What is MaStER_G?
The MaStER_G project aims to create a new international master study program in the field of environmental geotechnics and geohazards. It is fully complied with the Strategic framework for European cooperation in the field of education and training. As the consortium contains partners of different geographic, religious, mother tongue, and alphabet origins, this project strongly supports equity and inclusion in education and training, making mobility a reality for all, including those with socio-economic difficulties, as well as reinforcing the European higher education space in the environmental and hazard aspects of civil engineering. MaStER_G provides strong foundations for the educational, professional and personal development of the people involved in this project and for the students that will enroll it. MaStER_G strongly promotes cooperation, quality, inclusion and excellence through its international steering group. Moreover, the MaStER_G will also contain detailed procedures about evaluation of informal and non-informal learning outcomes in compliance with the Croatian Qualifications Framework (CQF) and European Qualifications Network (EQF). This approach will provide the opportunity to evaluate the prior knowledge of enrolled students and possible issuing of a graduate diploma without formal study, while the compliance with the CQF and EQF will secure the recognition of the diploma across EU space.
Rationale for the design of a highly integrated Master programme
The main objective of the MaStER_G project proposal is to create a new international MSP in the field ofenvironmental geotechnics and geohazards. Today, we are witnessing global climate changes which effects whole segments of our lives. Higher education needs to adapt to these changes by raising a new generation of highly multidisciplinary skilled experts which will share experiences from different countries and regions in terms of environmental geotechnics and geohazards. MaStER_G represent international participants with the approach to tackle nowadays global geoproblems related to different kinds of natural and man-made hazards. This proposal is actually first initiative-preparation for the implementation of the MaStER_G international cross-border MSP which will follow-up by the master graduates with direct pathways to professional engagement in regional-global geo-hazard management initiatives. In order to transform the higher education from “old” to “new teaching methods”, an approach of “learning by sharing innovative experience” in a “growing learning phases” will be implemented, where all participants will actively be involved. To establish it, balanced representation of all participants in terms of countries and gender is necessary to share experience and learning outcomes from their prior educations based on diverse background and abilities. In the cross-border international MSP, especially with students and follow-up graduated youth workers, sustainable and environmental-friendly practices are encouraged because this study propose partners/participants of different geographic, religious, mother tongue, and alphabet origins. So, the project proposal strongly supports equity and inclusion in education and training, making mobility a reality for all. Therefore diversity, different abilities and friendly practices are highly welcomed. New generation learning methods, except of “learning by experience”, will include digital tools (e.g. AI), virtual components (online learning), “thinking out of the box” will be encouraged, as well as “to think critically” and “adapt to different solutions”. Also, in teaching, a teacher must “recognise” potential, not only for students, but it is also important to learn measures for reflection process – how to identify and document participants learning outcomes and abilities such that implementation of “learning by experience among participants” can be outreached, potentially replicated among other organizations.
What is geohazard(s)?
Geohazards are defined as potentially damaging geological events (e.g., earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, floods, tsunamis), which “may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation” (UN, 2017). Ageohazard event is characterized by its location, magnitude/intensity, time, and probability of occurrence. Triggered by geohazard event(s), a disaster (that is, a severe disruption of the normal functioning of a community/society) causes widespread human, economic, and/or environmental losses, which exceed the ability of the affected community/ society to cope using its resources. In some cases, anthropic activities are behind triggering events. Also, the increasing frequency of extreme precipitation and drought events caused by global warming also impacts geohazards such as landslides and floods.
Trans-national dimension of the project
The program develops professionals with enhanced digital skills, entrepreneurial capabilities, and crosscultural competencies, fostering increased regional and world-wide cooperation in environmental risk management. The curriculum architecture synthesizes pioneering geotechnical solutions with strategic risk assessment frameworks, tackling the territory's exposure to, e.g., slope failures, seismic events, soil deterioration etc. By integrating the distinguished expertise of the Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering (Croatia), Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology and Faculty of Civil Engineering (North Macedonia), Faculty of Mining and Geology (Serbia), Iran University of Science and Technology (Iran) and Federal University of Bahia (Brazil) the program establishes a pioneering knowledge hub that exemplifies the unique value of EU-facilitated cooperation. The program's unique structure leverages cross-border cooperation to enhance the Western Balkans' capacity for managing complex geological and environmental challenges, from seismic threats to climate-induced terrain instability. This initiative particularly emphasizes support for students from areas most affected by geological hazards, ensuring equal access to specialized education while promoting EU values of environmental responsibility and regional solidarity. As given in figures 1 and 3, Iran stands for frequency of strong earthquakes, while Brazil for floods, so their experience will help in building the international platform due to long-term exposition and managing risks: their protocols have positive impact on protection people, goods and nature and offer multi perspectivity in the MSP.