KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING ABILITY:
Graduates:
- will have basic knowledge of the analysis of the elementary functions of the relevant scientific subject areas, of probability, statistics and applied computing;
- will understand the main constructive types and techniques of irrigation and mechanisation applied in the agricultural and agroindustrial sector;
- will have knowledge of the agroindustrial production systems and the application of national and EU agricultural policies;
- will be able to analyse the effect of political actions on the different production and distribution chains and on the agricultural and agroindustrial businesses involved;
- will be able to apply management and control functions adopting the appropriate use of instruments for analysing company accounts;
- will understand the relationship between the actors of the production and distribution chain, and the types of horizontal and vertical coordination and be able to identify any critical points and suggest possible solutions;
- will understand the national and international markets and the factors that influence them in terms of economic situation and trends;
- will have basic legal and institutional knowledge regarding the agricultural and agroindustrial system.
The knowledge and understanding abilities listed above are achieved and developed through lectures, practical activities, seminars, supervised home study, and individual home study provided for by the degree programme course units. The logical basis of the theoretical lessons, which students must study in greater depth individually, and personal papers required by the course units offer students the opportunity to elaborate upon knowledge and improve understanding.
Assessment is mainly accomplished through oral and written exams, course unit tests and oral presentations.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND TO UNDERSTAND:
Graduates:
- will be able to apply the techniques of main biological cycles, modern methods for defending and analysing the quality of agricultural and agroindustrial products;
- will be able to apply breeding techniques for the main species and the main features of zootechnic productions, focusing on process traceability and the definition of quality standards recognisable by the end user;
- will be able to draw up, read and analyse end of year accounts of companies operating in the agroindustrial sector;
- will be able to develop appropriate corporate strategies using management and marketing techniques;
- will be able to prepare a marketing plan for agricultural and agroindustrial products using the most appropriate techniques in relation to the social context and relevant markets;
- will be able to estimate and evaluate agricultural assets and resources, also in terms of environmental impact.
Achieving the ability to apply the knowledge and understanding listed above is accomplished through critical reflection on texts proposed for home study stimulated through classroom activities, study of research and application cases indicated by the professors, numerical exercises, laboratory and/or computer work, bibliographic research, individual and/or group projects related to the core curriculum course units or elective course units included in the study programme, as well as during the internship and preparation of the final paper.
Assessment is accomplished through written and oral exams, essays and practical activities which provide for specific tasks in which students demonstrate command of instruments and methods, and critical autonomy. Internships are assessed through the student's presentation of a report to the supervising professor.
JUDGEMENT SKILLS:
Graduates:
- will be able to select and interpret data and information, develop opinions and express judgements on specific issues and propose solutions to problems related to their professional activity.
Judgement skills are developed in particular through practical activities, seminars, the preparation of papers related to the core curriculum course units and elective course units included in the degree programme and during internship activities and the activities assigned by the supervising professor for the preparation of the final paper.
Judgement skills are assessed by evaluating the course units of the study programme and capacity to work alone and as part of a group during the activity assigned in preparation of the internship and the final paper.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
Graduates:
- will be able to communicate information, ideas, and problems using modern and effective methods, and propose solutions to specialist and non-specialist interlocutors;
- will have sound knowledge of one foreign language, English, French, German or Spanish, in the field of competence, to exchange general information and to read foreign scientific texts.
Written and oral communication skills are developed in particular through practical activities, seminars and course units that provide for the preparation of reports, written papers and their oral presentation. During practical activities and seminars, students are encouraged to take part and speak before an audience to improve their ability to describe clearly and confidently any doubts and/or questions on specific matters. The evaluation/assessment of communication skills is also provided for during the internship and through the presentation of the report at the end of the internship. Communication skills are also assessed during the preparation of the final paper and its presentation. Foreign language communication skills are assessed through a proficiency test.
LEARNING SKILLS:
Graduates:
- will have critical evaluation skills on themes related to their professional activity and will be able to apply relationship skills to working and social contexts;
- will be able to express in writing and discuss, within the context in which they operate, issues of interest related to the degree programme with good propriety of language and the ability to pick out essential points.
The learning abilities acquired are a result of the entire period of study, in particular during home study, in the preparation of individual papers and the work carried out in preparation of the final paper.
Learning skills are assessed in different ways and the following activities are of great importance in this sense: supervised home study, initiatives to support students in planning and organising their study time, bibliographic research and updating activity, discussions during seminars, correction and re-writing of papers. A great part of the overall number of study hours is dedicated to home study, to offer students the possibility to continuously check and improve their learning skills. The paper for the final project contributes to developing learning skills as students are asked to understand and tackle new information not necessarily provided by the supervisory professor.
