2503.17 - Master’s Thesis in West Nordic Studies, Governance and Sustainable Management

2503.17

Master’s Thesis in West Nordic Studies, Governance and Sustainable Management

30

Completion of 90 ECTS points.

The Master’s thesis is the final element in the programme.

The content of the thesis (research theme) must relate to issue(s) of governance and sustainable management in a West Nordic perspective. Students must formulate a research question at the beginning of the semester as part of the thesis seminar. Research theme must be approved by the Programme Director, and the research question must be approved by the thesis supervisor.

Students must follow and pass a mandatory thesis seminar which is taught during the fourth semester. The Master’s thesis can be done individually or by groups of two or three students. Through their work on the thesis, the students must demonstrate proficiency in making use of the programme’s methodologies and theories in relation to an independent analysis of an issue relevant to governance and sustainable management in a West Nordic perspective.

Generic thesis learning outcomes The students must, independently and critically, be able to: • Display comprehensive knowledge of the thesis topic and relevant theory and methods. • Display experience of and insight into the practical application of theory and methodology in drawing up a comprehensive analysis as part of a prolonged work process. • Demonstrate ability to plan and deliver an individual research-based contribution in the form of a Master’s thesis drawing on the empirical and theoretical foundation learned through the core courses of the programme. • Formulate, identify, and profile the problem covered by the thesis. • Select, discuss and apply relevant theoretical concepts and conceptual structures in conjunction with the analysis, and, if appropriate, connect empirical analysis to theoretical insights and perspectives. • Select, discuss and apply relevant methodological approaches to the analysis, and select, identify, collate and process primary or secondary theoretical and empirical material of relevance to the analysis. • Present the results of the analysis with logical structure and clarity of language such that answers are provided to the formulated question(s). • Communicate specialised knowledge at a high academic level in English. • Set up clear research question(s), research objectives, and research design, and provide systematic and logical research-based answers to the question(s) and objectives. • Independently analyse and reflect upon societal problems and possibly solutions. • Critically evaluate own work by reflecting upon the research design and discussing its strengths and weaknesses. Specific thesis learning outcomes The students must, independently and critically, be able to: • Describe, analyse and discuss difficult and complex scientific and practical challenges relating to climate and environmental governance and sustainable management in a West Nordic perspective. • Display experience of and insight into the practical application of a transdisciplinary approach in drawing up a comprehensive analysis as part of a prolonged work process. • Develop, discuss and apply a transdisciplinary approach an

Oral examination on the background of the written thesis, and externally graded according to the seven-point scale. Writing and spelling skills form part of the overall assessment of the thesis, although the academic content will carry the greatest weight. When assessing a thesis, weight is also placed on the written and oral summary. The thesis is assessed by the supervisor and an external examiner. If a secondary supervisor has been involved in the thesis, then the principal supervisor must consult the former before grading the thesis. A written assessment of the thesis, consisting of a maximum of one page, is drawn up.

External

7-

There are no specific literature requirements for the thesis, but it must contain a bibliography.

Lau Øfjord Blaxekjær