News from our educations

The evaluation is carried out by a panel consisting of Anders Ringgaard Kristensen (Section Manager, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen), Vibeke Langer (Associate Professor, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen), Irene Asta Wiborg (Department Manager, Plant & Environment, SEGES), and Hans Brix (Head of Department, Department of Bioscience, AU). Students, teachers and educational committees has held meetings with the panel, where topics such as recruitment, study start, structure, course and development of teaching, study environment and relation of education to the labour market were discussed. 

Status

Our programs in Agrobiology (BSc and MSc) and Agro-Environmental Management (AEM, MSc) are broad science programs. The focusing is on sustainable interaction between nature, environment and food quality in a changing global climate, all of which are relevant areas of focus for present day society. The courses are managed by a cooperation between the management, education committees and not least teachers at the three 'agricultural' institutes, respectively. Agroecology, Animal Science and Food. All the institutes have a great deal of expertise in research, policy support and teaching.

Collaboration (and 'co-teaching') between the three institutes contributes to the teaching being interdisciplinary, research-based and solution-oriented. The educators are all active researchers. The students have the opportunity to participate in research projects and use 'state-of-the-art' experimental facilities at the centers. Good contacts with national and international partners enable business projects and business PhD programs. Relevant topics are presented in connection with lectures, theoretical and practical exercises and excursions to our partners.

The study reform in 2017, with the change to a semester structure, has given the opportunity to restructure courses, improve progression and synergy between them, and highlight the academic competencies gained in the individual courses. With a goal of aligning expectations with prospective students, recruitment and retention strategies were implemented in 2018 to meet:

• the relatively high drop-out rate for some years among BSc students, which was probably due to a discrepancy between the subject content and the students' expectations
• the lack of synergy between some revised support courses
• progressive reform with the requirement to pass all courses in the first year of study
• the lack of a physical study environment 

Study environment

Agrobiology has unique challenges because the teachers do not have a workplace in Aarhus. While the research facilities in Foulum and Flakkebjerg are good, it is difficult to travel to and from by public transport. In March 2019, a physical study environment was established with, among other things, an auditorium, teaching and meeting rooms, a library, kitchenette plus terrace, as well as offices for students and teachers in the University Park close to related educations. The students consider that both the academic and social study environment contribute to a strong motivation and contribute to the creation of identity and community among the students, which are important elements for a good course of study. 

Relations to the labor market

There is generally a good correlation between sought-after and acquired competencies, and the graduates feel well equipped for the labour market. The unemployment rate of recent graduates in Agro-biology is declining (1.7%), which corresponds to the expectation that most of the education's own Danish students get to work quickly, not least because of good contacts with business, including industry and consulting firms. Most candidates get employment in private companies, public institutions and in interest organizations. Some are hired as PhD students. The unemployment rate among newly graduated AEM graduates is declining, but still relatively high (13.7%). At AEM, the proportion of foreign students is high, which may present some challenges in connection with employment in Danish companies.

Perspectives and future areas of action

It is our vision to strengthen our position in the education of highly qualified graduates, both nationally and internationally. We must continue the work of recruiting and retaining our students by expectation polls at career events and Kvote-2 application rounds.

Research-based competence is relevant for the graduates to stimulate and increase innovation in the agro-industrial sector. Synergy between education and business is strengthened by e.g. business projects and business PhD courses. We continue to strengthen collaboration between students and alumni.

In addition, it is important to strengthen international cooperation in the field of education both within and outside the EU. It should be made easier for foreign students to take courses at AU e.g. semester course packages in English and international summer courses. At the same time, we would like to support the exchange of several of our own students e.g. via Erasmus + collaborations.

The planned division of the ST faculty at AU can lead to new areas of focus for our programs. Establishing a training forum across the two new faculties will be able to ensure both co-ordination of the programs and increased synergy with engineering education.

The current focus on digitalisation in society is also relevant to the programs. Increased use of digital tools in teaching can give students more choices and flexibility in their education and qualify candidates for a changing labour market that requires greater ability to solve more complex issues.

The self-evaluation report for Agrobiology and AEM can be obtained from Bernd Wollenweber - Bernd.Wollenweber@agro.au.dk