1. GENERAL INFORMATION
2. DEGREE COURSES
3. INFORMATION PACKAGE
4. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
5. OTHER ERASMUS INFORMATION
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali (previously Faculty of Agriculture) of the University of Perugia is one of the oldest in Italy. It was founded in 1896 by a Royal Decree as Istituto Agrario Sperimentale . Since then it has been located within the Benedictine Monastery, next to the Abbey of St Peter. Its establishment was made possible due to a donation of the Monastery’s patrimony to the State. Its aim was to promote studies in agriculture, and improve the development of rural life by means of research, extension and teaching. The Department is based on several sections. The Main Library of the Faculty hosts over 700 scientific journals and about 35000 books, 200 of which are ancient. Amongst the services offered are: the interlibrary loan, document delivery, and access to internet and several scientific databases. Other smaller libraries are hosted by the Departments, which basically host books concerning specific topics. The main library is opened Monday-Friday from 8:30 to 18:30; in August it is opened only in the morning (8:30-13:30). The Department Farm is about 2400 ha. It has the mandate to support the teaching and research activities of the Faculty. At the farm students can carry out their research thesis and spend a period of time in the apprenticeship program. The farm is also visited by technicians and farmers. The Botanical Garden is located a few meters from the Department and the Agricultural Hall of Residence is located within it. Established in 1962, it is about 2 ha, and includes about 7000 m 2 of greenhouses. The garden hosts about 3000 species, basically of Mediterranean and continental origin. It is open Monday-Friday, 8:00-18:30. Within the walls of the Abbey it is possible to visit the Medieval Garden , composed of the hortus sanitatis , dedicated to medicinal plants, and hortus holerorum , dedicated to plants for human nutrition. The Medieval Garden is open Monday-Friday, 8:00-17:00. The Department of Agriculture also hosts the IAAS , the International Association of Agricultural Students, an independent association of students. Founded in 1957 in Tunisia by 8 countries. Presently students from over 40 countries belonging to 4 continents (Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America) are affiliated. The scope of IAAS is to encourage the exchange of ideas in all fields of agriculture and to promote cooperation, knowledge and collaboration among students of the Faculties of Agriculture. The IAAS has a NGO status and is sponsored by FAO, UNESCO and EU. Students wishing to practice sports can register at the Centro Universitario Sportivo(University Sport Centre) located about 10 minutes from the Department: facilities include tennis playgrounds, basketball, swimming pool, football fields. Registered students are offered courses in gymnastics, volleyball and swimming.
DEGREE COURSES
History of the studies in Agriculture – In Italy till the academic year 1982-83 the Faculties of Agriculture offered courses in Agricultural Science, Forestry Science, Animal Production Science, Food Science and Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture. During the last 30 years the programs of study have undergone several and continuous reforms. Starting from the academic year 1983-84 the degree courses went from 4 to 5 years, with several changes in the number and content of the subjects. Agricultural Science in Perugia, for example, offered three curricula , Crop Science, Animal Science and Economics and Technology. In 1995-96 the programme of studies was again revised and besides the classic course in Agricultural Science and Technology, a specific course in Animal Production Science was started.
In order to further harmonize the studies at the European level (the Bologna Process, the Lisbon Convention, the Sorbonne Declaration) in 1999 the Italian Ministry of Education and University launched a new reform, which modified not only the content but the entire organization of the studies.
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Current didactic offer – The current courses are based on three levels: a first level degree (equivalent to BSc), a second level degree (equivalent to MSc) and the doctorate (equivalent to the PhD). In the academic year (2015-16) the Department offers 3 first level and 4 second level degree courses. First Level degree courses are based on 180 ECTS credits, while Second levels are based on 120 credits. The students can fulfill the study plan through mandatory and elective study-unis (see Information Package), practicals and a final dissertation. Other didactic activities include (i) participation in seminars, (ii) apprenticeship, (iii) case studies, (iv) improvement of languages, etc.
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Seminars of orientation . A series of seminars and practicals are offered during the first semester of the first year. They are held by several lecturers and generally cover a series of topics related to the field of agriculture. The objective is to give a broad view of the activities in the agricultural sector and help the students to make a correct choice of his/her study plans. Some of the seminars will cover the topic of security and attendance is mandatory because students must know the regulations in order to prevent accidents during the period of studies, having to deal with practical aspects on farms and laboratory research.
Apprenticeship . Each student should spent a variable period of time at work, in a private farm/firm or at the Faculty Farm, alternating study and work, in order to implement what he/she has learned so far. A programme is generally outlined on specific topics with the help of a tutor, who supervises the activities and the most suitable time. At the end of the apprenticeship a written report is submitted and evaluated by the tutor.
Case studies . A variable number of wide topics are offered every academic year. The objective is to have real case studies to be solved. It is a kind of exercise where the interdisciplinary approach is essential and where the student has to synthesize his/her knowledge and try to solve the case problem with the help of tutors. Examples are: biomass recycling into compost, the phases of certification of seeds and of vegetatively propagated materials, the conversion of a farm from conventional to organic agriculture, etc.
English language . The knowledge of the English language and of any other language of interest is encouraged by the Faculty. Courses are given at the Centro Linguistico di Ateneo.
INFORMATION PACKAGE
• ECOCAL – Economy and Culture of Human Nutrition
• SAA – Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
• STAGAL – Food Science and Technology
• PA – Animal Production
• BAA – Agricultural Biotechnologies
• SRS – Sustainable Rural Development
• TBA – Food Technology
• SZ – Animal Production Sciences
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
OTHER INFORMATION
A more complete information guide on Erasmus+, concerning accommodation, registration, application form, learning agreement, etc., can be found at the web page of the Erasmus Mobility Office
Last update: 8 April 2022