Undergraduate Study
Agroecology
Study Programme Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Ivana Šestak, PhD
Many ecological problems appear in areas with intensive agricultural activity and become a big obstacle to sustainable development. In order to balance the use of natural resources in agriculture (agricultural land, soil, and water), knowledge is required, and the study of Agroecology puts a special emphasis on the methods and possibilities of sustainable development within Croatian agriculture. The agroecosystem is quite different from natural ecosystems due to its lack of self-renewal, although there are many similarities relying on basic ecological principles. Education of experts is an important condition for sustainable development in agriculture, and the goal of this undergraduate study programme is to educate generations of agricultural engineers who will organise agricultural production in Croatia in an ecologically acceptable and sustainable way.
Description
During the first year of the study, students gain basic knowledge in the area of natural and biotechnical sciences, which is complemented with specific knowledge in the area of agricultural sciences in their second year of study. During the third year, students work on professional projects. These projects represent work assignments for groups of students under the guidance of mentors. They are completed by a written report and the presentation of results. Professional projects usually include studying relevant literature, data survey, interviews and experimental work. Students also choose elective modules depending on their interests in future employment or based on the needs set by their studies at the graduate level. During undergraduate study, students apply for professional practice in duration of 120 working hours. Practical work is done as a separate unit, outside the foreseen workload of the current academic year. Undergraduate study is completed by passing all exams and completion of other study obligations, preparation and public defence of the final thesis.
Undergraduates demonstrate knowledge in the field of agroecology, environmental protection and crop production, which is a continuation of high school education. They can apply gained knowledge and understanding in a way specific to agroecology and have competencies to solve tasks of medium complexity in the field of environmental protection and agricultural production.
They have acquired the skills necessary to collect and interpret relevant data and draw conclusions about the impact of certain agro-technical interventions on the environment, their acceptability and justification in ecological, productive and economic terms.
Undergraduates can present information, ideas, problems and their solutions to professional and general public. They have developed the skills needed for lifelong learning, as well as for continuation of studies at the graduate level.
Bearers of this qualification are authorised to use the legally protected university degree of Bachelor (baccalaureus) in Engineering of Agroecology, and perform professional tasks in the area of qualification.
After the completion of the undergraduate study of Agroecology, students may continue with their education in the same area, or other graduate studies at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, or enrol to graduate study programmes at similar institutions in Croatia or abroad.
Objective
The objective of the undergraduate study of Agroecology is competency-based education of experts needed for organisation of agricultural production in accordance with the principles of sustainable development for which adequate knowledge of agroecosystem elements and their interactions with the environment is essential. The study programme is based on knowledge from natural and biotechnical sciences, so students acquire knowledge and skills required for collection and interpretation of relevant data as well as making conclusions on the impact of agrotechnical interventions on the environment, their acceptability and justification in terms of ecology, production and economy. Furthermore, students will be able to continue education at the graduate level as well as to start their own business and manage diverse jobs within a large number of professional and research institutions, such as: Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Croatian Extension Service, research institutes, state agencies, public institutions and funds, industry and companies for sustainable development and applied ecology that offer consultancy services, commercial entities in the field of agriculture, companies that develop, upgrade and implement software solutions for smart agriculture, as well as they can perform tasks in the domain of inspection supervision of agricultural and organic plant production.
Learning outcomes
- Define and explain the multiple roles of soil, land and other natural resources in terms of sustainable management in agriculture
- Recognise and explain occurrences and processes, natural and anthropogenically induced changes in the agroecosystem
- Distinguish and evaluate the elements of agricultural impact on biosphere, pedosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere, as well as the adaptation of the agrosphere to the environment
- Explain basic theoretical and practical principles in the field of agroecology, agroclimatology, soil science, ecology of plants and domestic animals, environmental protection and agricultural production
- Describe specifics of the integrated approach in planning of natural resource management in agriculture, including agroecosystems sustainability
- Collect, process and interpret relevant data in the field of agroecology
- Apply a holistic approach to solve simple problems in the domain of environmental protection and agricultural production, and evaluate the acceptability of certain agricultural methods and interventions in crop and animal production
- Present information, ideas, problems and solutions in the domain of agricultural and environmental interconnection to professional and general public
- Independently manage resources on the agricultural unit.
- Propose a plan for sustainable land management in crop and animal production.
- Apply the acquired learning skills necessary for lifelong learning.