8.1.1 Article 1.1 Applicability
These Regulations apply to the courses and final assessment of the Master’s degree programme in Regional Studies hereinafter referred to as ‘the degree programme’. The degree programme is provided by the Faculty of Spatial Sciences of the University of Groningen, hereafter called ‘the faculty’.
8.1.2 Article 1.2 Definitions
These regulations are referred to as the OER (abbreviation for ‘Onderwijs- en Examen Regeling’, the Teaching and Examination Regulations) of the Master’s degree programme in Regional Studies’.
The following definitions apply to these Regulations:
1 The Act: ‘De Wet op het hoger onderwijs en wetenschappelijk onderzoek’ (WHW: Higher Education and Research Act).
2 Student: a person enrolled in the university for the purpose of taking modules and/or examinations and the final assessment leading to the conferral of a university degree.
3 Module: a course unit or other part of the degree programme within the meaning of the Act.
4 Practical: a practical exercise, as referred to in Art. 7.13 of the Act, in one of the following forms:
a final-year thesis a written paper or draft research or assignments
participation in a field trip or excursion completion of an internship or traineeship
participation in a different educational activity designed to teach certain skills.
5 Study guide: the most recent study guide for the programme 6 Examination: the examination for the Master’s degree programme
7 Semester: part of the academic year, either commencing on 1 September and ending on a date to be determined by the Board of the Graduate School of Spatial Sciences on or around 31 January, or commencing on the aforementioned date and ending on a date to be determined by the Board of the Graduate School of Spatial Sciences on or around 1 July.
8 The Board: The Board of the Graduate School Regional Studies. The other definitions shall have the meaning that the Act ascribes to them.
8.1.3 Article 1.3 Aim of the degree programme
The Research Master is part of the Graduate School of Spatial Sciences which encompasses research and capacity building at international level. The objective of
Teaching and Examination Regulations
the Graduate School, and thus the Research Master, is to provide high quality education to students who want to be trained as a researcher in Spatial Sciences. The degree programme is designed to prepare for:
1 employment in public or private organizations, such as research-oriented government departments and consultancy firms in work geared to pure or applied independent scientific research, and
2 further study and training aimed at a PhD thesis and an ensuing academic career.
The programme is a natural follow-up of the Challenge Programme in the Bachelor’s programme and is especially suited for students with a theoretical or methodological orientation. Students can specialize in:
• economic geography. • cultural geography, • population studies, • spatial planning;
• development studies, a collaboration with the RuG Centre for Development Studies and Uppsala University. The specialization in development studies consists of two development themes, i.e. Planning and Sustainable Development; and Population and Health within developing countries.
The overall goal of the programme is to turn out graduates with the following qualifications:
Theoretical attitudes and understanding, research skills:
1 Sound knowledge and thorough understanding of important contemporary issues and theories in the spatial sciences, more specifically Regional Studies, and a detailed knowledge of important issues in their area of specialization including relevant theories and subjects in related fields such as economics, sociology, anthropology and social psychology, depending on the disciplinary emphasis chosen.
2 Sound knowledge and understanding of theoretical models of spatial behaviour of individuals or organizations (especially firms), and expertise and experience in linking research questions with theories of spatial and human behaviour.
3 The ability to apply the body of knowledge to the understanding of concrete socio-spatial, physical-spatial, developmental, regional or demographic phenomena and problems.
4 Expertise and experience in the formulation and implementation of a research project, i.e. a clearly formulated research problem that is innovative while building on the state of the art in a field of Regional Studies and related scientific disciplines and that is firmly supported by the relevant literature in the field.
5 A helicopter view of suitable and feasible research designs and methods of data collection in different types of research, such as field, survey and/or experimental research, as well as extensive expertise and experience in the adequacy, applicability and factual application of such research designs and methods of data collection.
Teaching and Examination Regulations
6 The ability to choose and apply appropriate research methodology, methods and (statistical) techniques, and to critically evaluate the resulting research outcomes.
7 Expertise and experience in the integration of theory and qualitative and quantitative empirical research (‘theory-guided empirical research’) and experience in the full process of research, including reporting on the research results. These qualifications are reflected in a Master Thesis which is on the level of a publishable research paper.
8 The ability to apply theories and results of Regional Studies and related disciplines in an original way to policy and scientific research issues in the context of both a disciplinary and societal framework.
General academic skills:
1 The ability to reflect on the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgements.
2 The ability to give presentations to specialist and non-specialist audiences and to communicate the underpinnings as well as limitations of their conclusions.
3 Developing a scientific, critical mind. 4 Scientific writing.
5 Information search and retrieval, in data documentation and in archiving according general scientific standards.
6 The ability and skills to write a Master Thesis in a largely self-directed or autonomous manner.
7 The ability to formulate policy implications of scientific research, taking into account the limitations of the information and scientific insight on which practical recommendations are based.
General work orientation:
1 A critical and reflexive attitude and the analytical and research skills needed to qualify for a PhD programme after graduation or to function on a professional level in research and policy departments of governmental/non- governmental organizations and enterprises.
2 A general work orientation and the ability to be a productive and respected member of a research team by contributing to collective efforts, time management, and by participating in a network in the research domain of Regional Studies.
8.1.4 Article 1.4 Type of degree programme
The degree programme is full-time.
8.1.5 Article 1.5 Official language
The official language of the modules and examinations is English.