ENOS International Master Course on CO2 Geological Storage
The second edition of the International Master Course on “CO2 Geological Storage”, organized by Sapienza and Zagreb Universities, has been activated for the Academic year 2022 – 2023. The University of Rome and University of Zagreb, with participation of Tallinn University of Technology, Heriot-Watt University, Sotacarbo, GEUS and NORCE, are jointly hosting a one-year postgraduate specialist university Master Course that has 60 ECTS credits. All participating institutions were partners in the ENOS Project (H-2020). They research and teach topics related to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and undertake relevant research at pilot CO2 storage sites onshore Europe (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Main structure of the ENOS International Master Course and partners involved
The course aims to prepare a new generation of young professionals to work and conduct research on CCS. The course will present the state-of-the-art of CCS operations and research, including CO2 injection and safety monitoring, exploration of critical processes using laboratory experiments and numerical modelling, CO2 storage capacity estimation, CO2 use options, economics and planning of mitigation measures in case regulatory requirements are not fully met. Post-graduates that complete this course will be equipped to work in CO2 geological storage projects. In addition, knowledge acquired on integrated exploration and use of the deep subsurface will enable them to also apply these skills in other fields related to use of sustainable subsurface resources, such as geothermal energy, energy storage etc.
Candidates with a Master degree in Earth Sciences at a level in accordance with the European Qualification Framework are eligible to apply. Students with a degree issued by non-EU universities can be admitted with the recognition of the study title by Sapienza University or by the University of Zagreb (depending on where the study cycle is organised per academic year). The procedure is in both countries defined within the NARIC (National Academic Recognition Information Centres) network of the European Union and the ENIC (European National Information Centres) network of the European Council and of UNESCO.
The courses financed by tuition fees set at EUR 2000. Part of this sum will be used to support students’ needs during fieldtrips and practical laboratory activities, and for mobility of teachers. Students cover their own travel expenses and the accommodations in Rome and in Zagreb.
This year lectures are planned from February to July 2023, consisting of three blocks (2 in Rome and 1 in Zagreb), organised in 14 modules with exams after every second module, for a total of 40 ECTS. After passing all the exams and participation in a joint project (5 ECTS), each student spends a mobility period (15 ECTS) at one of the partner institutes or universities to undertake individual research and to write their final thesis (to be defended at the joint final event of the Master, Figure 2).
Figure 2. Educational plan of the ENOS International Master Course on CO2 Geological Storage.
According to the Master organization of Sapienza University, the call was opened in December 2022 and the deadline was the 16th of January 2023, now moved to 31st January. To support dissemination of the call, Sapienza has made a dedicated webpage https://web.uniroma1.it/masterco2/home.
To support lessons a website dedicated to the master has been activated on the MOODLE platform (https://elearning.uniroma1.it/enrol/index.php?id=8453). All involved professors have their own account and can upload their lessons and all supplementary materials. It is also possible to upload exam results and directly contact the enrolled students by e-mail (Figure 3).
Moodle portal for the Master Course
After field and laboratory work and lectures in Rome and for individual work on the final theses. End of the study is planned as a joint event – defence of theses before the whole Educational council in November 2023, depending on the situation with pandemic.