As from autumn 2022 on, HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts offers a new international exchange programme: AgroFoodSustainability. In this program, students and teachers explore together concepts and practical applications of how a sustainable agri-food system may look like.
Students following this program are introduced to the principles of sustainable agriculture and food production, green management, circular agri-food systems and global sustainable development.
Moreover, students are brought together in a multidisciplinary and international classroom to enhance exchange and collaboration on the complex challenges the agri-food sector is facing, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, food waste,… Possible solutions for the transition towards a more sustainable agri-food system are explored in depth with activating lectures, case studies, field visits and group discussions. Finally, each student will be encouraged and guided to work out an individual trajectory within the broader topic, adding a strongly personalized accent to the programme.
State-of-the-art
The interdisciplinary team of lecturers has a background in agri- and horticulture, food technology and green management. Their state-of-the-art knowledge and expertise is founded in through their research within the multidisciplinary research group AgroFoodNature and their network in the field. The content of the programme is therefore continuously adjusted to the latest evolutions in both research and policy.
The target group of the AgroFoodSustainablity programme includes both Belgian and international students pursuing a professional Bachelor's degree in the broad field of agricultural sciences, food technology and/or green and plant management. Incoming students must have obtained a minimum of 60 credits. The language of instruction is English.
Programme
The programme is a 1 semester course (autumn semester) and offers the following courses during the autumn semester for a total of 30 credits:
- Principles of Sustainable Food Production (6 ECTS)
Course on the principles of sustainable agriculture, food technology and green management. The central goal is to get acquainted with the different components of the agri-food system and to understand the most important concepts concerning management of the natural as well as the agricultural environment.
- Sustainability of the Agri-food Chain (3 ECTS)
Interdisciplinary course on the complex global challenges for the agri-food system and possible solutions for the transition towards a more sustainable sector.
- Living Lab on Food Sustainability (3 ECTS)
Interactive course in which students, together with their teachers and based on company visits, approach the Agro Food Sustainability theme. There is a common trajectory in which company visits and group discussions are pivotal, and an individual trajectory in which the student defines his own learning goals, works out a portfolio and presents it to other students and teachers.
- Valorisation of By-products and Alternative Energy (3 ECTS)
Course on sustainable energy production and the origin and valorisation of by-products in the agri-food sector.
- Sustainable Development (3 ECTS)
Course on the concepts, visions, principles and indicators of sustainable development. Other treated topics are system errors, system and holistic thinking, future thinking, the ecological footprint and challenges in sustainable development.
- Option courses (12 ECTS)
- Survival Dutch (3 ECTS)
- Belgian Culture studies (3 ECTS)
- Cross Cultural Communication (3 ECTS)
- Entrepreneurship (3 ECTS)
- U!Reka Debates (3 ECTS)