Degree Programme in Agriculture and Rural Enterprises (In Finnish)
Specializations
Students can specialize in pig husbandry, potato production, rural environments, water management, environmental engineering, management of rural enterprises (farms) and production design, rural development, and the health care of domestic animals. These are just a few of the available areas in which students can enhance their expertise.
Qualification awarded
Bachelor of Natural Resources
Level of qualification
The degree programme leads to a higher education degree which is a first cycle
Bachelor-level degree in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). According to
the eight-level classification of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)
the degree represents level 6.
Specific admission requirements
Please see the Applicant's Guide or the website www.seamk.fi/hakeminen.
Applicant's Guide's
instructions are written in Finnish for degree programmes taught in Finnish and
in English for degree programmes taught in English. On the website, application
and instructions are in Finnish language for the degree programmes taught in
Finnish.
Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning
Prior learning can be recognized by a team consisting of Head of the Degree
Programme, Student Counsellor and Lecturer of that specific course.
Qualification requirements and regulations
Please see the Degree Regulations of
Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.
Pedagogical approach
The constructivist theory of learning emphasises the active role of students and their own experiences in their education, which helps them to understand what is being taught. The teacher acts as facilitator of the learning process.
Characteristics of learning:
- Students set their own learning objectives, e.g. Personal Study Plan.
- The information to be learned is connected to students' world of experiences, work and working environment.
- Open communication between the students and teacher is nurtured to deepen the
understanding of the information to be learned and to evaluate learning
experiences.
- The process of learning is emphasised in the studies, not merely objectives
and contents.
- Together with the teachers, students monitor and evaluate their own learning
and the learning of their peers. Learning is systematically developed based on
feedback. The feedback is discussed together with the students, and they lead
the development of the learning situations.
Teaching involves the use of
various topic-related, applied methods. The variety of teaching methods is used
in the programmes to support students' professional development, readiness for
the working world and professional expertise. Students attend lectures, engage
in independent information acquisition, work in projects, work online, do
practical assignments and exercises, and participate in co-operative learning.
Profile of the programme
Studies in the degree programme involve lectures, independent study, practical training and a final thesis. At the beginning of their studies, students make a Personal Study Plan with the assistance of a student counsellor or tutor. Students then progress in their studies according to the objectives in the plan.
Contact teaching is a combination of theory and diverse practical studies. Studying in the programme is flexible, and students can concentrate on courses most interesting to them. The seasons and periods of growth and harvest in the fields and forests, as well as the reproduction cycles of the farm animals set the pace for studying in the degree programme. In addition to classroom lessons, students do practical work and exercises on a weekly basis, especially during their first year of study. Modern facilities for farm animals, laboratory work and teaching and the school farm enable students to engage in hands-on, problem-based, reflective learning.
In addition to the Basic Studies, other courses involve the study of plant production, livestock husbandry, forestry, and courses pertaining to technology, agricultural economics, business economics, consultation, biology and environmental protection. The practical training consists of training on a farm and specialization training in Finland or abroad. Students do a final thesis at the end of their studies. The faculty has been very flexible as regards the types of topics chosen for theses. However, students should consider the advantages of their chosen topic in obtaining work and in their future career.
Immense co-operation between the various faculties in the university of applied sciences ensures that students have the opportunity to choose from an extensive, diverse selection of courses. At the end of their studies, students are required to write a final thesis.
Students partake in period of fieldwork during the summer after their second year of study. It takes place at the beginning of the summer and at the end. During this time, students put the theory they have learned in the classroom over the winter into practice. Students have usually made a field trip to Central Europe during the summer, which gives them a breath of the farming culture in other countries.
Beginning the studies
Students begin their studies in the Degree Programme in Agriculture and Rural Enterprises with a two-day orientation in which the structure and the practices followed in the programme are presented. Students are introduced to their tutors and other new students. The tutors assist new students during their first few weeks of study. Each new student is assigned a personal tutor, although naturally all of the tutors are there to extend their help.
Contact teaching primarily takes place Monday to Friday between 8 am and 4:15 pm. One weekend during the first autumn semester students take part in work on a pig farm. The first year of study begins with a practical training period on the school farm in Ilmajoki. The practical training consists of harvest work and caring for livestock. Students who have completed basic studies in agriculture do not participate in the 5-week training period.
General studies and practices
During their first and second years of study, students study basic and field-related subjects that are common to all students. These general subjects include computer technology, language studies, mathematics, biology and environmental protection, plant production and livestock husbandry, economics, forestry and subjects in technology.
The summer after students' first year of study is also a time of practical training on a farm. It begins at the beginning of May and ends at the end of September. At this time, students gain knowledge of the type of work carried out on a farm. There are numerous farms around Finland where students may do their practical training. They may also do it abroad.
The second year of study begins at the beginning of October and ends at the end of April. During this time, students study the subjects they have chosen in their Personal Study Plan. For the most part, students partake in field-specific courses during the second year of study. They may also choose 17 credits of elective studies from the range of courses in the entire university. One credit is equivalent to 26 hours of student work. The 17 credits may include courses offered by other universities of applied sciences or academic universities.
Students partake in period of fieldwork (referred to as "Growth Season") during the summer after their second year of study. It takes place at the beginning of the summer and at the end. During this time, they put the theory they have learned in the classroom over the winter into practice. Students have usually made a field trip to Central Europe during the summer. The trip familiarises students with the agriculture and culture of other countries. Students are required to pay for the trip themselves and therefore they have usually gathered the funds together through various events and jobs during the winter. Taking part in the trip is not compulsory.
Specialization
During the third year of their studies, students focus on their line of specialization, which amounts to 40-57 credits. Students may choose more extensive study modules and individual courses. They have the opportunity to specialize in pig husbandry, potato production, rural environments, water management, environmental engineering, management of rural enterprises (farms) and production design, rural development, and the health care of domestic animals. These are just a few of the available areas in which students can enhance their expertise.
Students put their specialised skills to use during the summer after their third year of study when they partake in specialised practical training. The training lasts 75 days and takes place between May and August. Students enquire about the place where they can do the training either independently or with the help of a training supervisor. When choosing the place to do their specialised practical training, students should consider their career plans and placement in the working world. Oftentimes, the specialised practical training spawns an idea or commission for a student thesis, which they do at the end of their studies.
The extent of the thesis is 15 credits. During the thesis writing process, students exhibit their knowledge of their profession through the research of a chosen topic. The faculty has been fairly flexible as regards the topics chosen for theses; however, students should consider the long-term advantages in their career and employment when choosing a topic.
Occupational profiles
Agronomists typically work as consultants for livestock husbandry and plant production, as specialists in administration, education or research, and as rural developers. Developing agricultural enterprises requires professionals with a university of applied sciences degree; indeed, many agronomists run their own enterprise. There is a diverse range of job opportunities for agronomists and they find work easily.
Access to further studies
Students who have completed this programme are eligible to continue on to a
university of applied sciences master's degree programme in natural resources.
(University of applied sciences act 351/2003, in Finnish)
Course structure
The degree programme in Agriculture and Rural Enterprises (240 cr) comprises basic and professional studies (118 cr), specialisation studies (40 cr), elective studies (17 cr), practical training (50 cr) and a final thesis (15 cr). Each of these parts of the programme is divided into modules and courses. The recommended time to complete the programme is four years.
Examination regulations, assessment and grading
Please see the
Degree Regulations of
Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.
Graduation requirements
Please see the
Degree Regulations of
Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.
Contact persons
Head of degree
programme:
Mr Juha Tiainen, tel. +358 40 830 2429, e-mail: juha.tiainen(at)seamk.fi
ECTS departmental coordinator / International coordinator:
Mrs Anna Tall, e-mail: anna.tall(at)seamk.fi
Student counsellor:
Ms Anu Katila, tel. +358 20 124 5747, e-mail:
anu.katila(at)seamk.fi
