Dual US-Europe Graduate Degrees in Volcanology and GeotechniquesDual US-Europe Graduate Degrees in Volcanology and Geotechniques

Abstract

William I. RoseWilliam I. Rose11, Benjamin Van Wyk deVries, Benjamin Van Wyk deVries22, Eliza S Calder, Eliza S Calder33, Alessandro Tibaldi, Alessandro Tibaldi4411Geological Eng. and Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton MI USA Geological Eng. and Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton MI USA 22Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, Université Blaise Pascal, Clermont Ferrand, FranceLaboratoire Magmas et Volcans, Université Blaise Pascal, Clermont Ferrand, France

33Geology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY USA Geology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY USA 44Geological Sciences and Geotechnologies, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, ItalyGeological Sciences and Geotechnologies, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italy

http://www.geo.mtu.edu/~raman/INVOGEhttp://www.geo.mtu.edu/~raman/INVOGE

ED31B-0635ED31B-0635

Michigan Tech, Buffalo, Université Blaise Pascal Michigan Tech, Buffalo, Université Blaise Pascal and University of Milan Bicocca have formed an and University of Milan Bicocca have formed an educational consortium to offer dual MS degrees in educational consortium to offer dual MS degrees in volcanology and geotechniques. Students in the volcanology and geotechniques. Students in the program spend half of their MS in Europe and half program spend half of their MS in Europe and half in the US and have graduate advisory committees in the US and have graduate advisory committees that bridge the Atlantic. The new program combines that bridge the Atlantic. The new program combines the expertise of four campuses and give students a the expertise of four campuses and give students a broader choice of study options than any one broader choice of study options than any one campus can offer, while building an international campus can offer, while building an international professional experience. The initiative is funded professional experience. The initiative is funded jointly by the US Department of Education and the jointly by the US Department of Education and the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Community.Agency (EACEA) of the European Community.

Specializes in the fields of Volcanology and Geotechniques.

Each of our four universities has a geological department with emphasis Each of our four universities has a geological department with emphasis in both volcanology and geotechniques. This facilitates dual graduate in both volcanology and geotechniques. This facilitates dual graduate programs. Volcanology and geotechniques are global concerns: the programs. Volcanology and geotechniques are global concerns: the volcanological community is fully globalized, while international volcanological community is fully globalized, while international consortia now deal with major geotechnical problems. Importantly, both consortia now deal with major geotechnical problems. Importantly, both fields require clear appreciation of specific local cultural, social and fields require clear appreciation of specific local cultural, social and economical conditions. The new generation of researchers and economical conditions. The new generation of researchers and professionals require international vision, but also the ability to professionals require international vision, but also the ability to understand local conditions. This masters specifically answers this understand local conditions. This masters specifically answers this need.need.

This program will give students a language and This program will give students a language and cultural training in American English, French cultural training in American English, French and Italian, as well as a wide course choice to and Italian, as well as a wide course choice to meet each individual’s professional meet each individual’s professional requirements. Students benefit from both requirements. Students benefit from both research and professional approaches, research and professional approaches, acquiring a sound multidisciplinary profile for an acquiring a sound multidisciplinary profile for an excellent start to their careers. The trained excellent start to their careers. The trained INVOGE masters students will: meet a clear INVOGE masters students will: meet a clear need for professionals/researchers with broad need for professionals/researchers with broad volcanology/geotechniques skills, and provide a volcanology/geotechniques skills, and provide a workforce with international vision, but capable workforce with international vision, but capable of addressing local projects.of addressing local projects.

The goals are to The goals are to encourage students encourage students to consider to consider international international universities for PhD universities for PhD work and to increase work and to increase cross-border cross-border professional mobility. professional mobility. This is the first trans-This is the first trans-atlantic dual program atlantic dual program in graduate in graduate geosciences.geosciences.

The project is innovative, The project is innovative, combining international combining international experience, strong experience, strong multidisciplinary grounding and multidisciplinary grounding and a broad subject range: students a broad subject range: students can choose among many can choose among many possible advanced coursework possible advanced coursework and research combinations, and and research combinations, and can have a broad choice of can have a broad choice of graduate advisors, field sites graduate advisors, field sites and professional placements. and professional placements. Also, we combine actual Also, we combine actual mobility with complementary mobility with complementary virtual mobility to generate a virtual mobility to generate a lasting, coherent joint masters lasting, coherent joint masters strategy. In the longer term, this strategy. In the longer term, this exchange of a fraction of our exchange of a fraction of our students in both of our strongest students in both of our strongest research/graduate study areas research/graduate study areas is expected to add stronger is expected to add stronger global awareness to all global awareness to all partners, and contribute to partners, and contribute to improved student preparation, in improved student preparation, in academic excellence, academic excellence, professional learning and in professional learning and in linguistic/cultural aspects.linguistic/cultural aspects.

EFFECTIVE:  SEPT 2009- SEPT 2013EFFECTIVE:  SEPT 2009- SEPT 2013Supports two year dual Masters in Supports two year dual Masters in GeologyGeologyInstruction principally in EnglishInstruction principally in EnglishFunded by generous grantsFunded by generous grants

The precise degree awarded is a 2 year dual The precise degree awarded is a 2 year dual International Masters in Geology awarded by International Masters in Geology awarded by the home and main host institution, with a the home and main host institution, with a degree supplement provided by all four degree supplement provided by all four participating institutions, that will detail the participating institutions, that will detail the student-specific study programme and provide student-specific study programme and provide a clear internationally accredited document for a clear internationally accredited document for future employers.future employers.

The first 7 INVOGE students are across the The first 7 INVOGE students are across the Atlantic and busy studying. They each have Atlantic and busy studying. They each have Transatlantic advisory committees operating.Transatlantic advisory committees operating.

Name                           From       ToName                           From       ToDaniele Alami                    UMB        MTUDaniele Alami                    UMB        MTURobert Dennen                   Buff         UBPRobert Dennen                   Buff         UBPFederica Lanza                  UMB        MTUFederica Lanza                  UMB        MTUPatrick Manzoni                 UMB        MTUPatrick Manzoni                 UMB        MTUAlex Molle                          UBP         BuffAlex Molle                          UBP         BuffHilary Morgan                    MTU        UBPHilary Morgan                    MTU        UBPLauren Schaefer                MTU        UMBLauren Schaefer                MTU        UMB