Presentation
In 1988, the Department of Agriculture of Plant and Animal Production operated at the School of Production Sciences of the University of Thessaly. In the academic year 2002-2003, the Department became independent, renamed the Department of Agriculture of Plant Production and Rural Environment of the School of Agricultural Sciences of the University of Thessaly. The Department is located in the buildings of the School located in the Phytoko area, in Volos, as well as in the buildings and other facilities at the University Farm in Velestino. The Department is home to twenty established Laboratories that cover the research and educational needs of the Department, while to serve the basic educational laboratory needs, there are also laboratories of natural and biological sciences as well as computers.
Main Objective
The mission of the Department of Agriculture, Plant Production and Rural Environment is to provide knowledge for the university training of future agronomists, so that they are able to handle the classical and modern methodology of creation and production of improved propagating material (genetic improvement, biotechnology-genetic engineering), modern cultivation techniques (physiology, nutrition, plant protection), the development of modern agricultural technology, the management of natural resources and the rural environment and the safety in the production of products of plant origin. Particular emphasis is placed on ensuring that the education of prospective agronomists at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels takes into account modern trends for integrated production in the context of sustainable development by highlighting the role of all the subjects treated in the Department. Thus, the Department also responds to the challenge of AGENDA 2000, which emphasizes environmental protection, the reduction of energy and agrochemical inputs, the use of renewable energy sources in agriculture, and the certification of the quality of agricultural products. This understanding of the structure of the studies gives the Department's graduates of Agricultural Sciences the special qualifications required to support their role as Agricultural Consultants in a modern agriculture, competitive and at the same time friendly to the environment.
To this end, the 5-year curriculum includes infrastructure courses that refer to the basic units of the Physical, Biological and Socio-Economic Sciences, ensuring the foundation of the relevant knowledge, which is necessary for the further completion of the Curriculum, core courses oriented towards the main subjects of the Science of Agriculture, ensuring the fundamental practice and means for the study of phenomena, systems and technology related to the modern production process, in-depth courses at a high level of knowledge in the scope of the subject of Agriculture, as well as elective courses through which the students of the Department shape the profile that each one desires, according to the individual specialties and fields of the Science of Agriculture. Furthermore, the Curriculum introduces the additional and important dimension of the human factor, its activities, behavior and creativity within the general agricultural environment. In addition to attending courses, the Curriculum includes a mandatory two-month internship and the preparation and public presentation of a thesis corresponding to a full semester of studies.
The Department also offers postgraduate studies with postgraduate study programs as well as doctoral studies in the Department's Laboratories.
Qualification
Graduates of the Department of Agricultural Sciences have the qualifications and capabilities to work in: i) public organizations, such as ministries (Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Ministry of Education, etc.), various organizations [Agricultural Insurance Organization, Organization for Payments and Subsidies, Guidance and Guarantees (OPEKEPE), Local Government Organizations, etc.]. ii) in the private sector in cooperative organizations, private enterprises, private research and service agencies. iii) in international organizations (OECD, EU, F.A.O., etc.).
Structure and Distribution of Credits
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