Scientific journal
ISSUE 9 - december 2008
Erasmus Project - Intensive Summer Course 2007
"Alternatives for ecological (organic) crop production University of Maribor, Faculty of Agriculture Maribor, Slovenia, 22nd June - 7th July 2007
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University Centre for Viticulture and Enology - Meranovo
Agronomy – Ornamentals, Vegetables, Field Crops - Professional Bachelor Study
Duration of programme: three years (six semesters). A part of study (5th semester) can be performed at one of the foreign partnership Universities.
Qualification title: Diplomirani inženir kmetijstva (VS), Diplomirana inženirka kmetijstva (VS).
Qualification abbreviation: dipl. inž. kmet. (VS)
Programme description
The study programme Agronomy – Ornamentals, Vegetable and Field Crops is orientated towards knowledge of contemporary, ecological acceptable technologies of ornamentals, vegetable, field crop and forage production.
Admission requirements
The admission requirement for Agronomy – ornamentals, vegetable and field crops study programme is a matura examination, vocational matura examination or final examination after the completion of four-year secondary education programme or its equivalent.
If the interest exceeds the number of open positions, the candidates will be ranked according to following criteria:
- Candidate’s final grade at the matura, vocational matura or final examination (60%)
- Overall achievement in the third and the fourth year of the secondary school (40%)
Faculty of Agriculture will admit 40 full-time students and 20 part-time students each year.
A part-time study will be organised at the Faculty of Agriculture, Vrbanska 30, Maribor, if at least 20 students are enroled.
Educational and professional goals
Upon completition of the study programme, the graduates will have all necessary fundamental knowledge associated with environmental protection, new production technologies, marketing, safety and quality of agricultural products, and marketing of ornamentals. Upon completion of the study programme, a graduate will become a practical specialist covering the following areas of expertise: leadership of market orientated family farms or estates, planning and managing vegetable and ornamentals production as an additional farm activity. Graduates from this programme will be able to independently manage and lead horticulture enterprises. They will be educated for controlling the integrated field crop and vegetable production.
Areas of work include: technological and developmental branches of in agricultural economy, trade organisations and cooperatives, advice services, agricultural educational schools and government.
Course structure diagram
Table 1: Types of study units in semester 1
|
No.
|
Subject
|
Subject type
|
Lecturer
|
L
|
S
|
SW
|
LW
|
FW
|
Contact hours and Individ. Student work
|
ECTS
|
|
1
|
Mathematics and statistics
|
Fundamental compulsory subject included in all study programmes)
|
Nemec
|
45
|
/
|
/
|
30
|
/
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
2
|
Basic principles of technics in Agriculture
|
Fundamental compulsory subject included in all study programmes
|
Lakota
|
45
|
/
|
/
|
30
|
/
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
3
|
Chemistry
|
Fundamental compulsory subject included in all study programmes)
|
Slekovec
|
45
|
/
|
/
|
30
|
/
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
4
|
Botany
|
Fundamental compulsory subject included in all study programmes)
|
Krajnčič
|
45
|
/
|
/
|
20
|
10
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
5
|
Agricultural Economics
|
Fundamental compulsory subject included in all study programmes
|
Turk
|
45
|
/
|
/
|
30
|
/
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
Σ
|
225
|
0
|
0
|
140
|
10
|
(375)+375
|
30
|
Table 2: Types of study units in semester 2
|
No.
|
Subject
|
Subject type
|
Lecturer
|
L
|
S
|
SW
|
LW
|
FW
|
Contact hours andindivid. Student work
|
ECTS
|
|
6
|
Introduction to Crop Husbandry
|
Fundamental compulsory subject included in all study programmes
|
Kramberger
|
45
|
/
|
/
|
20
|
10
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
7
|
Soil science
|
Fundamental compulsory subject included in all study programmes
|
Lobnik
|
45
|
5
|
/
|
20
|
5
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
8
|
Farm management
|
Fundamental compulsory subject included in all study programmes
|
Rozman
|
30
|
/
|
/
|
10
|
/
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
|
9
|
English for Specific Purposes I
German Language I |
Fundamental compulsory subject included in all study programmes
|
Lešnik/Volk
|
30
|
10
|
/
|
/
|
/
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
|
10
|
Introduction to genetics
|
Basic professional (compulsory
|
Ivančič
|
45
|
5
|
/
|
25
|
/
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
11
|
Introduction in organic agriculture
|
Fundamental compulsory subject included in all study programmes
|
Bavec M. / Bavec F.
|
30
|
3
|
/
|
2
|
5
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
|
12
|
Agrienvironmental program
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Bavec M.
|
30
|
3
|
2
|
/
|
5
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
|
Σ
|
255
|
26
|
2
|
77
|
25
|
(385)+385
|
30
|
Table 3: Types of study units in semester 3
|
No.
|
Subject
|
Subject type
|
Lecturer
|
L
|
S
|
SW
|
LW
|
FW
|
Contact hours and
individ. Student work
|
ECTS
|
|
13
|
English for Specific Purposes II
German Language II
|
Fundamental compulsory subject included in all study programmes
|
Lešnik/ Volk
|
30
|
10
|
/
|
/
|
/
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
|
14
|
Applied phytopathology and entomology
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Lešnik M.
|
45
|
/
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
15
|
Introduction to horticultural production
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Bavec M./ Šušek
|
45
|
5
|
/
|
15
|
10
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
16
|
Production of ornamental plants
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Šušek
|
45
|
/
|
/
|
15
|
15
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
17
|
Ecology and development of field and vegetable crops
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Bavec F./ Bavec M.
|
40
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
(40+20)+60
|
5
|
|
18
|
Diploma practicum – introduction to the experimentation and use of informations
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Bavec F.
|
25
|
15
|
10
|
/
|
/
|
(25+25)+50
|
4
|
|
Σ
|
230
|
35
|
25
|
45
|
40
|
(375)+375
|
30
|
Table 4: Types of study units in semester 4
|
No.
|
Subject
|
Subject type
|
Lecturer
|
L
|
S
|
SW
|
LW
|
FW
|
Contact hours and
individ. Student work
|
ECTS
|
|
19
|
Organic vegetable production
|
Basic professional (compulsory))
|
Bavec M.
|
45
|
5
|
10
|
5
|
10
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
20
|
Organic field crop production
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Bavec F.
|
45
|
5
|
10
|
5
|
10
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
21
|
Introduction to dendrology
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Šušek
|
45
|
/
|
/
|
15
|
15
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
22
|
Greenhouse production
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Bavec M. / Šušek
|
40
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
(40+20)+60
|
5
|
|
23
|
Crop and vegetable machinery
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Stajnko
|
30
|
/
|
/
|
5
|
5
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
|
24
|
Grasslands
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Kramberger
|
35
|
/
|
/
|
10
|
5
|
(35+15)+50
|
4
|
|
Σ
|
240
|
15
|
25
|
45
|
50
|
(375)+375
|
30
|
Table 5: Types of study units in semester 5
|
No
|
Subject
|
Subject type
|
Lecturer
|
L
|
S
|
SW
|
LW
|
FW
|
Contact hours and
individ. Student work
|
ECTS
|
|
|
25
|
Integrated Field Crop Production
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Bavec F.
|
45
|
5
|
10
|
5
|
10
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
|
26
|
Integrated vegetable production
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Bavec M.
|
45
|
5
|
10
|
5
|
10
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
|
Σ
|
90
|
10
|
20
|
10
|
20
|
(150)+150
|
12
|
||||
|
Elective module*
|
12*
|
||||||||||
|
Elective subjects**
|
6**
|
||||||||||
|
Σ Σ
|
30
|
||||||||||
|
Professional elective module (compulsory)*
|
*Student chooses one module (12 ECTS)
|
12*
|
|||||||||
|
VEGETABLE PRODUCTION
|
|||||||||||
|
27
|
Herbs production
|
Bavec M.
|
45
|
5
|
10
|
5
|
10
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
||
|
28
|
Intensive plant propagation
|
Šušek
|
30
|
/
|
/
|
5
|
5
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
||
|
29
|
Introduction to breeding of vegetables
|
Ivančič
|
30
|
2
|
/
|
3
|
5
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
||
|
ORNAMENTALS
|
|||||||||||
|
30
|
Introduction to breeding of ornamental species
|
Ivačič
|
30
|
2
|
/
|
3
|
5
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
||
|
31
|
Plant use
|
Šušek
|
30
|
/
|
/
|
5
|
5
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
||
|
32
|
Urban horticulture
|
Šušek
|
30
|
/
|
/
|
5
|
5
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
||
|
28
|
Intensive plant propagation
|
Šušek
|
30
|
/
|
/
|
5
|
5
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
||
|
CROP PRODUCTION:
|
|||||||||||
|
33
|
Alternative crops
|
Bavec F.
|
45
|
5
|
10
|
5
|
10
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
||
|
34
|
Industrial crops
|
Bavec F.
|
30
|
2
|
/
|
3
|
5
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
||
|
35
|
Introduction to breeding of field crops
|
Ivančič
|
30
|
2
|
/
|
3
|
5
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
||
|
Elective subjects**
|
Student chooses 6 ECTS
|
||||||||||
|
36
|
Viticulture
|
Elective subjects from other study
programmes
|
Vršič
|
45
|
/
|
/
|
20
|
10
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
|
|
37
|
Fruitgrowing
|
Tojnko
|
45
|
/
|
/
|
20
|
10
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
||
|
38
|
Basics of Livestock Production
|
Janžekovič/ Škorjanc/ Volk
|
45
|
10
|
/
|
10
|
10
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
||
|
39
|
Breeding domestic animals I
|
Janžekovič
|
45
|
/
|
/
|
20
|
10
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
||
|
40
|
Precision Agriculture
|
Lakota
|
45
|
/
|
/
|
30
|
/
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
||
|
41
|
Maintenance of Machinery
|
Muršec
|
45
|
5
|
/
|
25
|
/
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
||
|
42
|
Ecology
|
Borec
|
45
|
15
|
/
|
15
|
/
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
||
|
43
|
Information science in agriculture
|
Rozman
|
45
|
/
|
/
|
30
|
/
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
||
|
44
|
Safety and quality of agricultural products
|
Bavec M.
|
45
|
5
|
20
|
/
|
5
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
||
|
45
|
Irrigation systems
|
Stajnko
|
45
|
5
|
5
|
10
|
10
|
(45+30)+75
|
6
|
||
Table 6: Types of study units in semester 6
|
No.
|
Subject
|
Subject type
|
Lecturer
|
L
|
S
|
SW
|
LW
|
FW
|
Contact hours and
individ. student work
|
ECTS
|
|||||||
|
46
|
Applied crop protection
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Lešnik
|
30
|
/
|
/
|
5
|
5
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
|||||||
|
47
|
Marketing, sales and regional supply
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Turk
|
30
|
2
|
8
|
/
|
/
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
|||||||
|
48
|
Applied biotical crop protection
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Lešnik
|
30
|
/
|
/
|
5
|
5
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
|||||||
|
49
|
Postharvest technologies and quality of vegetable and field crops
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Bavec F.
|
35
|
2
|
5
|
3
|
5
|
(35+15)+50
|
4
|
|||||||
|
50
|
Seed production
|
Basic professional (compulsory)
|
Ivančič
|
30
|
3
|
/
|
2
|
5
|
(30+10)+40
|
3
|
|||||||
|
Σ
|
155
|
7
|
13
|
15
|
20
|
(210)+210
|
16
|
||||||||||
|
Elective subjects***
|
4***
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Practical course
|
6
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Preparation of Graduation thesis
|
4
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Σ Σ
|
30
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Elective subjects***
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
51
|
Introduction in hydroponics
|
Deepened professional subject (elective))
|
Osvald
|
35
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
5
|
(35+15)+50
|
4
|
|||||||
|
52
|
Mushrooms production
|
Pohleven
|
35
|
2
|
5
|
3
|
5
|
(35+15)+50
|
4
|
||||||||
|
53
|
Sensory apreciation of fruit and vegetable products
|
Tojnko, Hribar
|
30
|
/
|
10
|
5
|
/
|
(30+15)+55
|
4
|
||||||||
|
54
|
Indoor plants
|
Šušek
|
35
|
/
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
(35+15)+50
|
4
|
||||||||
|
55
|
Turfgrass and Amenity
Grassland
|
Kramberger
|
30
|
/
|
/
|
5
|
5
|
(30+10)+60
|
4
|
||||||||
|
56
|
Crop machinery
|
Stajnko
|
35
|
5
|
/
|
5
|
5
|
(35+15)+50
|
4
|
||||||||
|
57
|
Forage production and grazing management
|
Kramberger
|
30
|
/
|
/
|
10
|
5
|
(30+15)+55
|
4
|
||||||||
|
58
|
Forage conservation
|
Kramberger
|
30
|
/
|
/
|
5
|
5
|
(30+10)+60
|
4
|
||||||||
|
59
|
Grassland management on ecological farm
|
Kramberger
|
30
|
/
|
/
|
5
|
5
|
(30+10)+60
|
4
|
||||||||
|
60
|
Animal breeding II
|
Škorjanc
|
35
|
/
|
/
|
15
|
/
|
(35+15)+50
|
4
|
||||||||
|
61
|
Ruminant Nutrition
|
Vojtic
|
35
|
/
|
/
|
10
|
5
|
(35+15)+50
|
4
|
||||||||
|
62
|
Nutrition of non-ruminants
|
Strelec
|
35
|
/
|
/
|
15
|
/
|
(35+15)+50
|
4
|
||||||||
|
63
|
Cattle-breeding
|
Janžekovič
|
35
|
/
|
/
|
5
|
10
|
(35+15)+50
|
4
|
||||||||
|
64
|
Pig Production
|
Škorjanc
|
35
|
/
|
/
|
10
|
5
|
(35+15)+50
|
4
|
||||||||
|
65
|
Poultry
|
Strelec
|
35
|
/
|
/
|
5
|
10
|
(35+15)+50
|
4
|
||||||||
|
66
|
Horse breeding
|
Bunevski
|
30
|
/
|
/
|
/
|
10
|
(30+10)+60
|
4
|
||||||||
|
67
|
Small Ruminant Breeding
|
Vojtic
|
30
|
5
|
/
|
5
|
5
|
(30+15)+50
|
4
|
||||||||
|
68
|
Honeybee and elementary knowledge of beekeeping
|
Gregorc
|
30
|
/
|
/
|
10
|
10
|
(30+20)+50
|
4
|
||||||||
|
69
|
Honeybee products and marketing
|
Gregorc
|
30
|
/
|
/
|
10
|
10
|
(30+20)+50
|
4
|
||||||||
|
70
|
Ecological livestock production
|
Janžekovič
|
35
|
/
|
5
|
/
|
10
|
(35+15)+50
|
4
|
||||||||
*******A student chooses 4 ECTS within elective subjects or in agreement with tutor, also elsewhere within University of Maribor. A student who will continue the study at master degree level can choose subjects within the University level study programme.
According to our previsions, the majority of students will probably decide to study organic farming in 5th semester at one of the foreign partnership universities within student mobility programme, where he/she can collect up to 30 ECTS in accordance with previously approved selection of subjects/modules.
Share of practical training within the programme and the way of its realisation
Practical training is organised as an integrated part of study process and this includes regular practical courses, as well as professional training. Within the study period, each student must gather four credits (4 ECTS) with practical training (i.e., 2 weeks - 80 hours). Practical training is performed on the estate of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University Agricultural Centre (UKC) and at other units of Faculty of Agriculture (Institute of Inspection and Certification in Agriculture, Institute of Organic Farming) according to internal regulations associated with practical training in Faculty of Agriculture, or at model farms. Practical course is performed as field work within agricultural compulsory subjects, within elective modules and elective subjects (due to a student selection, between 163 and 178 hours).
Practical training is planned, lead and supervised by a skill instructor. Before practical training is performed, a student has to pass the exams of Work Safety and Fire Protection that are organised by the Faculty of Agriculture.
According to the decision of the Senate of the Faculty of Agriculture, dated 1.6.2005, students can perform (if they wish) additional practical training, 2 months in the way and manner prescribed by the Faculty of Agriculture.
Pass and Progress Standards
A student has to fulfil the obligations according to regulations of the study programme and the Statute of the University of Maribor, Paragraph 85, in order to be allowed to register for the next academic year. The Committee for Study Affairs of the Faculty of Agriculture may permit a student, who has not fulfilled all study obligations stated for the particular year to enrol to the next year. The student is obliged to submit a formal written request to the Committee for Study Affairs. The progress may be approved if a student has fulfilled more than a half of obligations; if he/she could not fulfil the obligations for justifiable reasons and if it is expected that a student will fulfil the obligations within proposed time period proposed by the Committee for Study Affairs. Students have a possibility to repeat year only once during their study period.
Students’ obligations and requirements for progression
The passage from year 1to year 2
For passing from year 1 to year 2, out of 60 ECTS (75%), a student has to fulfil the obligations of subjects that comprise 45 ECTS, however, this quantity of ECTS has to include
-Introduction to Crop Husbandry
- and two out of three of the following exams; Mathematics and Statistics, Botany, Chemistry.
A student has to participate in all practicals.
The passage from year 2 to year 3
A student, who has passed all exams for the first year, 75% of the exams from the second year with, a cumulative credit rating of at least 45 credits out of 60, will be allowed to pass to the third year. However, the proposed quantity of ECTS has to include applied Phytopathology and Entomology (field crops, vegetables and ornamental plants), Ecology and Development of Field and Vegetable Crops and production of ornamental plants.
Conditions for repeating the year and prolongation the students’ status
Repeating the Year: A student who has not fulfilled the required obligations for progression can repeat the year if his/her sum of credits is at least 30 within the year he/she wants to repeat. Students may repeat only once during their studies. A student, who passed less than half of study obligations, can repeat the year, if he/she has justifiable reasons that enable prolongation the student status according to the Statute of the University of Maribor.
Conditional progression: On the basis of justifiable reasons, the Committee for Study Affairs can approve conditional progression to the next year. A student has to fulfil the missing obligations within the proposed time period proposed by the Committee for Study Affairs. Justifiable reasons are defined in the Statute of the University of Maribor.
On a student request, the Committee for Study Affairs may exceptionally permit a student, who has not fulfilled all the study obligations stated for the particular year, to progress to the next year, if more than a half of obligations have been fulfilled, if he/she could not fulfil the obligations for justifiable reasons and if it is expected that a student will fulfil the obligations within the proposed time period proposed by the committee.
Prolongation the students’ status: Students’ status can be prolonged for a maximum of one year in the case of:
- He/she has justifiable reasons that unabled his/her progression to next year
- He/she has justifiable reasons that unabled his/her graduation within 12 months after the completion of the final semester.
A female student that became a mother during the study has a right to prolong the students’ status for one year for each born child.
Students that have not fulfilled all study obligations stated for the progress to the next year, in the same study programme, have a possibility to repeat it only once during their study period.
Changing the study programme or course due to unfulfilled obligations stated for previous study programme or study course is considered as a repetition.
Students can educate themselves selecting various study programmes under conditions that are described in details in the Statute of the University of Maribor.
Transfers to Another Study Programme at the End of the First Year
At the end of the first year, each student has an opportunity to continue the second year in another study programme. Transfers at the end of first year, within the undergraduate programmes in the Faculty of Agriculture, may be allowed if the student fulfilled the required obligations for passing from year 1 to year 2 (45 ECTS out of 60 ECTS). Within the second year a student has to pass all the required obligations from the first year of the programme that he/she has transferred to.
Long life learning
Individual subjects or groups of subjects can also be organized as long life learning module.
