KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING ABILITY:
Graduates:
- will have knowledge of how an agricultural firm is structured and relevant management techniques;
- will have knowledge of biotic and abiotic factors that influence production, soil defence and fertility;
- will have knowledge of agricultural production systems and their impact on the environment, product quality and consumer health;
- will have knowledge of genetics and breeding;
- will have the ability to identify pathogens, parasites and relevant defence strategies;
- will have knowledge of weeds in relation to plant production.
The knowledge and understanding abilities listed above are achieved and developed through lectures, practical activities, seminars, supervised own-study, and non-supervised own-study provided for by the programme course units.
Assessment can be accomplished through oral and written exams, mid-term tests and oral presentations.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND TO UNDERSTAND:
Graduates:
- will have the ability to apply knowledge and management techniques to guarantee the correct operation of farms;
- will have the ability to put the skills acquired concerning production, soil fertility and defence into practice;
- will have the ability to elaborate sustainable agriculture plans, based on the knowledge of agricultural production systems that take into account environmental impact, product quality and the effect on consumer health;
- will have the ability to conceive plans for the genetic improvement of cultivations;
- will have the ability to diagnose pathogens and plan an integrated programme to control them and to programme eco-compatible weed-control programmes.
Achieving the ability to apply the knowledge and understanding listed above is accomplishedthrough critical reflection on texts proposed for own-study stimulated through classroom activities, study of research and application cases indicated by the professors, practical laboratory work, field work, bibliographic research, individual and/or group projects related to the core curriculum course units or elective course units included in the programme, as well as during the internship and preparation of the final paper.
Assessment is accomplished through written and oral exams, reports and practical activities which provide for specific tasks to assess the command over 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 have the ability, as to the knowledge acquired, to express judgements autonomously on problems concerning the overall management of a farm and on issues related to their profession;
- will have the ability to critically evaluate matters related to their profession and in particular they will be able to define the best eco-friendly defence and production strategies.
Judgement skills are developed in particular through practical activities, seminars, the preparation of a paper 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 to prepare the final paper.
The acquisition of judgement skills is evaluated through study programme assessments and assessment of the students' capacity to work alone and in group during the activity assigned in preparation of the internship and final paper.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
Graduates:
- will be able to use the most modern and effective communication means for the dissemination of research carried out and to present the study of the problems of a farm;
- will have the ability to work with production companies and with professionals in this sector or similar ones.
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 in a clear and comprehensive manner 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 a report at the end of the internship. Communication skills are also assessed during the preparation of the final paper and its presentation.
LEARNING SKILLS:
Graduates:
- will have access to basic knowledge and methods to keep updated on regulations, new technologies and new research on plant production and protection;
-will have the ability to apply learning methods and tools acquired to elaborate upon the contents studied, also in professional terms, and to pursue further studies.
The learning abilities acquired are a result of the entire period of study, in particular during own-study, lectures and laboratory activities, and during internship activities, the preparation of individual papers and of the final paper. Students are evaluated through the assessment of the activities provided for.
