Programme Overview
What is GEM?
The aim of GEM is to deliver top-class graduates from the EU and around the world, with the skills and networks to better manage socio-ecological systems for sustainable and equitable growth.
Management of the Earth’s resources requires easily accessed, up to date, and detailed data and the knowledge to acquire it, process it and generate actionable information from it.
New Earth observation data services, such as the European Union’s Copernicus Programme – provide access to the data. GEM provides the technical knowledge and professional skills to use it, communicate it, and act upon it.
Each partner brings expertise in different aspects of human-environment interaction challenges with applied geospatial science:
- Natural resources management at ITC-University of Twente, the Netherlands (and GEM coordinating partner)
- Ecosystems and the environment at Lund University, Sweden
- Agriculture and Land Use Planning at UCLouvain University, Belgium
- Socio-ecological systems and urban planning at the University of Tartu, Estonia
A double degree in just two years
Graduates of the Erasmus+ Master of Science Degree (MSc) Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation for Environmental Modelling and Management (GEM) Programme will be awarded a double degree (in English).
Why choose GEM?
GEM is an innovative, international education programme from four European university partners that:
- Builds upon our strategic partnerships between universities and industries so that you become a skilled professional in the use of GI and EO science. As a GEM student, you will use EO data and information services provided by Copernicus, NASA Earth Data, and other sources of diverse geodata to address global challenges.
- Bases its innovative teaching approaches on collaborative studies to address real socio-ecological challenges. As a GEM student, you will understand the scientific process and be able to apply it in your future career, both inside and outside academia, to meet sector skill needs.
- Brings diverse groups of students, staff, and stakeholders together for interdisciplinary learning. As a GEM student, you will interact with stakeholders in different sectors and be comfortable doing so.
- Builds capacity by providing equal access to top-tier education. This diversity increases access to education and develops your language and culture skills, broadening minds to new ways of thinking.
Programme Structure
When you apply, you first choose one of the study tracks.
There are four tracks to choose from. These tracks integrate academic excellence from the four universities in geospatial science applied to societal challenges for a sustainable world. Each year is spent at a different university in a different European country, depending on the track you choose. See the Study Guide for details per track.
Study Guide
Download and review the official Study Guide for the GEM Programme in PDF format. The study guide provides a detailed overview of the programme structure and courses for all tracks and partner universities.
Partners and Associates
Partner universities
The Programme is a combined partnership of four different universities.
GEM integrates academic excellence from four leading universities and their respective MSc programmes in geospatial science in a strategic partnership to support innovative academic practices. Each partner addresses different aspects of human-environment interaction challenges with applied geospatial science:
- Natural resources management at University of Twente, Faculty of ITC, the Netherlands (ITC)
- Ecosystems and the environment at Lund University, Sweden (LU)
- Agriculture and forestry at UCLouvain University, Belgium (UCLouvain)
- Socio-ecological systems and urban planning at the University of Tartu, Estonia (UT)
Associate partners
The GEM Programme has the support of many Associate Partners who, combined, provide a unique network of academic, industry, policy and non-governmental organisations with mandates to address social and environmental challenges.
The role of the Associate Partners is to:
- Take part in Joint activities such as (virtual) meetings, common teaching elements and hackathons – Provide possibilities for internships or fieldwork
- Provide help with MSc thesis research activities by developing research ideas (with real-life challenges)
- Provide input for the Partner Universities on educational material and help develop the curriculum with their expertise.
- Develop joint projects that contribute to the internationalization strategies of the different universities.
