Careers360 Logo
Interested in this College?
Get updates on Eligibility, Admission, Placements Fees Structure
Compare

Quick Facts

Medium Of InstructionsMode Of LearningMode Of Delivery
EnglishSelf StudyVideo and Text Based

Course Overview

KU Leuven has developed this certificate programme on As above, so below: An introduction to soils, ecosystems and livelihoods in the Tropics. This course will explore the variability of nature in soil properties for the sustainable form of management in farms and ecosystems. This course will help in understanding the soil properties that vary in different tropical landscapes and ecosystems. This will help the candidate understand the properties are affecting both livelihood and biodiversity. 

The candidate will be exposed to learn how to use the soils in a healthier way with basic knowledge of Lifesciences. The virtual form of excursions exposes the soils in five types and uses real-life examples using videos and appropriate case studies. As above, so below: An introduction to soils, ecosystems and livelihoods in the Tropics certification course spans a duration of 7 weeks with inputs from 3 instructors. With a required student dedication of just 4 to 6 weeks, the candidate will be able to complete the coursework with an intermediate difficulty level.  This self-paced course offers two options for learners to enrol in the course, paid with certificate and free without the certificate. In the free mode, the learners will have access only for a limited period. 

The Highlights

  • KU Leuven verified certificate.
  • Self-paced progress of the program
  • 7 weeks coursework
  • 100% e-learning course
  • English medium of instruction
  • 3-course instructors 
  • Coursework audit option
  • 4 to 6 hours of student effort.

Programme Offerings

  • quizzes
  • Video transcripts
  • Case Studies
  • discussions

Courses and Certificate Fees

Fees InformationsCertificate AvailabilityCertificate Providing Authority
INR 4919yesKU Leuven, Leuven

Rs. 4,919 is the total cost that would be paid for this course. 

As above, so below: An introduction to soils, ecosystems, and livelihoods in the Tropics Fees Structure

Fee Details

Amount in Rs.

Total fee

Rs. 4,919 

Note: Without paying any fee, without having any qualifications, the student may be able to audit this course.


Eligibility Criteria

Education

The applicant must have an educational background with basic knowledge in areas of chemistry, biology, physics, or life sciences and recommended to possess knowledge in soil science for enrollment.

Certification qualifying details

The applicant must pay and participate in the checked course, after which he or she must complete the step-by-step requirements along with quizzes and discussions to be awarded the certificate of completion. 

What you will learn

Knowledge of ecosystem

This course on As above, so below: An introduction to soils, ecosystems, and livelihoods in the Tropics will help explore: 

  • The candidate will know how soils are formed and why they exist in some climates and positions of landscape 
  • The candidate will learn to recognize and distinguish the world's main soils (WRB 2016) 
  • The candidate will learn to recognize the habitats, livelihoods, and management opportunities and challenges of each type of soil. 
  • The candidate will learn the interpretation of soil maps 
  • The candidate will gain insight into potential strategies and management methods to sustain or rebuild soil functions and learn to use these perspectives through case studies.
  • The candidate will learn about soil composition, properties. forming processes and functions. 
  • The candidate will learn about different soils in forest zones. 
  • The candidate will learn about several soils that are formed in mountainous regions. 
  • The candidate will learn about soil formation in grassland areas. 
  • The candidate will learn about the soil composition in desert regions. 
  • The candidate will learn about soil development in rivers and wetlands.

Who it is for

This course on As above, so below: An introduction to soils, ecosystems, and livelihoods in the Tropics will benefit the following.

  • Science candidates and graduates who wish to explore their knowledge in soil science/ 
  • Students who aspire to become soil scientists and carve a career out of it.

Admission Details

It is a smooth process to be undertaken in order to obtain entry to the class, and the candidate must take the appropriate steps to participate in this program. 

As above, so below: An introduction to soils, ecosystems, and livelihoods in the Tropics admission process is: 

Step 1: On the given edX website, the applicant must open an account here: https://courses.edx.org/register

Step 2: After an account has been registered, use the 'Enroll' option and followingly, the student can apply for the course. 

Step 3: The candidate must pick the “Verified” course path if the path is selected for the graded coursework or certificate.

Step 4: For the amount stated, the candidate needs to pay the required course fee at https://payment.edx.org/. 

Step 5: The applicant may use the 'Place Order' button to register with the program using payment systems, such as Paypal or others. 

The Syllabus

  • This module is aimed to introduce/refresh the basic soil concepts needed to understand the rest of the course. This module is not obligatory to complete the course.

  • Introduction on the tropics 
  • Main soil forming factors
  • Soil functions
  • Soil threats
  • Soil classification

  • Introduction of the forest zone by a virtual excursion through the Congo Basin and Borneo
  • Formation
  • traits
  • management of Ferralsols
  • Acrisol
  • Histosols
  • Cambisols
  • Cases on agroforestry
  • coffee production and shifting cultivation

  • Introduction of the mountain zone through a virtual excursion at the Kilimanjaro and the Ethiopian Highlands
  • Formation
  • traits
  • management of Cryosols
  • Andosols
  • Nitisols
  • Luvisols
  • Vertisols
  • Leptosols
  • Calcisols
  • Regosols
  • Cases on landslides
  • rice cultivation and termites

  • Introduction of the grassland zone through a virtual excursion in Cameroon and the Dry Chaco in Argentina
  • Formation
  • traits
  • management of Arenosols
  • Lixisols
  • Plinthosols
  • Stagnosols and Planosols
  • Phaozems and Solonetz
  • Cases on sustainable farming on Plinthosols
  • Integrated Soil Fertility Management and land use in the Mount Elgon region

  • Introduction of the desert zone through a virtual excursion through the Sahara and Danakil deserts
  • Formation
  • traits
  • management of Gypsisols
  • Arenosols
  • Solonchaks
  • Cases on Archeomigrations and reforestation

  • Introduction on wetlands through a virtual excursion along the Nile and the Pantanal
  • Brasil
  • Formation
  • traits
  • management of Fluvisols
  • Gleysols
  • Vertisols
  • Cases on acid Fluvisols
  • Niger deltaand data density

Instructors

KU Leuven, Leuven Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

1: What is the program's core objective?

As above, so below: An introduction to soils, ecosystems, and livelihoods in the Tropics program plans to enlighten the candidate on the main area of soil science along with its importance and functions in a variety of landscape settings.

2: How long does it take for this program to finish?

For the coursework, the coursework timetable is scheduled and implemented for 7 weeks. 

3: What are the basic content offerings included in this course?

The following criteria are provided by the curriculum: 

  • Case studies
  • Discussion forums
  • Quizzes
4: What is the prerequisite for obtaining a credential?

Each and every module in the As above, so below: An introduction to soils, ecosystems, and livelihoods in the Tropics program has specific quizzes to be cleared to be qualified for the certificate of completion. 

5: What is the level of complexity faced in the coursework by the candidate?

This curriculum is constructed as intermediate coursework involving prior requirements of soil science and life sciences expertise.

6: What is the meaning of the coursework being a self-paced course?

The greatest benefit of this coursework is that it can be completed at the beginning of the course.

7: Who are the scheduled instructors for this program?

The teachers who work to provide this course with the edX platform are Karen Vancampenhout, Seppe Deckers, and Stephan Mantel.

8: Can this certificate be verified and shared across the job networks?

Yeah, for more career openings, this certificate is formally accredited and circulated across online-based networking and recruiting platforms.

Back to top