International Master's Programme in Ecotechnology and Sustainable Development, 120 higher education credits

WELCOME TO MITTUNIVERSITETET

Hello!
A warm welcome to International Master's Programme in Ecotechnology and Sustainable Development, 120 higher education credits and as a student at Mid Sweden University.

You are invited to introduction activities 2015-08-31 and will find more information about introduction activities, accommodation, check list and more on our website.

Schedule
Four weeks before the beginning of the course you will get access to your schedule. Please note that the timetable may be updated until the beginning of the course and even after that if something unforeseen happens.

Getting started
Remember to reply to your notification of selection in order to keep your place on the course. Please note that this letter is not your admissions decision.

Before you can begin your studies, there are three things you need to do

1. Get a login for the student portal (Swedish: Studentportalen)
You will receive your User ID upon arrival at Mid Sweden University.
This is your most important tool during your studies at Mid Sweden University. Here, you will find information about courses, study material etc. This is also where you register for each course. All of this can be found at www.miun.se/admitted.

Please note:
If you have studied at Mid Sweden University before, you will keep the same student login and user id.

2. Read through the current course syllabus
In the course syllabus, there is information about the course literature and other important things about the course.

3. Register for the course
You must register for all of the courses you want to take during the semester. Upon arrival on campus, you will receive your User ID, which allows you to log into the Student portal where you click on the link “Study information”, and then “Register for course”. You can register no earlier than two working days before the beginning of the course. It is important that you register for each course. Detailed information will be given during the Introduction days.

When you arrive here in Östersund you might need time to adapt to the new culture, get settled into your new housing and get comfortable with how the university system works. We therefore very strongly recommend that you arrive in Östersund on or before Monday August 24, one week prior to when the courses actually begin. This will help you to get settled and focussed so that you can make a really good start to your education.

Mandatory “at campus activities” for distance students
The field excursion to Bydalen mountain region September 14 - 18 is mandatory for all students and as distance student you must arrange your travelling so that you can meet up in time Monday morning the 14th. We depart 08.15 by bus from Campus Östersund on Monday and are back again in Östersund around 15.00 on Friday. For details see below.

You may also expect one or two at campus events during the spring semester 2015. More details about this will come later.


For distance students
As a distance student you will be able to connect with other students and teachers via the course platform Moodle and through the web conference system Adobe Connect.

Mid Sweden University uses the same system as most other Swedish universities, Adobe Connect, for lectures, advisor meetings etc. You will need a computer with a web browser, a stable internet connection, a web camera and a head set (to avoid unnecessary feedback distortions please use head set, not microphone and speakers). Please make sure you have all necessary equipment and test it in good time before the program start!

There is information on how to use Adobe Connect that we ask you to go through before the course starts at
https://biblioteket.miun.se/
We also ask you try out the system and your equipment by going to the Adobe Connect “test room” at
http://connect.sunet.se/test

Please note that you must make sure that your microphone is working so that we can communicate orally (not by chat!) at seminars and Lectures! This is a prerequisite for smoothly functioning joint activities between campus and distance students.


Field excursion to Bydalen mountain region, 14-18 September
Our field studies in Bydalen will be carried out in a beautiful mountainous environment approximately 60 km south of Östersund. The picture below shows students from a previous class investigating biomass of ground lichens in the mountains within the reindeer summer grazing grounds. More information about the field study will be given after course start. Here follows some preliminary information:

We will be in the field all five days examining and trying to understand the environment, planning and carrying out field sampling and measurements and in the evenings we will systematize and analyze data and have seminars. The mountain region can be a somewhat challenging environment if you are not used to the climate and the terrain. We will be out in the field most of the days, and it may be both wet and cold in September. Therefore, it is essential that you bring warm and comfortable clothes that will protect you if the weather becomes harsh. Make sure that you have wind protecting jacket and trousers, a warm sweater to put on when the wind is cold, gloves or mittens and a cap. Rubber boots, warm socks and rain clothing is mandatory - if you have other water protected high-legged boots that might also be an alternative to the rubber boots. If you don’t have previous experience of outdoor life in the mountains, don’t worry, we will guide and help you but it is really essential that you bring the recommended clothes. If we are lucky the sun will shine all five days... but we cannot count on that.

Questions?
Should you have any questions before your arrival here in Östersund, do not hesitate to send an email to me or to Itai Danielski at itai.danielski@miun.se. Itai is course coordinator for the introductory course.

If you do not want to attend this course you have been admitted to, please send an e-mail to aterbud@miun.se and state your name, date of birth and application code.

Contact us
Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail contact@miun.se or phone, +46 (0)10-142 80 00 Monday through friday, 10.00-12.00.

Best regards
Mid Sweden University

Anders Jonsson