Master in Agro-Environmental Technology for Sustainable Agriculture (t.a.p.a.s.) Purpose and Objectives

Transcription

1 Master in Agro-Environmental Technology for Sustainable Agriculture (t.a.p.a.s.) Purpose and Objectives Eleven research groups from seven departments of the College of Agriculture (abbreviated E.T.S.I.A. in Spanish) of the Technical University of Madrid (abbreviated UPM in Spanish) gather to present the new Master in Agro-Environmental Technology for Sustainable Agriculture. The purpose and objective is to develop knowledgeable specialists in technology management and development for the sustainable production of farming systems, fostering their technical education and research abilities. The degree will provide graduates the ability to plan and develop projects combining the production of agricultural systems and the minimization of environmental impacts. The Master program fosters research abilities and emphasizes technical training, preparing qualified professionals to join the corporate world or public administration. Graduate students that complete the Master program will have the opportunity to enroll in the Doctoral Program on Agro-Environmental Technology for Sustainable Agriculture, which will be finished after the submission and approval of a doctoral thesis. Structure and Modules The Master comprises different modules, including methodological and instrumental courses, while offering a wide range of educational options for students with different professional interests. " % # & # $ )* %' (

2 Program Structure In order to obtain the degree, students must earn a minimum of 60 ECTS credits. The curriculum is structured in five modules complemented with practical experience. Modules I through III include courses taught by professors from the participating groups and supported by their active research projects. Module IV is made up of advanced seminars which complement what is taught in the previous courses. Module V consists of the Master Thesis which is worth a total of 15 ECTS credits. The student must earn a minimum of 36 credits from modules I, II and III. This minimum can be reduced to 26 ECTS if the student engages in a program of applied experience authorized by the Graduate Committee. The student must take more than 11 ECTS credits in courses from Module I, and 7 ECTS credits from each one of Modules II and III. In order to complete the remaining 36 credits, the student will make a choice among courses from Modules I, II and III. The only course required for all students is Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis (Module I). The Master provides a great degree of choice, allowing students to select the courses that are appropriate to their professional needs. The modular structure ensures that students acquire all of the competencies of the degree. The minimum number of ECTS credits per student and school year must meet the UPM s Internal Regulations, available at: Module I: Methodology for analysis of agro-systems + " # $% & &' && ' & " # &(& &(&) '& " "& * + & ",-. & &(&/ " 0 * &1"*&& Module I offers students a basic training on the main methods of agro-systems analysis and the ability to apply this knowledge to case studies and practical problems. The student must choose at least 11 ECTS credits from this module.

3 Module II: Quality and degradation of agro-systems " (( && " "&&(&& " # #&+ &2 " -&'&& " Module II allows students to acquire the knowledge and ability to understand and analyze agro-environmental systems as natural ecosystems modified by human activity. It specifically emphasizes problems regarding the quality loss and degradation of resources resulting from its use. It is made up of 4 elective courses from which the student must choose a minimum of 7 ECTS credits. Module III: Agricultural technology for sustainable production # $ & && &&* &' & " 3& * (& / '& " #% && " &(& " This module, as in II, will allow students to acquire the knowledge and ability to understand and analyze agroenvironmental systems as natural ecosystems modified by human activity, though with an emphasis on technologies that can be applied to achieve crop sustainable production by means of improved systems management. It is made up of 4 optional courses, of which the student must select a minimum of 7 ECTS credits. Module IV: Advanced Seminars The objective of this module is to complement the program focusing on specific topics. A minimum of 10 ECTS credits will be offered each year, 6 of which will be mandatory and will be offered every year. Given that students must take a total of 9 ECTS credits from this module, they will be allowed to choose the remaining ECTS credits from the optional seminars offered each year. Required Seminars 1.- Introduction to Research Professors from the Master Program will train students how to do bibliographical searches and manage relevant information, improve their scientific writing skills, do oral presentations, and prepare their thesis project. This seminar will be taught in English or Spanish, depending on the needs of students. 2 ECTS credits.

4 2.- Seminar Linked to Module II: Agro-systems Quality and Degradation. Professors from Wageningen University (Netherlands) will conduct seminars on topics related to this module. Specific topics will vary each year. It will be taught in English. 1.5 ECTS credits. 3.- Seminar Linked to Module III: Agricultural Technologies for Sustainable Production Professors from foreign centers will give a seminar on topics related to this module. In the first edition of the Master, researchers from the University of Torino (Italy) will offer a seminar on Viticulture. It will be held in English. 1.5 ECTS credits. 4.- Conferences Delivered by visiting professors, brief conferences and discussion sessions will be held on various topics. They will be offered mostly in English, 9 of which will be presented per school year, for 1 ECTS credit. They will be announced ahead of time, possibly at the beginning of each term. Optional Seminars The program of seminars will change each year, students will attend those that best fit their interest. Each seminar will represent 1 or 2 ECTS credits. The Master program already has collaboration agreements with the following prestigious Institutions whose researchers will cover specific topics, as mentioned: ) Institute of Sustainable Agriculture (CSIC, Cordoba): water use in agrarian systems. 1 ECTS credit. ) CIFA (abbreviation in Spanish) and Aula Dei-CSIC (Zaragoza): non-point pollution, soil erosion, or irrigation systems management. 1 ECTS credit. ) Institute of Environmental Sciences (University of Castille-La Mancha, Toledo): climate change and its impact on agro-environmental systems. 1 ECTS credit. ) Biotechnology Center (UPM in Spanish, Madrid): soil microbiology and plant pathology. 2 ECTS credits. In addition, professors from the research groups or participating Departments will offer seminars covering specific topics in accordance with the students interest. They will be announced at the start of each semester. Module V: Master Thesis Students must submit Master Thesis worth 15 ECTS to complete their program. Both the written document and the presentation can be done in Spanish or in English. In developing the Thesis, students will be able to choose between a research or professional itinerary. In both cases, the Master Thesis will be composed of three stages: ) Thesis Proposal: Before finalizing the first term, each student will present a thesis proposal describing the topic, the work plan, and the Faculty Advisor. ) Thesis Development: The student will develop the Thesis, guided by his or her Faculty Advisor adjusting to the time frame in the Internal Regulations of UPM. ) Master Thesis Oral Defense: Will be presented individually in front of an Expert Panel selected by the Master s Academic Committee.

5 Programs and Internships The Master is designed for students interested in pursuing a research career or a professional career, as highly qualified technical experts in technologies for the sustainable management of farming systems. As mentioned earlier, the Master has two itineraries, namely, a research one and a professional one. Each itinerary will be defined by the work carried out for the final Master Thesis and the optional internship. Students in the research itinerary will develop their internship with one of the participating research groups or with a Research Center outside of UPM, always under the supervision of the Faculty Advisor, and approved by the Master s Academic Committee. Students opting for the professional itinerary will develop their internship preferably in firms within the private sector whose commercial activities are related to the topic of the thesis. In special circumstances and upon the approval of the Faculty Advisor and the Master s Academic Committee, internships in companies will possibly be substituted by internships with research teams maintaining the professional focus. The College of Agriculture of the Technical University of Madrid has educational cooperation agreements with a number of firms and public and private organizations. Internships will be worth a minimum of 5 ECTS credits. With approval of the Faculty Advisor and the Master s Academic Committee, students will be allowed to earn a total of 10 ECTS credits in Internships. These 10 ECTS can be added to complete the 36- ECTS requirement, so that they will need to enroll only in courses from modules I, II and III, for a total of 26 ECTS. A complete itinerary will be offered entirely in English if at least ten students request it. The program will be coherent and will offer a certain degree of choice. Access, pre-registration and enrollment Students interested in participating in the Masters or Doctoral program can pre-register online in the UPM web site, where they will find detailed information regarding the required documentation and the steps to take. Participating Research Groups Agroenergy Soil quality and environmental applications Contamination of agro-systems by agricultural practices Agricultural economics and natural resources Fractals and applications in soil and environmental sciences (PEDOFRACT) Viticulture

6 Agricultural systems (AgSystems) Integrated pest management Heavy metals in the agricultural environment Quantitative methods in the agri-food sector Resource valorisation Participating Departments Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences Soil Science Statistics and Agricultural Management Methods Applied Mathematics to Agricultural Engineering Crop Production: Botanic and Crop Protection Crop Ecology and Production Agricultural Chemistry and Analysis