Third cycle university studies in Europe in the field of agricultural engineering and in the emerging discipline of biosystems engineering (original) (raw)
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The transition from Agricultural to Biosystems Engineering University Studies in Europe
This paper describes the main result produced by the ERABEE (Education & Research in Biosystems Engineering in Europe) Thematic Network. The ERABEE Thematic Network was a follow-up of a previous Thematic Network called USAEE (University Studies of Agricultural Engineering in Europe) and both were co-financed by the European Community in the framework of the LLP Programme (Lifelong Learning Programme). The innovative and novel goal of the ERABEE Network was to promote the critical and inevitable transition from the traditional discipline of Agricultural Engineering to the emerging discipline of Biosystems Engineering, exploiting along this direction the outcomes accomplished by the earlier USAEE Thematic Network. It also aimed at enhancing the compatibility among the new programmes of Biosystems Engineering, supporting their recognition and accreditation at European and International level and facilitating greater mobility of skilled personnel, researchers and students.
Τhe Emerging Evolution from Agricultural Engineering to Biosystems Engineering Studies in Europe
2015
The main objectives of a new European Thematic Network entitled ‘Education and Research in Biosystems Engineering in Europe (ERABEE-TN) ’ is to initiate and contribute to the structural development and the assurance of the quality assessment of the emerging discipline of Biosystems Engineering in Europe. To date, very few Biosystems Engineering programs exist in Europe and those that are initiated are at a very primitive stage of development. The innovative and novel goal of the Thematic Network is to promote this critical transition, which requires major restructuring in Europe, exploiting along this direction the outcomes accomplished by its predecessor; the USAEE-TN (University Studies in Agricultural Engineering in Europe). It also aims at enhancing the compatibility among the new programmes of Biosystems Engineering, aiding their recognition and accreditation at European and International level and facilitating greater mobility of skilled personnel, researchers and students.
Biosystems Engineering, 2017
Biosystems Engineering academic sector are of major interest to the community who publish in and read the journal, Biosystems Engineering, so I welcome this opportunity to talk about the developments in Education that you have been pursuing. I have been following the progress of your Thematic Network for Education and Research in this area for many years e tell me about the background. PF: Bill, I started studying higher education in Agricultural Engineering in 1989 at the CIGR Conference in Dublin, together with the late Prof. Giuseppe Pellizzi, who was at that time president of CIGR. He got me involved in the CIGR project for the Harmonization of Agricultural Engineering University Curricula. Since then, I have led this project, also as Chairman (from 1994) of CIGR WG 1 and EurAgEng SIG RD12 e Education and Communication. We have made several surveys of the structure of degree programs in Agricultural Engineering in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, and other countries. At Warwick, during the AgEng 2000 Conference on "Agricultural Engineering into the Third Millennium", we presented a book and CD-ROM: "The university structure and curricula on Agricultural Engineering. An overview of 36 countries" edited in collaboration with FAO, CIGR and EurAgEng. Then the EU Thematic Networks followed, led by Prof. Demetres Briassoulis, from the Agricultural University of Athens. From 2002 to 2006 it was the USAEE-TN (University Studies of Agricultural Engineering in Europe e A Thematic Network), comprising 31 institutions representing 27 Countries and funded by the EU Socrates e Erasmus programme. From 2006 to 2008 we established the consortium POMSEBES (Policy Oriented Measures in Support of the Evolving Biosystems Engineering Studies in USA e EU), comprising 12 institutions in Higher Education, of which 8 were from the
The Emerging Evolution from Agricultural Engineering to Biosystems Engineering Studies in Europe
2000
The main objectives of a new European Thematic Network entitled 'Education and Research in Biosystems Engineering in Europe (ERABEE-TN)' is to initiate and contribute to the structural development and the assurance of the quality assessment of the emerging discipline of Biosystems Engineering in Europe. To date, very few Biosystems Engineering programs exist in Europe and those that are initiated are
The main objectives of a new European Thematic Network entitled 'Education and Research in Biosystems Engineering in Europe (ERABEE-TN)' is to initiate and contribute to the structural development and the assurance of the quality assessment of the emerging discipline of Biosystems Engineering in Europe. To date, very few Biosystems Engineering programs exist in Europe and those that are initiated are at a very primitive stage of development. The innovative and novel goal of the Thematic Network is to promote this critical transition, which requires major restructuring in Europe, exploiting along this direction the outcomes accomplished by its predecessor; the USAEE-TN (University Studies in Agricultural Engineering in Europe). It also aims at enhancing the compatibility among the new programmes of Biosystems Engineering, aiding their recognition and accreditation at European and International level and facilitating greater mobility of skilled personnel, researchers and stu...
The “Threads” of Biosystems Engineering
Transactions of the ASABE
The core concepts, or threads, of biosystems engineering (BSEN) are variously understood by those within the discipline but have never been unequivocally defined due to BSEN's early stage of development. This makes communication and teaching difficult compared to other well-established engineering disciplines. Biosystems engineering is a field of engineering that integrates engineering science and design with applied biological, environmental, and agricultural sciences. It represents an evolution of the agricultural engineering discipline applied to all living organisms but generally does not include biomedical applications. The key element for the emerging EU biosystems engineering program of studies is to ensure that it offers essential minimum fundamental engineering knowledge and competences. A core curriculum developed by successive Erasmus thematic networks has benchmarked agricultural and biosystems engineering studies in Europe. The common basis of a core curriculum for the discipline across European countries and the U.S. has been defined by an EU-US Atlantis project, but this needs to be taken further by defining the threads that link courses together. This article presents a structured approach to define the threads of BSEN. Definition of the mid-level competences and the associated learning outcomes has been one of the objectives of the EU-US Atlantis project TABE.NET. The mid-level competences and learning outcomes for each of six specializations within BSEN are defined, while the domain-specific knowledge to be acquired for each outcome is proposed. Once the proposed definitions are discussed, modified, and ultimately adopted, these threads will be available for the global development of BSEN.
2009
The University of Malta has only recently approved the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards and the Doctor of Philosophy Ph.D. Degree Regulations. Based on these, Senate approved the Ph.D. Bye-Laws for the Faculty of Engineering. These bye-laws provide for admission into the programme of students with a background in the sciences and allows for collaboration with intemational institutions making full use of European Union exchange programs. Although Biosystems engineering is still a new concept in Malta, The Institute of Agriculture is actively promoting collaboration with the Faculty of engineering in this field of science. Maltese education is legislated through the Education Act (chapter 327) of 1988 and its later amendments. This act attempts to consolidate and reform the law relating to Education in Malta. The Republic of Malta recognizes the right of every citizen to receive education and instruction without any distinction of age, sex, belief or economic mea...
2020
Abstract. The core concepts, or threads, of Biosystems Engineering (BSEN) are variously understood by those within the discipline, but have never been unequivocally defined due to its early stage of development. This makes communication and teaching difficult compared to other well established engineering subjects. Biosystems Engineering is a field of Engineering which integrates engineering science and design with applied biological, environmental and agricultural sciences. It represents an evolution of the Agricultural Engineering discipline applied to all living organisms not including biomedical applications. The basic key element for the emerging EU Biosystems Engineering program of studies is to ensure that it offers essential minimum fundamental engineering knowledge and competences. A core curriculum developed by Erasmus Thematic Networks is used as benchmark for Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering studies in Europe. The common basis of the core curriculum for the discip...
Enhancing the attractiveness of European study programs in biosystems engineering in Malta
2010
George Attard University of Malta, Institute of Agriculture, Malta george.attard@um.edu.mt The National Strategy for Research and Innovation for 2007-2010, entitled 'Building and Sustaining the Research and Innovation Enabling Framework' is the pivot on which the Maltese efforts to enhance the attractiveness of Science and Technology is based. Four main entities, namely The Malta Council for Science and Technology, University of Malta, Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment and National Student Travel Foundation come together to complement each other and the national educational system through a variety of different but complementary activities. Information is freely available to students from the websites of the various entities. Introduction International benchmarks issued by the EU, the World Economic Forum, and other international organizations of stature showed that some 10 years ago Malta was, with the exception of ICT, not only not improving but regreSSing in ter...