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This programme is designed to train and update professionals working in the field of crop protection, especially in tropical countries. The Advanced Master aims to offer interdisciplinary training which provides students with :

1. a global view of the special features of the biology and ecology of bio-agressors as well as their interactions with plants and the environment,

2. a global and integrated view of different protection strategies,

3. the ability to think in terms of context and synthesis, to put theoretical knowledge and analytical procedures into practice in a perspective of taking action,

4. the ability to identify the biological, phytotechnic and socio-economic factors to take into account in the resolution of crop protection problems.

The workload is as follows :

Compulsory courses and seminars : 42 credits, divided into two semesters of courses and distributed between the three major institutions of the Advanced Master, the Catholic University of Louvain, the Faculty of Agriculture in Gembloux and the National School for Higher Education in Agricultural Sciences in Montpellier.

The final assignment is a piece of research work or a professional work placement equivalent to 18 credits.

Schematic description of the programme :

The programme lasts for a complete academic year. It comprises two semesters of courses which represent two thirds of the programme, during which students take two additional course modules:

1. Characterization of bio-agressors and diagnosis techniques (21 credits). The first part (at the FUSAGx campus and UCL) introduces the general concepts in crop protection and examines the different kinds of losses caused by plant agressors, the main groups of agressors responsible for plant damage, special features in their biology and their relationship with plants.

2. Analysis of sustainable attack strategies and case study (21 credits). The seond part introduces protection strategies against bio-agressors. While there is a mainly monodisciplinary approach to the subjects on the first part of the syllabus, the second part examines topics differently, requiring students to adopt a systemic approach to problems. These special modules are made up of case studies which enable students to acquire cross-disciplinary skills through a series of learning situations focused on the solution of real problems.

3. Final assignment (18 credits). The third part requires students to demonstrate their ability to use the knowledge they have acquired in the context of either a research placement or the preparation of a project, depending on their choice:

the research placement

§ the experimental research placement enables students to familiarize themselves with the work of a research team on a problem relating to the protection of tropical crops. It enables them to use the knowledge they have acquired in the context of a piece of scientific research (ability to analyze the context of the problem in every dimension, understand the methodology adopted and analyze the team’s results).

§ Each placement is supervised by a member of the teaching staff from the Advanced Master and the placement director (the scientist in charge of the laboratory). The placement forms the subject of a written report submitted to the placement director and an oral presentation. Individual assessment of students is undertaken by a group of lecturers (from at least two institutions) whose expertise relates to the subject area of the placement, together with the president of the examining board.

§ The list of research placements is available to students at the beginning of the year.

The project relates to an issue suggested by the student. It is supervised by a team of lecturers and/or researchers under the direction of a lecturer who acts as project director. The project enables students to make use, in a synthetic way, of the knowledge they have acquired to solve a problem relating to crop protection. Each project forms the subject of a written report submitted to the project director and an oral presentation. Individual assessment of students is undertaken by a group of lecturers (from at least two institutions) whose expertise relates to the subject area of the placement, together with the president of the examining board.

Tronc commun : activités communes

This programme may only be taken after gaining a first Master’s degree for 2^nd cycle studies worth at least 300 credits. It may lead to doctoral training.

See the general admission requirements

Specific procedures :

Special procedures :

- 2^nd cycle university degree in natural sciences, agriculture, chemistry or other degree recognized as equivalent ;
- professional activity (teaching, research, administration) directly linked to the subject area of the placement; students undertaking a placement must be able to show evidence of three years’ professional experience;
- fluency in French and passive knowledge of English.

Mature students

The admission requirements state : "professional activity (teaching, research, administration) directly linked to the subject area of the placement; students undertaking a placement must be able to show evidence of three years’ professional experience." This programme is therefore clearly designed for mature students.

Understanding problems of plant protection is based on mastery of a large number of disciplines. There are various institutions involved in the organization of the Advanced Master. This enables the different aspects of phytopathology, entomology and the phytopharmacy of tropical and subtropical crops to be thoroughly covered. The collegial nature of the teaching, based on teaching teams (cfr. programme) should help students to acquire the necessary cross-disciplinary skills. In addition, both the Belgian and French lecturers have experience of countries in the Southern hemisphere: this strengthens the syllabus relating to the phytotechnic and socio-economic factors to consider when solving problems of crop protection.
Student exchange is an important part of the programme (Standing Committee for University Co-operation towards Development grants for students from Southern hemisphere countries, student exchanges particularly with France – ENSAM and CNEARC), as well as exchanges of lecturers between institutions (cross-participation in UCL/FUSAGx courses).
There are currently many other forms of exchange between students and staff (e.g. ERASMUS and North/South exchanges) : the Advanced Master is also expected to rapidly become one of them.
Some of the teaching sessions are based on a problem-solving approach with case studieswhich put students’ prior experience to use.
The e-learning site, iCampus, is used to coordinate special teaching sessions.

Students are assessed in different ways, set out in the programme. Assessment can take the form of written and/or oral examinations, or through individual and/or group work.

This Advanced Master has a clear international outlook. Part of the course is held at ENSAM in Montpellier (France), where it is also possible to do the placement-dissertation.

The target audience for which this Advanced Master is designed is also international. For example, in 2004 the Standing Committee for University Co-operation towards Development received 70 applications from North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco), West Africa (Senegal, Mali, Niger, Benin, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Nigeria), Central Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda) and Haiti. The participation of foreign students with a wide range of professional experience enriches the syllabus, particularly in the courses based on making use of prior experience. The language of instruction for the Advanced Master is French. However a passive knowledge of English is required as a prerequisite.

Legend

	Mandatory		Optional
	Courses not taught this academic year		Periodic courses not taught this academic year
	Periodic courses taught this academic year		Two year courses