Course description (SAI)

 

Innovative Agricultural Systems (L-SAI)

 

First cycle Degree (3 years) 

 

TRAINING PATHS

 

The degree course in “Innovative Agricultural Systems” (SAI) aims to train graduates with interdisciplinary competence s, able to manage  complex agricultural activities by  innovative and sustainable processes. The objective of the training pathway is to provide knowledge and skills useful  to support the creation of a creative  innovation framework for  local agriculture and nursery production.

The course  dialogues with the socio-economic context, on one hand, it encourages the development of skills useful for graduates who would like to enter directly in the world of work; on the other hand, it provides solid training necessary to continue the academic path with master's courses aimed at deepening specialist skills.

In this double perspective, the course is based on the following pillars: environmental sustainability, the efficient use of resources, the enhancement of local products. The key sectors taken into consideration are strategic for the challenges of the near future: precision farming and agroecology, nursery and ornamental plant production, quality production and products and process certification.

 

SAI course consists of 180 ECTS that the students will acquire over the 3-year period. It is organized in 19 subjects, some of these freely  selected by the students, the English language test (level B1), an internship period to acquire practical skills (150 hours) with a technical report (6 ECTS) and the final discussion of the graduate exam (6 ECTS).

The course is divided  in semesters and the teachings are structured in different typologies (lessons, exercises, laboratory activities, internship, seminars).

In the first year, the teachings are  basic subjects ,in order to provide a common scientific language in the following areas:  mathematics, physics, chemistry, and plant biology. Moreover, further teachings are proposed in order to provide skills in the area of ecology, pedology, microbiology, and economy.

In the second year, the specific disciplines of the degree course in “Innovative Agricultural Systems” are addressed. These  include agronomy, arboriculture and crop production, genetics, crop protection. Moreover, the course provides essential information about smart agriculture, through the study of informatic methodologies useful for the interpretation and elaboration of data coming from remote sensing.

The third year completes the knowledge of the students with the study of sustainable cultivation of fruit and olive orchards, vineyards, nursery, and cultivation and management of ornamental plants, and skill and knowledge about economics, environmental sustainability, and communication of innovative process applied to the production.  The second semester of third year is mainly focused to practical-applicative training and to the preparation of the  thesis.

Finally, using the free ECTS, in the second and third year, students can direct their specific preparation in particular areas.

The activities related to the final discussion for the graduation  consists in preparing a thesis and in its discussion, according to scientific manuscript about an original activity related to Innovative Agricultural Systems.

Furthermore, students can  carry out an internship to acquire practical skills in one of the sectors related to agricultural technologies, innovative technologies, nursery, management of green urban areas, and local chain production.

The internship activities involve the writing of a final report, which the student will present to acquire the 6 ECTS.

OBJECTIVES AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES

 

The BSc “Innovative Agricultural Systems” (SAI) aims to train the graduates to be able to coordinate the problems of agricultural production in a multidisciplinary manner, taking into account environmental sustainability and respect for economic and social realities in specific production contexts, focusing the attention on crop and nursery production, ornamental and urban green management, innovative systems of production, smart agriculture, the economic, social and environmental impacts of technological and bio-technological innovations on the sector of agriculture, the sustainable use of natural resources, the mitigation of undesirable effects on the environment and the enhancement of agricultural chains.

The BSc in “Innovative Agricultural Systems” (SAI) also aims to provide an adequate base for access to Master's degrees related to the agricultural sector. Within the didactic structure described above, the educational path includes:

- strong integration between the lessons taught to encourage the development of clear multidisciplinary and an integrated vision of problems, according to the systemic approach;

- the use of diversified teaching forms and materials that in addition to the lectures and the most up-to-date reference texts for the various disciplines, will include: critical reading and discussion of scientific articles, laboratory practical, and active participation in seminars and workshops also organized with the collaboration of companies and professionals in the agriculture, food and environmental sectors;

- the use of the Moodle technological platform, such as the Learning Management System for the development of blended training courses, in which traditional classroom training is integrated with the most innovative IT technologies. This will be achieved through the creation of personalized learning environments that in addition to directly supplying the contents to authorized users, will allow tracing of the frequency of courses and activities (e.g., access to contents, time of use, results of evaluation activities). Both unidirectional and bidirectional synchronous and asynchronous communication tools are used within the Moodle environment (teachers to students; students to colleagues and teachers) using integrated modules, such as discussion forums. Additional possibilities made available by Moodle include online testing; self-evaluation; wiki; surveys (course satisfaction questionnaires); online assignments (uploading of files by students); glossaries; and audio, video and other multimedia content.

 

The BSc in “Innovative Agricultural Systems” offers the opportunity to access the following employment opportunities:

- University Agriculture Departments;

- Agricultural consortia;

- Freelance professional activities (e.g., young agronomist) with particular regard to farm supporting to innovative technologies, sustainable and certificated processes;

- Single or consortium farms;

- Producer associations;

- Nursery;

- farms which apply smart agriculture;

- Large fruit and vegetable distribution;

- Agriculture products industries;

- Quality control bodies;

- National and regional services for the protection and development of the environment and the territory (e.g., State Technical Services; National and Regional Agencies for the Environment; Hydrological and Soil Authorities; Technical Services and Regional, Provincial and Municipal Departments; Reclamation and Irrigation Consortia; Mountain Communities; and Mountain Hydrological Consortia);

- professional firms, service companies and laboratories operating in the agricultural sector and in the management and protection of the environment and the territory;

- Consortia for the protection of typical local production (truffle, pink apple, oliva tenera ascolana).