CFAs: Master Research Programme in Informatics for Climate Change 2024/2025 Academic Session

The Master’s Research Programme in Informatics for Climate Change (MRP-ICC) is implemented at the Université Joseph KI-ZERBO (Burkina Faso). It is aimed at training a critical mass of experts with adequate scientific computation and climate data management skills in West Africa. This Master’s programme includes all aspect of data management and administration of high-performance computing facility that will be used to run regional climate models and its auxiliaries for operational and research institutions and universities in West Africa. Students will be exposed to interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary approaches to climate data analysis and management skills as well as operations and maintenance of HPC systems. Upon completion of their study, the students are expected to acquire adequate knowledge in:

• climate and environmental data storage and management,
• climate data analysis techniques and provision of climate data service,
• operation, installation, and maintenance of the HPC,
• current licensed climate data analysis software/packages,
• use of open sources climate data analysis packages.

These skills offer several opportunities for graduates. They can pursue doctoral studies or undertake professional careers in meteorological agencies, research centres, universities, public administration, private sector, NGOs, International Institutions, self-employment as innovators etc.

Programme Duration 

• The time frame for the master’s programme is two years. During the first-year, students participate in the course programme of their Master Research Programme and work on their research outline. Research will be conducted during the second year within a period of six to nine months. Students would be expected to complete their thesis and internships with relevant government ministries, the national meteorological/hydrological agencies or relevant industry during the last three to six months of their study.
• The 24 months full time programme has the following components:
  • Preparatory phase: four (04) months of language proficiency courses in English language for francophones and lusophones at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana; and French language for anglophones, at the University of Lomé in Togo;
  • Lectures – 14 months, comprising 3 semesters at the Université Joseph KI-ZERBO (UJKZ);
  • Research proposal preparation – concurrent with (ii) above;
  • Internship/Field/Research work/ – 4 months. Students are expected to select topics that are in line with the research agenda, mission and objectives of WASCAL;
  • Final thesis write-up and defense – 2 months.

Scholarship and Research Support 

• WASCAL will grant scholarships to selected students in the Master Research programme in Informatics for Climate Change. The scholarship is extended every year after successful completion of the study programme. The scholarship includes:
  • monthly stipend to cover accommodation, and living expenses for the period of studies;
  • payment of university fees;
  • research budget;
  • a personal laptop computer on loan for the duration of the programme.
• In addition to the selected students for the WASCAL scholarship, limited places will be offered to high-performing candidates capable of covering the cost of training at the rate of 2290 euros per year. For these, the fees must be paid to the Accounting Agency of the Université JKZ before the start of each year’s courses.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates applying for Master Research Programme in Informatics for Climate Change must have a minimum of BSc degree (second class upper division) or equivalent in Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Health sciences, Meteorology and Climate science, Geography, Biological sciences, Geoscience, Environmental Sciences, Economics, Agriculture, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Engineering, Electrical engineering, Electronic Engineering.
• Other general requirements include:
• Citizen of WASCAL member country.
• Proficiency in English Language will be an addition.

For more information, visit WASCAL.