Examination arrangement

Course content

The course extends over the 3rd semester and is obligatory for all AquaH students in NTNU (MSAQUAH). Students are awarded 7.5 ECTS after passing an oral exam in the 3rd semester. The course is organized as an advised self-study; including selection of health topic, literature searching, undertaking a comprehensive literature review, presentation and finally discussion of result in seminar with other NTNU students. The student groups in UAB and WU may then participate and have interaction in the seminars given by the NTNU students.

In more details, the ~8 AquaH students at NTNU select, together with the responsible teacher, a main topic of health/welfare of Atlantic salmon or another famed species/group. The topics are within the NTNU learning line: "Ecosystem-health". The students identify around 5 key scientific publications, at least 3 review papers, treating the selected main topic (totally 50-60 pages). The student reviews the papers and make a ~1 h presentation and chair the discussion/interaction that follows. Colleague NTNU students must also read these papers, and all be active for a 1h comments/feedback session in the seminar, chaired by the responsible student.

The AquaH students in NTNU attend their seminars physically. AquaH students from UAB and WU may have digital access to the seminars and attend as agreed on in the complementary courses established in UAB and WU. Other NTNU students may also attend digitally and have the option of commenting on the presentations. Two external lecturer may be invited for giving two 1h seminars within key topics for the NTNU learning line, and all AquaH and local students may attend.

In addition to their own seminars, the NTNU AquaH students must attend digitally to 6 seminars/conferences/meetings (totally 12 h) given by UAB and/or WU students in their learning lines.

The AquaHealthClub course is a means to overcome the challenges of interaction between the three student groups throughout the study. AquaHealthClub will bring all students together, physically, and virtually in ~15 seminars in the 3rd semester. AquaHealthClub will by this also contribute to give students knowledge across learning lines, which is important for their final experience and competence. Students will themselves plan, organize and give the seminars, with support of their local responsible teaching personnel.

Learning outcome

Knowledge is an understanding of theories, facts, concepts, principles and procedures in subjects, disciplines and professions. After finishing AquaHealthClub, candidates will have knowledge on:

1. Recent most important published knowledge in the aquaculture health sector in their learning line
2. Main issues and challenges in aquaculture health outside their learning line.
3. Interdisciplinary challenges of aquaculture health across learning lines
4. The aquaculture private sector, activities and challenges

Skills: Ability to apply knowledge to solve problems, including cognitive, practical, creative and communicative skills. After finishing AquaHealthClub, candidates will based on their knowledge be able to:

1. Extract important results from literature, knowledge from their own but also from the other learning lines
2. Take part in scientific and public discussions in the aquaculture health field
3. React convincingly to critical and other questions from the public
4. Organize and lead a scientific seminar or meeting among colleagues and aquaculture actors

General competence: Be able to apply knowledge and skills independently in different situations in education and professional contexts by showing cooperation ability, accountability, ability to reflect and critical thinking. After finishing AquaHealthClub, candidates will based on their knowledge and skills be able to:

1. Understand and reflect on aquaculture health issues in a wider marine science perspective
2. Understand and react soundly to new questions and challenges in the aquaculture health field
3. Evaluate and act to solve problems as part of multidisciplinary team
4. Analyze critically and communicate aquaculture issues beyond the health sector in a societal and public perspective

Learning methods and activities

AquaHealthClub is a series of scientific seminars which secure that all relevant topics in the learning line "Ecosystem and health" are covered by relevant scientific knowledge for NTNU AquaH students. Moreover, it also secures interactions among student across learning lines (partners) and identity building in the EM master program. Students will normally not meet across learning lines (partner) after the 1st semester. AquaHealthClub is similar to "BI3062 Science Seminars, Marine", an obligatory course in MSOCEAN. AquaHealthClub is obligatory got MSAQUAH students at NTNU and contributes to secure scientific update on key topics of health and welfare among students. It is also a digital meeting place for NTNU, UAB/UB and WU AquaH students. Staff from partner universities, from associate partners and from industry and other extern partners will take part as external lectures in the seminars.

Learning activities will include #15 2h-seminars, 8 organized and run by NTNU students and 6 by partners, and 2 1h presentations given by external lectures.

Each NTNU student will review 5 scientific papers, or 50-60 pages, prepare a report/lecture, communicate the results in a seminar, and chair the seminar discussions and interactions among NTNU and in partner students. All students must read the papers and prepare for the discussion. All must be active. The total workload of the students is estimated to 200h, corresponding to 7.5 ECTS. The teaching environment will be a classroom with adequate digital systems installed, most likely in NTNU Sealab.

Attendance of all MSAQUA students in NTNU seminars is obligatory for the NTNU students. Participation will be monitored. The exam is oral, with grades given A-F. The grade is based on the presentation of own review report followed by questions from own and other students work presented in the seminars.

Further on evaluation

The course evaluation for the students staying at NTNU will follow normal procedures, with two contact NTNU students appointed from start. Both the students and the course manager can bring up topics for the valuation. UGent is responsible for undertaking an EM program evaluation, courses may become a part of this, but not systematically. The curse evaluation must be undertaken by the course responsible teacher.

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

The course is mandatory for NTNU AquaH students. The students are admitted to the EM program after requirements set by the consortium. Else, they will get their recommended background for NTNU study during the first semester at UGent.

Required previous knowledge

Admission in NTNU require that students has passed, or will pass within their master study, the following 7 courses of the present EM AquaH master program given in the 1st semester in the University of Gent:

Marine fish larviculture (3 ECTS), Diseases in aquaculture (6 ECTS), Viral disease management (3 ECTS), Fish and shellfish immunology (4 ECTS), Aquatic microbial community management (3 ECTS), Aquaculture genetics (6 ECTS), Applied statistics (5 ECTS). All students will normally have passed these courses from start, some will use their opportunity to retake exam(s).

Course materials

Scientific publications are made available by NTNU.