ACDI Welcomes 2014 Masters Student Cohort

In early February the African Climate & Development Initiative (ACDI) welcomed its third masters cohort since the inception of the MSc/MPhil specialising in climate change and sustainable development.  The 2014 prospectus drew interest from around the globe.  However the 52 applicants reviewed for admission were drawn overwhelmingly from African states—22 from South Africa alone. 

 The 2014 cohort of 11 students started the year with an overnight field experience at Cape Point.  The experience included a visit to the Global Atmospheric Watch Site at Cape Point http://gaw.empa.ch/gawsis/reports.asp?StationID=35 where students were briefed on metrics and processes for monitoring global change, and in-situ discussions of the role of oceans and ocean circulation in climate change, led by Professor Frank Shillington from the Department of Oceanography at UCT.  In addition, the field experience provided an opportunity for students and ACDI staff to get to know each other before starting a busy year of coursework and research.

 This year’s cohort embarks on a course whose structure has changed slightly from the previous.  In addition to two newly-designed core modules: 1) Introduction to Climate Change and Sustainable Development; and 2) Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation; ACDI MSc/MPhil students will enroll in an additional two elective modules of their choice (to a total of 90 credits of coursework) in addition to a 90 credit minor dissertation.  After completion of their research, students are expected to submit dissertations at the end of January for graduation in June 2015.