PRESENTATION
The training activities take place at the Department of Veterinary Sciences (DVS) at the headquarters in viale delle Piagge n.2 and at affiliated external structures.
The Teachers of the Degree Course are Full Professors, Associate Professors and Researchers generally belonging to the DVS.
The Degree Course in Sciences and Technologies of Animal Production (STPA) produces a figure with in-depth knowledge in the various areas of the agro-zootechnical system, which will enable them to operate professionally in the management of agro-zootechnical, agro-wildlife, agro-zootechnical companies, agro-food, multifunctional agriculture aimed at the production of social and environmental services. They can also work in companies supplying technical equipment and services that operate in the transformation and marketing of products of animal origin.
In particular, the graduate acquires specialized knowledge concerning the following areas: the breeding of livestock species and the resulting productions in terms of environmental sustainability, agronomy and animal nutrition, the wildlife sector, the biosecurity of farms, hygiene and food technologies, economic-appraisal activities, the design and construction of farms and agro-zootechnical plants, the control and certification of the quality of products of animal origin and the enhancement of multifunctional agriculture and human-animal interaction through animal-assisted activities and social farming practices.
Master’s graduates in STPA are configured as self-employed professionals with highly responsible functions in the technical and economic management of agro-zootechnical, agro-wildlife, agro-food and multifunctional companies. Graduates can also work in research in the field of animal production, human-animal-environment interaction, agro-zootechnical and agro-wildlife processes.
Graduates in STPA can enter a teaching career in the Secondary School, upon acquiring the 24 CFUs (ECTS) required by law. These CFUs can also be obtained during the course of study (https://www.unipi.it/index.php/offer/item/10908-procedure-per-acquisione-24-cfu-pf24).
The course has an open number and does not require an admission test. The expected training acquisitions include theoretical lessons held by professors of the DVS, in-depth seminars held by experts in the sector, exercises in small groups (in the classroom or in the laboratory) and off-site lessons in multifunctional agriculture companies and social agriculture, in farms, feed industries, food industries and research laboratories. The training course is completed by Professional Practical training at the Department facilities and/or at affiliated companies and by the discussion of an experimental thesis on a topic chosen by the candidate and agreed with a teacher of the degree course.
Since 2016/17 Academic Year, the double degree has been activated with the International Master on Rural Development coordinated by the University of Ghent.
TO SIGN UP
To help choose the Degree Course, orientation activities are organized by the Department and by the University.
To access the Master’s Degree Course in STPA, it is necessary to possess the admission requirements indicated in the regulations, the verification of which is carried out by a specific commission.
The organizational aspects of the Degree Course and the educational offer are described in the Regulations and in the study plan.
If the enrolling student does not have the B2 level of a European language, 3 CFUs must be used by the student among the credits of their choice to take the test of this language level by filling in the following form.
(History of Teaching Regulations for enrolled cohorts)
Students who intend to move from another Degree Course of the University of Pisa or move from another University, can find the relevant information at the following link.
ORGANIZING THE STUDIES
The training activities of the Degree Course are reported in the study plan.
During their career, alongside the specific activities of the training course in which they are enrolled, the student must acquire CFUs in training activities chosen independently by the student (ECTS of choice). There is also the possibility of acquiring CFUs abroad (studying abroad).
The teaching activities are organized according to a timetable and the relative programs are available for all courses.
Registration for exams is done using the University portal, where the sessions and dates of the exams are indicated.
The teachers of the Degree Course receive students according to a pre-established reception time.
Throughout the course of study, students can take advantage of the tutoring service, which guides and assists students.
According to the University Teaching Regulations, the status of working student (Article 27) and parent student (Article 23, paragraph 9) can be recognized, for which concessions are provided in the educational path. The application for the recognition of the status of working student must be submitted to the Teaching Unit using the appropriate forms.
GRADUATION
To be admitted to the degree exam, the student of the Degree Course must have acquired the CFUs relating to all the training activities provided for in the Study Plan.
All information about the application and the procedures for carrying out and evaluating the degree thesis are described in the procedure for the degree thesis. The thesis application must be submitted by the student according to the forms and deadlines set.
The student must verify the approval of the degree application and the appointment of co-supervisor. For each graduation session, the list of candidates and thesis commissions are published.
POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
Graduates in the Master’s Degree Course in STPA can take the state exam for the qualification to practice as an agronomist (Order of Agronomists) and Graduated Agrotechnician (National College of Graduated Agrotechnics and Agrotechnics).
New graduates can carry out a non-curricular internship aimed at direct knowledge of the world of work and managed at the University level, which offers them additional support services.
Graduates in the Master’s Degree Course in STPA can enroll in the Trade Association – Italian Federation of Doctors in Animal Production Sciences (FIDSPA).
TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND JOB PLACEMENT
Professional Practical Training
In order to complete the theoretical-practical and professional training, the student can carry out Professional Practical training activities. The curricular Professional Practical training is optional and consists of participation in practical teaching activities to be carried out at an Italian or foreign University or external facilities. The Professional Practical training must be carried out in companies affiliated with the Department.
To carry out the curricular Professional Practical training, in Italy or abroad, students must follow the instructions in the Professional Practical training procedure.
For Professional Practical training abroad, the student can use the ERASMUS mobility program, remembering that the ERASMUS membership application and the Professional Practical training application are different and must be completed in parallel.
The internship application must be completed using the forms and respecting the deadlines set by the procedure.
Orientation for the world of work and job placement
In the Department of Veterinary Sciences, career orientation is facilitated by the Job Placement Working Group. At the University level there is also an orientation activity for graduates and support for a future career (Career Service).
For the purpose of career orientation, the Degree Course organizes specific professional seminars and seminars for entering the world of work.
INSTITUTIONAL BODIES
The activities of the degree course are organized by its coordinator, elected by the Degree Course Council from among the Professors of the degree course, who remains in office for three years and oversees the activities of the degree course as per the Statute of the University of Pisa.
The Degree Course Council, composed of the teachers responsible for the educational activities of the degree course and the student representatives, ensures the correct carrying out of the activities of the degree course, according to the Statute and regulations of the University of Pisa.
The Joint Faculty-Students Committee (Regulations), composed of an equal number of teachers and student representatives and chaired by the Head of the degree course, is a permanent observatory of teaching activities, providing indications or proposals to the Degree Course Council.
The Review Group (Regulations), appointed by the degree course coordinator and composed of the Head and teachers of the degree course, a student representative, the Head of the Teaching Unit of the DVS and at least one representative of the world of work, has the task of carrying out a periodic and planned process of revision of the degree course.
The Professional Practical Training Committee (Regulations), composed of professors from the degree course, has the task of managing the activities connected with the Professional Practical training.
The Year Coordinators are appointed by the Head of the Degree Course from among the professors of the Degree Course and have the task of collaborating in the organization of the teaching activity of each year of the course.
Quality Assurance System
In order to ensure the quality of teaching and facilities, the Degree Course is committed to continuous improvement through discussions with students and representatives of the world of work.
In 2005 it joined the “CampusOne” project developed by the CRUI, and aimed at improving teaching activities and coordinating with the local area and the world of work. So, even before the review activities and the drafting of the Scheda Unica Annuale of the Degree Courses (SUA-DC) form became mandatory, the three-year Degree Course carried out a self-assessment activity highlighting its own potential and weaknesses and setting well-defined objectives.
Relations with the world of work are maintained thanks to the Professional Practical training activities, the practical activities provided for in the degree course and professional seminars, in which professional figures belonging to several productive fields participate. All contacts and interactions continuously facilitate regulatory reviews.
For five years, the degree course has set up a Review Group (Regulation) which, in addition to managing the procedure for AVA ministerial accreditation (compilation of the SUA-DC form, elaboration of review reports and annual monitoring form, etc.), has initiated a reflection process in order to improve the definition of professional profiles and employment opportunities in the future. The results of the review activity and any other activity relating to the degree course are discussed in the Joint Commission and by the Council of the degree course, thus ensuring the involvement of the DVS community.
The SUA-DC is the functional document for the design, implementation, management, self-assessment and redesign of the Degree Course. It collects the information useful to make known the professional profiles, the training objectives, the training path, the learning outcomes, the roles and responsibilities that pertain to the management of the QA system of the Degree Course, the conditions for the periodic review of its system, any corrections identified and possible improvements. This information is published on the Universitaly Miur Portal, in the SUA-DC form.
The SUA-DC form is flanked by the annual monitoring form and the cyclical review report, which have the purpose of periodically verifying the appropriate nature of the learning objectives that the Degree Course has proposed, the correspondence between the objectives and the results and the effectiveness of the way the Course is managed.
For a summary report of the results relating to the evaluation of courses by students of the previous academic year of the Degree Course go to the University website at http://www.unipi.it/index.php/lauree.