ABOUT US
Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT)
The ITT was established in 1976 at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences as an independent
unit for postgraduate education and interdisciplinary research. Research and education of the Institute
focus on analysing natural resources issues in tropical and subtropical regions as well as on the
respective solutions towards a sustainable management of natural resources. Besides TERMA (MSc; see below),
since 2007 it offers the Arab – German Master programme "Integrated Water Resources Management" IWRM
(MSc) together with the University of Jordan.
The international research projects of the ITT are interdisciplinary and practice-oriented and focus on
the areas: land use systems analysis and management, integrated water resources management (IWRM), natural
resources economics, renewable energies in rural areas and sustainable regional management and planning. In
the scope of its Master programmes and research projects, the ITT cooperates with different faculties at CUAS
but also with other universities in Germany and Europe like the Universities of Bonn, Leipzig, Jena, Hamburg,
Innsbruck, Uppsala, Granada, Prague and Karlsruhe. Overseas, the ITT works with universities in Brazil, Chile,
Mexico, Egypt, Jordan, Vietnam, Nepal, Cambodia and Indonesia and has a broad and long lasting experience in
hosting, educating and tutoring students from around the world.
TERMA
The master programme "Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics” TERMA (MSc)
aims at graduates and employed persons with an interest to be qualified in the field of natural resources
management (water, land, energy) in the scope of international cooperation. It imparts trans-disciplinary
competence and knowledge on the selection criteria of relevant technologies and resources management strategies
under the premise of sustainable development. Next to the technical knowledge on natural resources engineering, economics and management, the course puts a strong emphasis on personal communication, intercultural and management
competencies. For this purpose the interdisciplinary team project where students from different disciplines
and cultural backgrounds work together on a case study plays an important role.
The studies cover a standard period of four semesters. This includes the master thesis research, writing and
defence in the fourth semester. Field research usually takes place in a country of the tropics or subtropics.
Each year around 30 students graduate from the programme.
The master programme TERMA has been accredited by the “Agency of Quality Assurance through Accreditation
of study programmes AQAS e.V.”.