The TekSam Programme
Tek-Sam is an abbreviation of the Danish name for the Programme of Technological and Socio-Economic Planning and is also used as the daily expression for Department of Environment, Technology and Social Science.

The programme is interdisciplinary and focuses on environmental problems. Project work in groups, and courses give the students an understanding of how environmental problems arise, how they affect society, nature, and mankind, and how they can be solved. Environmental problems and their regulation are studied and analysed using both natural and social scientific methods.

The study is problem oriented and deals with environmental problems and their causal relations. Project topics could, for example, be related to pollution, natural resources, energy consumption, transport, work environment and living conditions. Environmental problems can be studied in Danish, European or Third World contexts.

TekSam also offers foreign students a two-year International Master's Degree Course in Environmental Policy and Regulation. The course aims to provide a global overview of environmental and inter-related social and technological issues, with special reference to the scale and forms of regulatory response now being taken or needed. For more information about the International Master's Course.

Structure
TekSam is a five-year study programme, including two years of basic study (the Natural Science Basic Studies or the Social Science Basic Studies) and three years in the Department of Environment, Technology and Social Studies. One year at the Department - in addition to the basic study programme - leads to a Bachelor's degree and further two years to a Master's degree. In addition, the students may volunteer for a three to six months period of trainee service.

Each study year includes a project of two terms duration carried out by groups of three to four students. Furthermore, a range of compulsory as well as optional courses which provide background for the projects has to be completed.

The initial year offers broad insights into environmental problems resulting from technological development and conditions of production. This is combined with problem solving in an interaction between economic, social and technological conditions. In the second year, the study programme deals with environmental planning and regulation at local, national and international levels. During the third year, students study one particular area in depth based on previous years study.

Problem Orientation
Problem orientation means that part of the curriculum has been developed with the emphasis on how to formulate and clearly define a scientific problem. Within this framework, the students learn to confront a given problem and gain insight into the issue in question, as well as how to devise and propose solutions. The problem-oriented approach is closely related to the interdisciplinary approach, because environmental problems often require analyses and solutions beyond the scope of a single discipline.

Group Work
An absolutely crucial prerequisite for realising an active, interesting and dynamic working process is that the students are motivated by curiosity and a genuine interest in comprehending and solving complex environmental problems. Thus Tek-Sam emphasises the importance of studying by working in groups with a subject chosen by themselves. Each group has two teachers/supervisors (one representing natural science and one social science) who offer guidance, advice and assistance. Thus, the opportunity for discussions across disciplinary borders is created.

Research and Project Fields
The research carried out at the Department of Environment, Technology and Social Studies is closely related to the areas covered by the students' projects. The areas described in the following are typically dealt with in projects and in ongoing research at the department. While carrying out the projects, the students often analyse planning methods, mapping-out strategies, conflicts of interest, public participation, the means and instruments of regulation, and the conditions of, obstacles to and opportunities for sustainable development. Please see also:
Research Areas at the Department.

Ecological Perspectives
Studies of ecological problems are an option for students with a special interest in ecology and chemistry. A study programme called "The Eco-Tech Specialisation" encompasses courses in chemistry, toxicology, environmental management and field studies. Furthermore, in their project work, students are required to collect environmental data either in the field or in the laboratory, making use of chemical or biological measurements and observations. Issues of primary interest include environmental problems in the soil, water and air, related, for example nutrients, pesticides and other zenobiotics in the environment.

Voluntary Trainee Service
Between the fourth and the fifth year of study, students may undertake a three to six-month period of volunteer work. Thus, they are given an opportunity to test both their professional and their personal qualifications in the labour market. This is often a good source of inspiration for choosing the subject of their Master's thesis. Within this period, the students gain work experience and insight into the reality of a given branch of the labour market.

Job Possibilities
Career Opportunities for Tek-Sam Graduates (Cand.techn.soc)
Tek-Sam graduates are prepared to take on broad-based environmental planning and management tasks. This includes analysing both sociological and natural scientific problems, as well as possibilities for change and the mapping out of proposals for solutions. Tek-Sam provides a wide spectrum of environmental planning and management tools and qualifications.

The Tek-Sam programme celebrated it´s 25th anniversary in 1999. Approximately 900 students have graduated from the programme. Today, Tek-Sam graduates are in high demand in both public and private institutions. They work as environmental and technical management experts in municipal or county administrations. Similarly, they are often employed in various government ministries and agencies, the European Parliament or as environmental employees in private organisations and companies.

International Activities
As it is important for the students to gain insight into current environmental problems in other countries, international field study are organised for fourth year students. Latvia, Ireland, Holland, England and Belgium are among the countries visited so far.

In addition, various opportunities for undertaking studies in a foreign country are available, including enrolment in exchange programmes with universities outside Denmark. Tek-Sam has exchange programme agreements with a number of universities in Norway, Finland, USA, Latvia and Germany. It is also possible as part of the Tek-Sam programme to join the DUCED programme described below.

DUCED-I&UA (Danish University Consortium for Environment and Development - Industry and Urban Areas) is a co-operation between universities in Denmark, Thailand, Malaysia and South Africa. The programme includes intensive training at the Master's level for a minimum of one and a half year devoted to environmental problems in Thailand, Malaysia or South Africa. The students must work in one or more of these countries for a total of at least 5 months. The subjects covered by the projects are environmental technology, ecology, environmental management, intercultural understanding and planning. At the end of the programme, the students will receive a DUCED I&UA Intensive Training Certificate.

For further information please contact:
Secretary Birgitte Petersen
The Study Committee
Building 11.2, Roskilde University
P.O. Box 260
DK-4000 Roskilde

Phone: (+45) 46 74 21 00
E-mail: bir@ruc.dk