MA in Marine Resource Management
Head of program: Prof. Dov Zviely
In recent years, rapid development of new marine industries, alongside traditional industries like shipping and fishing, has significantly increased pressure on the ecosystems of oceans, seas, and coastal zones. A variety of industries are expanding into the open sea: deep-water production of natural gas and oil, sand mining on continental shelves, deep-water mining of other precious metals and minerals, renewable energy generation from wind, waves, and the sun, and sophisticated technological advances in marine agriculture. The expanded scope of marine activities as well as of the extent of human activities at sea has led many nations, including the US, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, and Holland, to initiate innovative planning processes in their territorial waters in order to manage them wisely, utilize their resources more efficiently, and preserve the marine environment for future generations.
Who is the program for: The program is designed for all those who wish to expand their knowledge in the innovative, applied field of marine resource management. Most (but not all) students in the program have an undergraduate degree in science or engineering and some have a master’s degree or PhD. Since the topics in the curriculum directly address Israel’s core marine and coastal activities, many students have a maritime background or experience. There is distinctive synergy between the engineers, scientists, economists, and executives who bring a wealth of experience to the program. This synergy familiarizes students with what is happening today in Israel’s seas and forges a valuable professional network that greatly improves students’ chances of smoothly rising to significant positions and roles in this field in the future.
The marine resource management curriculum suits students with a maritime background who seek to broaden and deepen their knowledge at a high academic level in order to manage marine and coastal projects and initiatives, work in marine and coastal planning, improve their professional leadership and managerial capabilities with regard to marine resources, understand the legal aspects related to the sea and its surroundings, and hone their analytical ability in economic issues related to the complex domain of oceanography.
Advantages of the program: This innovative program is the only one in this field in Israel. It has been operating successfully since 2014 and is suitable for executives, individuals who hold senior positions, and independent businesspeople interested in pursuing graduate studies while working.
Further graduate-level studies: Outstanding alumni of the program have the option of writing a research thesis at a university within one year of graduation and continuing on to doctoral studies. An alumnus from the program’s first cohort already has been accepted to do so by the University of Haifa’s geography and environmental studies department.
