Master Programme (M.Sc.):

 

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for the MENA Region (RE3MENA)

 

University of Kassel and Cairo University

 

 

 

Background                Objectives                Target Group

Limited study place assignment

Degree                Language                Structure and Time Schedule

 

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Background

Energy resources, indispensable basis for development, become ever scarcer, and the impacts of the climate change are getting evident. Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region face a change in energy policy due to the limited resources of fossil fuels and their rising prices and the growing demand.

 

The big potential of renewable energies opens a new perspective for a sustainable energy supply. As it is a relatively new development there is a high demand for experts adequately trained in renewable energy and energy efficiency concepts. Next to the technical and managerial knowledge related to energy technology these experts should also have knowledge of the practices of project funding and international cooperation.

 

For bilateral projects between Germany and Arab countries there is a need for energy experts being familiar with the culture, language and politics of both sides and are skilled in intercultural communication.
The MSc »RE&EE« has the objective to form such experts and to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency concepts in the context of German-Arab cooperation.

Objectives

The overall objective is to educate experts in the field of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency who are high on demand for leading positions in the energy sector and are able to manage complex projects for international institutions and companies operating in the Arabic region.

 

After completion of the full time programme participants will

  • exhibit academic and practical expertise in their specific field of work, intercultural and management competencies, and regional as well as language skills for becoming experts for working in projects in relation to development policy.
  • contribute to their respective working environment more efficiently, using specialist-technical knowledge linked up with overarching competencies such as communication skills and a holistic approach to solving problems.
  • be able to contribute to their working environment in a practice and demand oriented way, however, based on solid academic knowledge.

Target Group

The ideal student holds at minimum a bachelor (seven semesters) degree and has some working experience at an institution or company in the energy sector. He or she should be fluent in English and have good communicative skills. In addition, participants should be highly motivated to learn technical basics, to contribute to introducing a sustainable energy supply and to the development in the Arab region in general. Furthermore the participants should aspire to make a career in the international energy sector. Very important for German and Arab participants is a keen interest in the other culture and language.
The participants may come from a variety of backgrounds: engineering, natural sciences, economics, social sciences.

Limited study place assignment

The first intakes will be limited to 10 German and 10 students from the MENA region. There should be maximum 3 students from one country of the MENA region.
Didactic and Methodological Concept

The didactic concept consists of two components: technical as well as intercultural management competencies. The technical component provides the participants with the relevant and up to date technical knowledge necessary to take decisions towards projects of a sustainable energy supply in relation to development policy. The intercultural management is equally important and aims at equipping the participants with the communicative, intercultural and managerial skills necessary to take up leadership positions in the energy sector and to work effectively in the framework of international cooperation.

 

In class, modern methods of teaching will be applied such as problem based learning, interactive teaching, computer based learning, and Project work in groups, consisting of students with different professional and cultural background.

 

Learning Environment will be adequate to the methodological concept. Rooms offer place for team working and presentation facilities. The students have broadband internet access.

Degree

Depending on their first degree, the participants receive a double degree Master of Science “Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency”, issued by the Kassel University and the University of Cairo. In case students do start with a non- Engineering degree, Cairo University will grant a Diploma.

Language 

The language of the programme is English (Pre-Requisite is TOEFL 550 point or equivalent). In relation to the intercultural focus of the programme the intensive and study integrated language courses in Arab respectively German are compulsory and will be granted with an international certification.  

Structure and Time Schedule

The fulltime study covers a period of 20 intensive months, without usual semester breaks. The programme starts with 7 months at Cairo University in Egypt, proceeding with 6 months at Kassel University in Germany, and the following minimum 7 months are dedicated for an internship in institutions, companies or developing projects back in the MENA region for preparing a Master Thesis. The programme is equivalent to 90 credit points according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). One ECTS equals to 30 hours of workload per semester. According to the new credit hour System applied in Egyptian Universities, the workload will be equivalent to a four semester master programme x15 weeks/Semester.  This includes 18 credit hour for the thesis and 30 credit hours for courses.

 

Table 1: General structure of the programme

Period

Topic

Place

November to  February  

- Programme Advertising

- Scholarship Advertising

Kassel/Cairo

March 1st

- Deadline for Application

Kassel

July (1st year)   -  January

- Basics & Specialisations

- Exam

- Evaluation

Cairo

February–July (end of 1st year)

- Basics & Specialisations

- Exam

- Evaluation

Kassel

August- May   (2nd year)

Master Thesis

MENA Region

June (end of 2nd year)

- Defence of the Master Thesis

- Final Evaluation

Cairo