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The course enables students to appreciate the real problems posed by the harmonious development of agriculture within society. The growing diversity of the issues at stake means that the field of investigation is particularly wide. It also covers socio-economic issues of developing as well as developed countries.
The level of training provided by this Advanced Master should enable graduates to take on significant responsibilities in professional sectors and decision-making bodies involved in agriculture. This training can also lead on to scientific research in rural economics and sociology.

The training comprises 60 credits worth of activities spread over an academic year and is held in the two partner institutions.

The main components are :

a group of compulsory courses for 28 credits,
a group of optional subjects for a minimum of 12 credits,
individual research carried out in one of the two partner institutions for 20 credits.

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, Belgian or foreign, with basic knowledge of agriculture or veterinary medicine as well as economics;
- five years of higher education;

fluency in French.

Mature students

The existence of this programme on a university syllabus means that it is open to mature students. In the same way as the large number of students on the previous programme which was the inspiration behind this one, the vast majority of candidates for this training programme have previous professional experience, acquired either in a public body or a non-governmental organization in a country in the Southern hemisphere.

Methods to promote interdisciplinarity Almost all the students join the programme with prior professional experience which enables them to ask their own questions and contribute elements of real interdisciplinarity to the subjects being studied. Having adult students from the Southern hemisphere gives the staff a real incentive to focus their teaching on problem solving, adopt correct scientific methods and ensure quality learning. Very often this will involve introducing elements from other disciplines and calling on the expertise of students in the auditorium.
Variety of teaching strategies and learning situations The teaching methods used on this programme are relatively traditional, with special emphasis on completing exercises and developing the ability to identify and tackle real problems.

Oral and written examinations, reports, presentation and public defence of a final dissertation. Lecturers organize the assessment of their course, depending on the content and teaching methods used.

This programme is organized in partnership with the University Faculty of Agriculture at Gembloux. It is based on previous experience of the certificate for special studies in the same area. The vast majority of students who have studied on this programme are adults from the Southern hemisphere. This in itself gives an international element to the programme. Some of the classes within the programme are also attended by other students, mostly Belgian, who are taking other bio-engineering programmes in the Faculty.

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