africa, an international organization focused on academic and transdisciplinary research, building scientific capacity, and providing science-based advice on climate change adaptation and land use management, is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the Master Research Programme in Informatics for Climate Change (MRP-ICC) at the Université Joseph KI-ZERBO in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

This program, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), is part of the Capacity Building Programme of the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use.

To be eligible for the Master Research Programme in Informatics for Climate Change, candidates must hold a minimum of a BSc degree (second class upper division) or its equivalent in fields such as Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Health Sciences, Meteorology and Climate Science, Geography, Biological Sciences, Geoscience, Environmental Sciences, Economics, Agriculture, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Electronic Engineering.

In addition to the specific academic requirements, applicants must also be citizens of a WASCAL member country. Proficiency in the English language will be considered an advantage.

We encourage qualified individuals to apply for this exciting opportunity to contribute to the field of climate change research and informatics.

PROGRAM DURATION

The duration of the master’s program is two years. In the first year, students will participate in the course program of their Master Research Program and work on their research outline. The research phase will take place during the second year, spanning a period of six to nine months. During the last three to six months of their study, students are expected to complete their thesis and internships with relevant government ministries, national meteorological/hydrological agencies, or relevant industries.

The full-time program, which spans 24 months, consists of the following components:

i) Preparatory phase: four (04) months of language proficiency courses in English language for francophones and lusophones at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana; and French language for anglophones, at the University of Lomé in Togo;

ii) Lectures – 14 months, comprising 3 semesters at the Université Joseph KI-ZERBO (UJKZ);

iii) Research proposal preparation – concurrent with (ii) above;

iv) Internship/Field/Research work – 4 months. Students are expected to select topics that align with the research agenda, mission, and objectives of WASCAL;

v) Final thesis write-up and defense – 2 months.

SCHOLARSHIP AND RESEARCH SUPPORT

WASCAL will provide scholarships to selected students in the Master Research program in Informatics for Climate Change. The scholarship is renewable each year upon successful completion of the study program.

The scholarship includes a monthly stipend to cover accommodation and living expenses for the duration of the studies, payment of university fees, a research budget, and a personal laptop computer on loan for the program’s duration.

MASTER’S RESEARCH PROGRAM IN MARINE SCIENCES 2024/2025

The Atlantic Technical University (UTA) invites applications for its Master’s Research Program on Climate Change & Marine Sciences (MRPCCMS) under the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL).

Atlantic Technical University is set to launch its fifth Master’s Research Programme on Climate Change & Marine Sciences for the upcoming academic year of 2024-2025. This program offers scholarship opportunities to a minimum of 12 out of the 24 selected students.

To be eligible for this program, applicants must meet the following conditions:

1. Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of a WASCAL member country, which includes Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, The Gambia, or Togo. However, self-funded students from other ECOWAS member countries may also be considered based on availability.

2. Bachelor’s Degree: Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields or any other related fields: Biological Sciences, Oceanography, Fishing or Livestock Engineering, Geography, or Sciences of the Atmosphere.

3. English Language Proficiency: Applicants must have at least an intermediate level of proficiency in the English language.

The programme includes various components:

1. Language Proficiency Courses: Francophone and Lusophone students will undergo four months of Language Proficiency courses in English at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, while Anglophone students will receive French language training at the University of Lomé in Togo.

2. Master Courses: Students will participate in three semesters of joint Master courses focused on marine sciences, coastal and marine management, and climate change at Atlantic Technical University. These courses will be taught by both national and international lecturers.

3. Shipboard Training: Students will have the opportunity to receive shipboard training on ocean observation and data collection. This training may take place on a local research vessel or a German international research vessel, depending on availability and sponsorship. The Ocean Science Centre Mindelo (OSCM) will provide support for field training and research projects.

4. Scientific Trip: When applicable, students will embark on a three-week scientific trip to German partner institutions.

Scholarship and research support will be provided to the top 12 students, with one student selected from each WASCAL member country. The criteria for awarding the scholarship and research support will be based on merit and academic performance.

Upon enrollment, students must maintain a graduate-level Grade Point Average (GPA) of B or higher throughout their academic journey. Additionally, students will need to submit a comprehensive research proposal, complete with a budget, which will undergo evaluation by a committee comprising a minimum of four graduate faculty members. The proposal must also receive endorsement from the Graduate Council.

Furthermore, students are expected to provide regular progress reports during the project research phase and will be assessed based on their performance.

Application