Dual US-Europe Graduate Degrees in Volcanology and GeotechniquesAbstract

William I. Rose1, Benjamin Van Wyk deVries2, Eliza S Calder3, Alessandro Tibaldi41Geological Eng. and Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton MI USA 2Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, Universit Blaise Pascal, Clermont Ferrand, France 3Geology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY USA 4Geological Sciences and Geotechnologies, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italyhttp://www.geo.mtu.edu/~raman/INVOGE

ED31B-0635Michigan Tech, Buffalo, Universit Blaise Pascal and University of Milan Bicocca have formed an educational consortium to offer dual MS degrees in volcanology and geotechniques. Students in the program spend half of their MS in Europe and half in the US and have graduate advisory committees that bridge the Atlantic. The new program combines the expertise of four campuses and give students a broader choice of study options than any one campus can offer, while building an international professional experience. The initiative is funded jointly by the US Department of Education and the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive 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 in both volcanology and geotechniques. This facilitates dual graduate programs. Volcanology and geotechniques are global concerns: the volcanological community is fully globalized, while international consortia now deal with major geotechnical problems. Importantly, both fields require clear appreciation of specific local cultural, social and economical conditions. The new generation of researchers and professionals require international vision, but also the ability to understand local conditions. This masters specifically answers this need.This program will give students a language and cultural training in American English, French and Italian, as well as a wide course choice to meet each individuals professional requirements. Students benefit from both research and professional approaches, acquiring a sound multidisciplinary profile for an excellent start to their careers. The trained INVOGE masters students will: meet a clear need for professionals/researchers with broad volcanology/geotechniques skills, and provide a workforce with international vision, but capable of addressing local projects.The goals are to encourage students to consider international universities for PhD work and to increase cross-border professional mobility. This is the first trans-atlantic dual program in graduate geosciences.The project is innovative, combining international experience, strong multidisciplinary grounding and a broad subject range: students can choose among many possible advanced coursework and research combinations, and can have a broad choice of graduate advisors, field sites and professional placements. Also, we combine actual mobility with complementary virtual mobility to generate a lasting, coherent joint masters strategy. In the longer term, this exchange of a fraction of our students in both of our strongest research/graduate study areas is expected to add stronger global awareness to all partners, and contribute to improved student preparation, in academic excellence, professional learning and in linguistic/cultural aspects.EFFECTIVE: SEPT 2009- SEPT 2013Supports two year dual Masters in GeologyInstruction principally in EnglishFunded by generous grants

The precise degree awarded is a 2 year dual International Masters in Geology awarded by the home and main host institution, with a degree supplement provided by all four participating institutions, that will detail the student-specific study programme and provide a clear internationally accredited document for future employers.The first 7 INVOGE students are across the Atlantic and busy studying.They each have Transatlantic advisory committees operating.

Name From ToDaniele Alami UMB MTURobert Dennen Buff UBPFederica Lanza UMB MTUPatrick Manzoni UMB MTUAlex MolleUBP BuffHilary Morgan MTU UBPLauren Schaefer MTU UMB