MÁSTER UNIVERSITARIO EN GESTIÓN DEL CAMBIO CLIMÁTICO

NOTE: New title, pre-registration process will be available soon.

The Master's Degree in Climate Change Management (MGCC) at UNED responses to the urgent need to train professionals capable of tackling the complex challenges arising from the current climate crisis. This crisis constitutes one of the greatest global challenges of our time, with impacts extending to human health, ecosystems, food security, the economy, and general well-being.

Managing this climate crisis requires major global transformations. complexity, for which there are no predefined generic recipes. Response actions will need to be both global and local and may produce significant conflicts of interest between various actors. Therefore, all proposals should be framed within systemic approaches that minimize the unintended consequences of partial and decontextualized responses.

The intensification of the effects of climate change, the scientific consensus on the seriousness of its evolution, the growing recognition of the need for Unprecedented transformations and increasing social pressure demand a urgent and coordinated response by all social actors. This includes not only to governments, administrations, companies and organizations without profit-making, but also to the academy. The transformations with objectives Climate changes are already beginning to occur and are increasingly demanding professionals who can promote, implement and manage projects related to climate change in all sectors and in any type of organization. In this sense, training and specialization in climate change from the university it is essential to provide our society with professional profiles capable of facing these challenges.

The fight against climate change is basically divided into mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and the planning and implementation of the adaptation to their impacts and risks. Both approaches are being developed through a multitude of actions ranging from the adoption of policies and regulations effective, the implementation of clean technologies and the promotion of efficiency energy, the adoption of sustainable production and consumption practices, the reinforcement of the ecosystem's own solutions, the transition to new forms of economy (such as the low-carbon economy or the circular economy), driven by the participation of society as a whole. In this context, the following are essential: multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity to address climate change only effectively but also by articulating the transition towards low-income societies carbon-efficient and resilient to climate change in a fair and egalitarian.

Diagnosis and response planning have initially been addressed based on technological and environmental aspects. However, today, formulating solutions to climate change must take a more integrated approach, considering the various economic, social, and environmental aspects on the same level.

The program offers multidisciplinary and rigorous training, aimed at professional intervention and technical advice on climate change in both public and private contexts. It is structured into two specializations, one with a more environmental and scientific profile and the other with a legal-economic character, thus allowing learning to be tailored to different entry profiles. Its distance learning modality allows great flexibility and is aimed at a wide range of students, including active professionals and recent graduates.

The MGCC aims to provide students with tools to analyze, design, and evaluate climate change policies, plans, and actions from a technical, ethical, and committed perspective, fostering a critical and transformative vision that contributes to the transition toward resilient and low-carbon societies.

The MGCC has been designed with the aim of training graduates as consultants to address the various needs and demands of society in relation to climate change.

Firstly, the aim is for students to acquire the necessary knowledge to understand the complexity of the climate phenomenon, in its bio- physical -chemical dimensions, and to handle fundamental tools for analysing its causes and consequences. The MGCC will allow professionals from various fields (environmental sciences and natural sciences in general, engineering, economics and other social sciences) to have a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to address the problem, essential for its effective resolution. In addition, they will learn the main existing strategies and solutions to confront climate change and will develop skills to innovate and propose new responses.

More specifically, the MGCC will provide students with the skills necessary to address emerging tasks and problems in understanding and communicating climate change, as well as in the development, implementation and verification of adaptation and mitigation plans for the public sector, businesses and the so-called 'third sector' ( NGOs and other citizen entities). Thus, this training will improve the possibilities of graduates to access a labour market with growing demand.

Below are the learning outcomes classified into the three categories established in the Supplementary Document to the “Supporting Guide for the Writing, Implementation and Assessment of Learning Outcomes”:

1. Knowledge or content (Con) that has been understood, through the assimilation of theories, information, data, etc.:

• Con1. Know and understand the basic economic concepts underlying climate policies
• Con2. Recognize and value legal, scientific and technical documentation related to climate change.
• Con3. Identify and recognize different groups of actors facing climate change, creating synergies to boost their climate action
• Con4. Know the main national, European and international climate policies, and how they are justified and implemented
• Con5. Understand the scientific basis of climate change, climate models, indicators and projections, and their use in the analysis and evaluation of future scenarios
• Con6. Identify the effects of climate change on ecosystems, biodiversity, the economy, socio-ecological systems, society and human health
• Con7. Know the frameworks, models and strategies for energy transition, circular economy and decarbonisation

2. Skills, attitudes and values (SAVs) to apply knowledge and use techniques to complete tasks and solve problems:

• HDAV1. Develop and/or implement innovative proposals that address problems related to climate change
• HDAV2. Making climate change proposals compatible with progress towards fair and resilient societies
• HDAV3. Communicate concepts, proposals and solutions related to climate change in a differentiated manner depending on the target audience
• HDAV4. Understand, apply and interpret the results of specialized tools to support prioritization and decision-making in the design of solutions to climate change in the short, medium and long term.
• HDAV5. Communicate scientific and technical concepts on climate change, current and future impacts, and proposed alternatives
• HDAV6. Recognize and address the challenges and opportunities of social, economic and cultural transformations associated with decarbonization and adaptation to climate change
• HDAV7. Locate and manage sources of information from diverse sources on climate change, mastering their terminology, understanding their scope and considering their relative importance.
• HDAV8. Critically analyze climate change in its scientific, technological, social and/or cultural dimensions with a systemic approach

3. Competencies or abilities ( CCap ) demonstrated to use knowledge, skills and personal, social and methodological abilities in work or study situations and in professional and personal development.

• CCap1. Integrate and/or lead interdisciplinary work teams to address complex problems and solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments.
• CCap2. Write formal reports or documents in a professional or research setting.
• Ccap3. Implement strategies, plans, measures and tools for mitigation and adaptation to climate change in public/private organizations.
• Ccap4. Advising public/private organizations on climate policies and regulations
• Ccap5. Design, plan, implement and control climate strategies and policies

To summarize, the training objectives are grouped mainly around the following points:

1. Identify the multiple dimensions of the climate challenge in our territory and our society, as well as its main drivers, the risks it entails and the main responses from mitigation and adaptation .
2. Apply diagnostic tools and risk and opportunity analysis, as well as the design of mitigation and adaptation plans, using relevant qualitative or quantitative techniques and analysis of the results obtained.
3. To understand and critically analyse current regulations and the responses of different actors (administrations, companies and citizens) aimed at reducing emissions and vulnerability to the expected impacts, with criteria for reducing inequality and based on the best available evidence.

The Master's Degree in Climate Change Management provides graduates with highly qualified training, enabling them to work in the public, private and third sectors, both in Spain and internationally.

Professional opportunities:

• Technical and strategic advice in local, regional, national or European public administrations.
• Environmental and climate consulting for companies and non-governmental organizations.
• Design, implementation and evaluation of policies, plans and programs for climate mitigation and adaptation.
• Coordination of innovation and sustainability projects in corporate or institutional settings.
• Communication, education and awareness on climate issues.

Academic and research opportunities:

• Access to doctoral programs in related areas such as Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Environmental Law, Ecological Economics or Social Sciences.
• Joining research groups on climate change, sustainability, public policies or environmental technologies.
• Participation in applied research projects funded by public or private calls.

The MGCC aims to actively contribute to the training of a new generation of professionals and academics capable of implementing and promote climate action from a transformative, critical and interdisciplinary perspective.

In accordance with Article 18 of Royal Decree 822/2021, to access the Master's Degree in Climate Change Management, it will be necessary to hold an official Spanish university degree or equivalent degrees of the same level as the Spanish Bachelor's degree issued by universities and higher education institutions in an EHEA country that allows access to Master's studies in that country.

Candidates who hold degrees from educational systems that are not part of the EHEA, which are equivalent to a Bachelor's degree, may access a Master's Degree from the Spanish university system. The degree does not require homologation, but the university does require verification of the level of training they entail, provided that the country where the degree was issued allows access to postgraduate studies. Under no circumstances will admission through this route imply the recognition of the applicant's previous degree or its recognition for purposes other than completing the Master's degree.

In particular:

1. Candidates with degrees included in the following two groups, associated with the two MGCC specialties, will be eligible for admission to the MGCC:

• Group A: Environmental Sciences, Geography, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and other related degrees.
• Group B: Law, Economics and Business Administration, Political Science, and Sociology, and other related degrees.

2. The language of instruction at the MGCC and all its subjects is Spanish. However, MGCC students will be required to demonstrate at least a B1 level of reading comprehension in English in terms of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), in order to access the numerous bibliographic resources and computer systems related to the contents of most of the master's subjects.

1. Admission and selection of students to the MGCC will be based on the suitability of their academic training to the MGCC's specialties and on the assessment of applicants' CVs, also taking into account the balance between the places offered for the two specialties.
The evaluation of applications will be carried out by the Master's Coordination Committee according to a scale that will take into account the following aspects:

• Academic qualifications. Suitability of the degree or bachelor's degree from which the student is admitted to the MGCC's specialties, assessing the academic itinerary (up to 2 points).
• Academic record of the degree or bachelor's degree with which the student is admitted (up to 4 points).
• Curriculum vitae. Professional experience and training relevant to the contents of the MGCC, and in particular to its multidisciplinary nature, will be assessed (up to 4 points):

a. Professional experience. The CVs of students with proven professional experience in the MGCC specialties will be considered (up to 1.5 points).

b. Additional training. Other official university degrees (bachelors, master's, double degree, and doctorate) and unofficial degrees will be considered (up to 1.5 points).

c. Experience teaching using distance learning methodology (up to 0.5 points).

d. Knowledge of English higher than that required for admission to the MGCC (up to 0.5 points).

2. The minimum score for admission will be 4 points.
3. If the number of applicants with a score above the minimum exceeds the number of places offered, a balance will be sought between the two groups of access qualifications to the MGCC (A and B). To this end, two lists associated with the two groups of access qualifications, A and B, will be drawn up, ranking the applications from each group from highest to lowest score. The order of admission will be determined by alternately going through these lists until the number of admission places at the MGCC is exhausted, that is: first in group A, first in group B, second in group A (if applicable), second in group B (if applicable), and so on, as long as there are applicants in any of the groups and places available.
4. In the event of a tie, a face-to-face or online interview will be held with the candidates to gather additional information about the aforementioned access criteria, that is, assessing the candidates' knowledge, experience, attitudes, and skills related to the contents of the MGCC and their specialties.

The maximum number of new students admitted to the Master’s Degree in Climate Change Management is 80 per academic year.

The MGCC is developed over three semesters in which the student will complete 90 credits distributed between compulsory and elective subjects and the completion of the TFM. The possibility of completing optional external internships is offered, considered as an additional optional subject (subject to the availability of places in institutions with an agreement with UNED).

The MGCC curriculum is developed taking into account the following considerations:

a) The contents of the MGCC are structured by modules:

• Compulsory module, consisting of 6 subjects (of 5 credits each) of a transversal nature, which will provide students with the multidisciplinary knowledge and concepts that will be necessary for the rest of the subjects, regardless of the chosen specialty.
• Environmental Consulting Module, consisting of 9 elective subjects (4 credits each) in which students will acquire specific skills and abilities in the analysis of environmental risks and vulnerability, as well as in the planning and implementation of adaptation and mitigation in the private sector, in public administration and in the third sector. This module also covers specialized knowledge, management and analysis tools, and the analysis of key aspects such as biodiversity or water and soil management.
• Legal-Economic Consulting module, consisting of 9 elective subjects (4 credits each) in which students will develop a comprehensive understanding of taxation and incentives for the climate transition, as well as green and sustainable finance that enables the transition to a low-carbon economy. They will learn to perform cost-benefit analyses of environmental projects, understand the European emissions trading scheme and the regulation of the circular economy. In addition, they will acquire knowledge in public policy, administration, energy regulation and social participation to effectively address the challenges of climate change.
• Complementary Module, which consists of 7 optional subjects (of 4 credits) that will enable students to propose innovative strategies to promote behavioural changes, transformations and social adaptation to climate change. To this end, socio-ecological systems and the transformative role that education, psychology, communication and philosophy must play will be addressed. Some key sectors such as the built environment and health will also be analysed in a comprehensive manner.
  This module includes a course on current affairs seminars (4 credits) in which practical and cutting-edge topics related to any of the MGCC contents will be discussed. This module also includes the optional completion of external internships (12 credits).
• TFM module, which involves the completion of a mandatory Master's Final Project (16 credits) for all MGCC students, as specified in the regulations on official university education (Royal Decree 822/2021).

b) For the title to be issued, the following two conditions must be met:

• Have completed at least 90 credits including the entire Compulsory Module (30 credits) and the TFM (16 credits).
• Have completed at least 6 subjects belonging to the Environmental Consulting Module or the Legal-Economic Consulting Module (24 credits).

c) The title will mention the specialty of Environmental Consulting in the event that at least 6 subjects belonging exclusively to the Environmental Consulting Module have been taken.
Likewise, the title will mention the specialty of Legal-Economic Consulting in the event that at least 6 subjects belonging exclusively to the Legal-Economic Consulting Module have been taken.
If neither of these two situations apply, no specialty will be mentioned in the title.

The following table summarizes the curriculum.

Regulations (In Spanish)

• RD 822/2021, de 28 de septiembre, Organización de las Enseñanzas Universitarias
• Normas y criterios generales de reconocimiento y transferencia de créditos para los másteres.
• Normas de permanencia en estudios conducentes a títulos oficiales de la Universidad Nacional de Educación A Distancia.
• Regulación de los trabajos de fin de master en las enseñanzas conducente al título oficial de master de la UNED.

It is required by law that all universities submit their official degrees for a verification, monitoring and accreditation process.

In the case of the UNED, the Council of Universities receives the memory of the degree and sends it to the National Quality Agency (ANECA) for its evaluation and issuance of the Verification Report. If the report is favorable, the Council of Universities dictates the Resolution of Verification, and the Ministry of Education submits to the Government the official proposal of the degree, orders its inclusion in the Registry of Universities, Centers and Degrees (RUCT) and its subsequent publication in the Official State Gazette.

Official master's degrees must renew their accreditation before four years from their verification or from the date of their last accreditation, in order to check whether the results obtained are adequate to guarantee the continuity of their teaching. If they are adequate, the Council of Universities  issues a Resolution accrediting the degree.

These resolutions and reports are recorded in the Registry of Universities, Centers and Degrees (RUCT).

Official documentation (in Spanish)

VERIFICACIÓN / MODIFICACIÓN

SEGUIMIENTO

ACREDITACIÓN

The "External Internship" course in the Master's Degree in Climate Change Management is an optional course and is part of the Complementary Module. It has 12 ECTS credits and can be taken in the third semester, provided that the student is accepted at an institution with which UNED has or may sign collaboration agreements.

The internships can be carried out in public institutions, private companies, and non-governmental organizations with which UNED has collaboration agreements. Collaborating entities include environmental administrations, consulting firms, meteorological agencies, scientific institutions, and NGOs.

The internships can be carried out in person or remotely. Each student will have an academic tutor from UNED and a professional tutor at the host institution. Their roles are regulated by Royal Decree 592/2014 and UNED guidelines.

More information on regulations and documentation is available at this link.

The UNED has an Internal Quality Assurance System (SGIC-U) that covers all its official undergraduate, master and doctorate degrees, as well as the services it offers, the design of which was certified by the Spanish National Quality Agency ANECA.

The SGIC-U includes all the processes necessary to ensure the quality of its teaching staff, resources and services for students: access, admission and reception, external internships, mobility programs, academic orientation and job placement, monitoring and evaluation of training results, attention to suggestions and complaints and the adequacy of support staff, among others.

The members of the SGIC are:

• The Degree Coordinating Committee
• The Center's Quality Assurance Committee
• The Dean or Director Team
• The UNED Quality Assurance Committee

Through the Statistical portal, the UNED provides information to the entire university community both on the training results and on the satisfaction results of the different groups involved.

This master's degree does not give access to regulated professions.