Ecological Survey Techniques

Postgraduate Certificate in Ecological Survey Techniques

Course Code | 000099

The Postgraduate Certificate is a one year, part-time, modular programme delivered by a range of tutor specialists. Drawing on the University’s excellent record in teaching ecology, environmental conservation and wildlife management, this new programme has been designed to appeal to busy professionals from both within the UK and overseas, and will be of interest to conservationists, students and practitioners working in wildlife management, for statutory nature conservation organisations, environmental consultants, NGOs, planners and educators in all biomes and geographical regions.

The course aims to equip students with the techniques to survey, measure, quantify, assess and monitor biodiversity and ecosystems in the field; provide comprehensive training in the collection and analysis of field survey data in order to understand, interpret and, therefore, make informed decisions in environmental conservation.

The course is made up of a number of online modules as well as two face-to-face modules. Two of the online modules are core modules (Field Techniques for Surveying Vegetation and Data Analysis), and students choose two out of four of the remaining optional Field Techniques modules. In addition, there is one core face-to-face module taught in Oxford at the start of the course, and a core field survey project module at the end of the course.  

The teaching is conducted by a team of practitioners and academics and all the online modules are tutor-led. The module titles are as follows:

• Introduction to ecological survey techniques
• Field techniques for surveying vegetation
• Field techniques for surveying mammals and reptiles
• Field techniques for surveying invertebrates
• Field techniques for surveying fish and amphibians
• Field techniques for surveying birds
• Data analysis
• Field project
  

The programme forms part of a wider portfolio of courses on the theme of Environment and Sustainability.

• Length of programme: Twelve months

Students have access to the University’s electronic resources at all times and full access to library facilities when they are in Oxford.

There is a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for the programme, which is used for tutorials, teaching, discussions, study skills and staying in touch with students and tutors. Each online module has its own VLE, created and supported by the Department’s award-winning Technology-Assisted Lifelong Learning team.

A key strength of the programme is its ability to draw on a rich pool of expertise: The teaching is conducted by a highly knowledgeable and diverse team of practitioners and academics, and all the online modules are tutor-led.

• Damien Farine, Department of Zoology
• Dr Thomas Hesselberg, Department for Continuing Education and Department of Zoology
• Dr Jocelyne Hughes, Department for Continuing Education
  
• Dr Roger Key, Environmental Consultant
  
• Dr Chris Newman, Department of Zoology
• Dr Jonathan Shrives, Jersey Department of the Environment and University of Oxford
  

• PGDip in International Wildlife Conservation Practice
• MSc in Sustainable Urban Development

The PGCert in Ecological Survey Techniques programme was new for the 2012/13 academic year, and there are no graduates from the course as yet.

However, the PGCert is suitable for professionals in the environmental conservation sector who need CPD and skills training, and conservation and survey volunteers who wish to improve their survey techniques.

The programme will also facilitate those who wish to change the direction of their career into the environmental conservation sector and require a relevant qualification at this level.