MSc programme of Sustainable Development in Agriculture

Erasmus Mundus master’s programme in Sustainable Development in Agriculture

The Agris Mundus – Sustainable Development in Agriculture MSc (hereinafter referred to as Agris Mundus) is part of the Erasmus Mundus (EMMC) programme (2009-13) initiated and funded by the European Commission in the field of higher education. The programme aims to enhance the quality of European higher education and to promote dialogue and understanding between people and cultures through cooperation with Third-Countries.

The programme is organised in accordance with Executive Order no. 815 of 29 June.

The programme is under the Natural Science Study Board.

Graduation in the programme confers the degree Master of Science in Sustainable Development in Agriculture.

The graduate will be awarded a double degree.

Chapter 1. The programme’s objective and competence profile

1.1 The programme’s objective

The programme aims at supplying capacities in the fields of expertise that are questioned by rural development in the developing countries:

- The development of cropping systems, especially for fruits and vegetables that combine the needs of economic return to the farmers and the societal needs for the preservation of the environment;

- The increase of livestock production, while preserving the quality of the products and the wealth of animals;

- The preservation of natural resources, especially land, water, forests and biodiversity, which become scarcer and scarcer, or in competition with increasing other uses;

- The development of sustainable food systems and efficient food chains;

- The capacity to integrate all these sectors into a holistic and systemic approach to agricultural development.

Integration of the supply at the European level is a matter of bringing together a broad range of complementary expertises on these questions, not only from the disciplinary or thematic perspective, but also from the experience of the partners in developing countries, where each partner has research commitments. Such an experience and the related international cooperation in which each partner is involved will facilitate the training of the students through research.

1.2 The programme’s general profile

The Agris Mundus programme is a collaboration of six leading European universities[1] that have come together to create a joint master’s programme within the frame work of Erasmus Mundus.

The Agris Mundus programme has been approved for EU funding for the time period 2006-2016.

The Erasmus Mundus master’s programme Agris Mundus encompasses all critical aspects of agriculturally related development activities, from soil fertility management to rural livelihood strategies. The learning approach is a combination of field-related experiences, teaching in traditions and methods related to data collection in complex real life situations, and discipline-based specialisations.

The Agris Mundus programme is a combination of:

• An interdisciplinary field-oriented common part which includes training in techniques for gathering data under a variety of field conditions combined with training in the research process
• A selective part which facilitates specialisation, and
• The thesis, which includes fieldwork in the setting of a country with relevance to developing countries.

1.3. The programme’s employment prospects

The programme qualifies the graduate to a diverse international sector that holds many opportunities for professional jobs such as

• Employment as a consultant in a Danish or international organisation working with development and / or foods, such as Danida, UN environmental and agricultural organizations, UNEP and FAO or the EU.
• Research work in Denmark or at an international research institution, including universities and in government research.
• Employment in one of the many organisations that works with developing countries. Recent graduates are working for Red Cross, CARE, DCA, Children's Fund, Save the Children..etc.
• Employment by companies involved in fair trade, ecology and global trade, such as certification, labeling, purchasing and sales.

 

1.4. The programme’s competence profile

During the Agris Mundus programme students must obtain the knowledge, skills and competences described below.

These qualifications are obtained partly through participation in course work, fieldwork, and the preparation of a master’s thesis.

After completing the Agris Mundus programme the graduate should be able to:

The study track in Water Management: Operation and Design (Wageningen – Copenhagen)

 

1.4.1 Knowledge

• Provide an overview of agricultural development theories
• Give a detailed account of and critically evaluate current research and advanced theories in relation to sustainable use and management of natural resources in developing countries
• Summarise the theoretical basis of qualitative and quantitative data collection methodology, including interviews, questionnaires, surveys, and rapid appraisal techniques
• Reflect on the critical aspects of professional situations within natural resource management in relation to agricultural activities and describe the patterns characterising these situations on the basis of field work experience from rural areas in developing countries
• Show familiarity with interdisciplinary and intercultural work
• Design and functioning of water harvesting and irrigation technologies for developing countries
• Concepts and approaches to integrated watershed management
• Apply their knowledge and understanding and problem-solving abilities in new and unfamiliar environments within broader contexts related to their field of study.

1.4.2 Skills

• Apply field research methods, instruments and tools appropriately, as well as be able to plan, monitor and evaluate responses within land and water management.
• Participate in academic discussions on agricultural development and relationships to other study programmes
• Identify and critically assess theoretical and practical approaches to develop appropriate water management strategies.
• Critically analyse and evaluate water management practices, schemes and programmes
• Undertake a research programme within land and water management at different international universities
• Communicate effectively to diverse audiences using a range of media.
• Examine own practice in a critical manner and modify it accordingly.

1.4.3 Competences

• Participate in public discussions on an academic level regarding natural resource management in a global context in the role of researcher, advisor, policymaker or programme employee or manager
• Display independence, integrity and develop new relevant knowledge and skills when working in complex field settings on an individual basis, in teams as well as in cross-disciplinary and intercultural environments
• Use interdisciplinary, multicultural real life experiences to analyse the whole context of the systems encountered
• Display awareness of ethical and moral questions related to the management of different natural resources and take these into account when working in different cultural settings
• Carry out research-, adviser- or policy-related activities within land and water management in government bodies, non-governmental organisations, research institutions, development agencies or international industry bodies

The study track in Safe Production in Horticulture (Copenhagen – Catania)

1.4.4 Knowledge

• Provide an overview of agricultural development theories
• Give a detailed account of and critically evaluate current research and advanced theories in relation to sustainable use and management of natural resources in developing countries
• Summarise the theoretical basis of qualitative and quantitative data collection methodology, including interviews, questionnaires, surveys, and rapid appraisal techniques
• Reflect on the critical aspects of professional situations within natural resource management in relation to agricultural activities and describe the patterns characterising these situations on the basis of field work experience from rural areas in developing countries
• Show familiarity with interdisciplinary and intercultural work
• Production specific practices and constraints in high and low input horticultural production
• Concepts and analytical approaches within sustainable horticultural production and development
• Apply their knowledge and understanding and problem-solving abilities in new and unfamiliar environments within broader contexts related to their field of study.

1.4.5 Skills

• Apply field research methods, instruments and tools appropriately, as well as be able to plan, monitor and evaluate responses within sustainable horticultural production
• Participate in academic discussions on agricultural development and relationships to other study programmes
• Identify and critically analyse theoretical and practical approaches to horticulture and development.
• Undertake a research programme within horticulture and development at different international universities
• Communicate effectively to diverse audiences using a range of media.
• Examine own practice in a critical manner and modify it accordingly.

1.4.6 Competences

• Participate in public discussions on an academic level regarding natural resource management in a global context in the role of researcher, advisor, policymaker or programme employee or manager
• Display independence, integrity and develop new relevant knowledge and skills when working in complex field settings on an individual basis, in teams as well as in cross-disciplinary and intercultural environments
• Use interdisciplinary, multicultural real life experiences to analyse the whole context of the systems encountered
• Display awareness of ethical and moral questions related to the management of different natural resources and take these into account when working in different cultural settings
• Carry out research-, adviser- or policy-related activities within horticulture and development in government bodies, non-governmental organisations, research institutions, development agencies or international industry bodies

The study track in Agricultural Development (Copenhagen – Montpellier)

1.4.7 Knowledge

• Identify and critically analyse key factors and forces shaping agricultural development problems in any specific (local, national, regional, international) context, particularly in low and middle income countries where and when agriculture is a major component of the local economy
• Give a detailed account of and critically evaluate current research and advanced theories in relation to sustainable use and management of natural resources in developing countries
• Summarise the theoretical basis of qualitative and quantitative data collection methodology, including interviews, questionnaires, surveys, and rapid appraisal techniques
• Reflect on the critical aspects of professional situations within natural resource management in relation to agricultural activities and describe the patterns characterising these situations on the basis of field work experience from rural areas in developing countries
• Show familiarity with interdisciplinary and intercultural work

1.4.8 Skills

• Apply relevant project planning, data collection and evaluation methodologies such as logical framework approaches in complex field settings and in research planning
• Participate in academic discussions on agricultural development and relationships to other study programmes
• Critically analyse and describe sustainability and livelihood issues in relation to natural resource management
• Undertake a research programme within agricultural development at different international universities
• Communicate effectively to diverse audiences using a range of media.
• Examine own practice in a critical manner and modify it accordingly.

1.4.9 Competences

• Participate in public discussions on an academic level regarding natural resource management in a global context in the role of researcher, advisor, policymaker or programme employee or manager
• Display independence, integrity and develop new relevant knowledge and skills when working in complex field settings on an individual basis, in teams as well as in cross-disciplinary and intercultural environments
• Use interdisciplinary, multicultural real life experiences to analyse the whole context of the systems encountered
• Display awareness of ethical and moral questions related to the management of different natural resources and take these into account when working in different cultural settings
• Carry out research-, adviser- or policy-related activities within agricultural development in government bodies, non-governmental organisations, research institutions, development agencies or international industry bodies

The study track in Food Chains and Development (Cork – Copenhagen)

1.4.10 Knowledge

• Provide an overview of agricultural development theories
• Give a detailed account of and critically evaluate current research and advanced theories in relation to sustainable use and management of natural resources in developing countries
• Summarise the theoretical basis of qualitative and quantitative data collection methodology, including interviews, questionnaires, surveys, and rapid appraisal techniques
• Reflect on the critical aspects of professional situations within natural resource management in relation to agricultural activities and describe the patterns characterising these situations on the basis of field work experience from rural areas in developing countries
• Show familiarity with interdisciplinary and intercultural work
• Structure and functioning of local and global food chains
• The importance of food chains for food security and development
• Concepts and analytical approaches within food business analysis and management, global and national food politics and marketing
• Apply their knowledge and understanding and problem-solving abilities in new and unfamiliar environments within broader contexts related to their field of study.

1.4.11 Skills

• Apply field research methods, instruments and tools appropriately, as well as be able to plan, monitor and evaluate responses within food business management and food chains
• Participate in academic discussions on agricultural development and relationships to other study programmes
• Identify and critically analyse theoretical and practical approaches to food chains and agribusiness development.
• Undertake a research programme within food chains and development at different international universities
• Communicate effectively to diverse audiences using a range of media.
• Examine own practice in a critical manner and modify it accordingly.

1.4.12 Competences

• Participate in public discussions on an academic level regarding natural resource management in a global context in the role of researcher, advisor, policymaker or programme employee or manager
• Display independence, integrity and develop new relevant knowledge and skills when working in complex field settings on an individual basis, in teams as well as in cross-disciplinary and intercultural environments
• Use interdisciplinary, multicultural real life experiences to analyse the whole context of the systems encountered
• Display awareness of ethical and moral questions related to the management of different natural resources and take these into account when working in different cultural settings
• Carry out research-, adviser- or policy-related activities within food chains and development in government bodies, non-governmental organisations, research institutions, development agencies or international industry bodies

Chapter 2. Degree programme content

2.1 Content

Before the official study start all the students of the programme attend a common orientation week. One major objective of this orientation week is to introduce the students to the programme and to start collective discussions between staff and students regarding their choice of optional modules in their future studies as well as to create a shared identity within the diverse study tracks.

The Agris Mundus programme then combines a first year at one university (M1) with a second year at a second university (M2).

Before entering their second university for their second study year, all students attend a common one week research methodology workshop, jointly organised on a rotation basis by the six partner institutions. This event is organised in order to prepare the students for the strong research orientation of the M2 and to build up a common scientific corpus between the various study tracks.

The fourth semester of the programme is devoted to a personal contribution of the student into a research work co-directed by academic staff of both the M1 and the M2 institutions.

The programme is concluded with a 30 ECTS master thesis.

The study track in Water Management: Operation and Design

At Wageningen University, The Netherlands

Compulsory courses:

Sustainable Watershed Management (6 credits)

Research Approaches in Land and Water Management (6 credits)

Sustainable Land and Water Management (6 credits)

Irrigation Development (6 credits)

Modular Skills Training (3 credits)

1 elective specialisation course (6 credits)

Elective courses (27 credits)

At Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen:

Year 2	Block 1	Qualitative Methods in Agricultural Development
	Block 2	Land and Water Management – a Developing Country Perspective
	Block 3	Thesis (incl. Field Data Collection)
	Block 4

	Compulsory Courses and thesis
	Core courses

 

310076 Land and Water Management – a Developing Country Perspective - 7.5 credits

400022 Qualitative Methods in Agricultural Development - 7.5 credits

Thesis – 30 credits

7.5 credits must be chosen within the following core courses

Block 1: 

400027 Research Planning – 7.5 credits (done as an individual study)

210001 Applied Statistics - 7.5 credits

Block 2:

290075 Industrial Organization - 7.5 credits

400023 Conflict Management – 7.5 credits

 

The study track in Safe Production in Horticulture

At Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen:

Year 1	Block 1	Qualitative Methods in Agricultural Development
	Block 2
	Block 3	Interdisciplinary Land Use and Natural Resource Management (incl. field trip to developing country)
	Block 4	Development Economics

	Compulsory Courses
	Core courses

At LIFE:

290006 Development Economics - 7.5 credits

400006 Interdisciplinary Land Use and Natural Resource Management – 15 credits

400022 Qualitative Methods in Agricultural Development - 7.5 credits

 

30 credits must be chosen within the following core courses

Block 1:

250082 Tropical Crop Production – 7.5 credits

250031 Plant Infection and Disease Management - 7.5 credits

 

Block 2:

250044 Tropical Botany B – 7.5 credits

250079 Biological Control of Pests – 7.5 credits

250080 Climate Change – Effects on Food and Feed – 7.5 credits

310076 Land and Water Management – a Developing Country Perspective – 7.5 credits

250041 Seed Science and Technology - 7.5 credits

 

Block 4:

250087 Weed Biology and Management – 7.5 credits

240059 Conservation and Management  of Genetic Resources - 7.5 credits

310037 Applied Ethnobotany - 7.5 credits

 

At Catania:

Compulsory courses:

Ecophysiology and breeding of fruit trees – 5 credits

Vegetable and ornamental crops – 5 credits

Entomology applied to agrosystems – 5 credits

Cultural, biological and chemical plants disease management – 5 credits

10 credits must be chosen within the following core courses (Second year, semester 1):

Citriculture – 2 credits

Irrigation systems – 4 credits

Methods and processes for vegetable and ornamental crops – 3 credits

Oliviculture – 2 credits

Specialty vegetable and ornamental crops – 3 credits

Viticulture – 2 credits

Animal pests – 2 credits

Biological control and biotechnologies applied to pest control – 4 credits

Farm mechanisation – 4 credits

Technologies in phytopathology – 6 credits

 

The study track in Agricultural Development

At Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen

Year 1	Block 1	Qualitative Methods in Agricultural Development	Tropical Crop Production
	Block 2
	Block 3	Thematic Course: Interdisciplinary Land Use and Natural Resource Management
	Block 4	Development Economics

	Compulsory Courses
	Core courses

At LIFE:

250082 Tropical Crop Production - 7.5 credits

290006 Development Economics – 7.5 credits

400006 Thematic Course: Interdisciplinary Land Use and Natural Resource Management – 7.5 credits

400022 Qualitative Methods in Agricultural Development - 7.5 credits

 

15 credits must be chosen within the following core courses (First year, block 2):

250080 Climate Change – effects on food and feed – 7.5 credits

310076 Land and Water Management – a Developing Country Perspective – 7.5 credits

400023 Conflict Management - 7.5 credits

 

7.5 credits must be chosen within the core courses (First year, block 4):

290013 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics – 7.5 credits

310010 Environmental Impact Assessment – 7.5 credits

400030 Advanced Natural Resource Conflict Management – 7.5 credits

250037 Plants in Populations, Communities and Ecosystems - 7.5 credits

240059 Conservation and Management of Genetic Resources - 7.5 credits

 

At Montpellier:

Courses:

Systemic Approach of Agricultural Development – 3 credits

Biophysical and Environmental Resources Assessment for Sustainable Land Use – 5 credits

Economic History: Agrarian Change – 2 credits

Foreign Languages for Professionals – 2 credits

The student must choose one of the three following specialisations (Second year, block 2):

 

Specialisation A: Agrarian Change and Sustainable Development (18 credits)

Agricultural Production Systemic Analysis – 6 credits

Collective Training Exercise, Interactions Ecosystem/Production – 1 credit

Economic History, Economic Development – 2 credits

Systematic Appraoch of Agricultural Development (Quick Assessment of a Local Agricultural system) – A professional Exercise – 2 credits

Social Management of Natural Resources – 1 credit

Land resources Management in Developing Countries: Challenges, Policies and Regulation – 4 credits

Agrarian Change and Sustainable Development – 1 credit

Project Assessment: From Theory to Practice – 1 credit

 

Specialisation B: Agronomy and Innovation in Rural Systems (18 credits)

Agricultural Production Systemic Analysis – 3 credits

Systemic Approach of Agricultural Development, Collective Training: Quick Assessment of a Local Agricultural System – 1 credit

Cropping Systems Development – 7 credits

Changes in Technical Farming Systems and Land Use at the Regional Scale: Quality and Environmental Impact – 7 credits

 

Specialisation C: Public Policies, Institutions and Markets (18 credits)

From Collective Action to Public Development Policies – 4 credits

Production and Implementation of a Public Policy – 4 credits

Family Based Agricultural Systems at the Crossroad between Markets and Public Policies – 5 credits

Evaluation and Impact Assessment of Public Policies and their Instruments: Projects and Programmes – 5 credits

 

The study track in Food Chains and Development

At University College, Cork, Ireland:

Compulsory courses:

Food Business (15 credits)

Food Business Analysis (10 credits)

Food Business Project (10 credits)

Module electives:

Advanced Food Business Management (5 credits)

Global Food Policy (5 credits)

Advanced Food Marketing (5 credits)

Food Security and the Developing World (5 credits)

Co-operative Business and the Rural Economy (5 credits)

Or

Co-operative Organisation (5 ECTS)

Food Retail Marketing (5 ECTS)

Advanced Food Supply Chain Management (5 credits)

Food Choice Analysis (5 credits)

At Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen:

Year 2	Block 1	Qualitative Methods in Agricultural Development
	Block 2
	Block 3	Thesis (incl. Field Data Collection)
	Block 4

	Compulsory courses and thesis
	Core courses

At LIFE:

400022 Qualitative Methods in Agricultural Development - 7.5 credits

Thesis - 30 credits 

7.5 credits must be chosen within the following core courses (block 1):

400027 Research Planning - 7.5 credits

290036 Trade and International Cooperation - 7.5 credits

270064 International Food Legislation and Quality Management - 7.5 credits

290075 Industrial Organization - 7.5 credits

 

15 credits must be chosen within the following core courses (block 2):

270004 Chemical Food Safety – 7.5 credits

290076 Contracts and Cooperatives – 7.5 credits

400023 Conflict Management – 7.5 credits

Risk Analysis in Food Safety (at Technical University of Denmark) – 7.5 credits

 

Chapter 3. Admission requirements and admission

3.1 Admission requirements

Admission requirements are the same for all applicants irrespective to their country of origin or to the study track they candidate to:

· Bachelor of Science (180 ECTS) in a field related to agricultural development

· English language test (IELTS – Academic with an overall score of min. 6.0 or TOEFL with the min. score of 560 for the paper-based test or 83 for the internet-based test)

3.2 Admission

Students are admitted to the Agris Mundus programme once a year (with study start on 1 September).