LITHUANIAN UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE
AGRONOMY
FIRST CYCLE PROGRAMME
INTHE STUDY FIELD OF AGRICULTURE, 2011
SELF-EVALUATION REPORT
LUA Rector ...... Prof. Dr. Antanas Maziliauskas
(signed)
Self-evaluation team leader ...... Prof. Hab.Dr. Rimantas Velička
(signed)
Akademija, April, 2011
Background information
Title of study programme / AgronomyNational code / 61206B101
Updated national code / 612D72001
Kind of study programme / University studies
Study cycle / first
Study form(length in years) / full-time (4), part-time (up to 6) – before 2009;
full-time (4), part-time (5) – after 2009
Study programme volume of in credits / 160
Awarded degree and/or professional qualification / Bachelor in Agronomy
Programme registration date and Order No / 31-08-2009, No 1-73: date of accreditation
Self-evaluation team
No / Academic title/degree, full name / Position / Telephone(office and mobile) / E-mail
1. / Prof. Dr. Habil. Rimantas Velička / Professor, Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agronomy (AF) / 8 37 75 22 17
+370 68 78 60 19 /
2. / Prof. Dr. Habil. Zenonas Dabkevičius / Professor, Department of Biology and Plant Protection, AF / 8 37 75 22 65
8-347-37057
+370 68 63 76 31 /
3. / Assoc. Prof. Dr. Steponas Raudonius / Associate Professor, Department of Agriculture, AF / 8 37 75 26 79
+370 68 60 14 51 /
4. / Assoc. Prof. Dr. Darija Jodaugienė / Head of Department of Agriculture, AF / 8 37 75 22 29
+370 61 40 11 40 /
5. / Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aurimas Krasauskas / Vice dean for studies, AF / 8 37 75 22 66
+370 68 56 27 97 /
6. / Dr. Rimantas Dapkus / General Director, UAB Dotnuvos Projektai / +370 69 87 39 50 /
7. / Ina Liorančaitė / Student, Second Study Cycle Year 1 / +370 65 24 00 04 /
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………….. / 42. PROGRAMME ANALYSIS ……………………………………………….. / 6
2.1. Need for the Programme, Its Intended Purpose, and Goals ………………... / 6
2.1.1. Feasibility and Uniqueness of the Need for the Programme …………… / 6
2.1.2. Conformity of the Programme Study Outcomes to Legal and Other Instruments ………………………………………………………………………… / 8
2.1.3. Feasibility of the Programme Goals ……………………………………….. / 8
2.2. Programme Structure ………………………………………………………….. / 10
2.2.1. Study Plan …………………………………………………………………… / 10
2.2.2. Rationale behind the Programme ………………………………………..... / 12
2.2.3. Requirements for the Final Thesis ………………………………………… / 16
2.3. Academic Staff …………………………………………………………………...
/ 172.3.1. Evaluation of the Composition, Turnover, and Work Loads of the
Academic Staff ……………………………………………………………………..
/ 172.3.2. Staff Experience and Work Compliance With the Study Programme ….. / 19
2.4. Facilities and Learning Resources ……………………………………………..
/ 212.4.1. Facilities ……………………………………………………………………... / 21
2.4.2. Learning Resources ………………………………………………………… / 23
2.5. Study Process and Its Evaluation ……………………………………………… / 23
2.5.1. Student Admission ………………………………………………………….. / 23
Admission Requirements …………………………………………………………….. / 23
Changes in Student Numbers ……………………………………………………..… / 24
Student Participation in Scientific and Other Activities ………………………… / 27
Student Mobility ………………………………………………………………………. / 27
2.5.2. Forms of Student Support ………………………………………………….. / 28
Academic Support …………………………………………………………………….. / 28
Social Support ………………………………………………………………………… / 29
Student Residences …………………………………………………………………… / 29
2.5.3. Assessment of Student Achievement ……………………………………….. / 30
Ways to Prevent Academic Dishonesty …………………………………………..… / 30
Assessment of Final Thesis ………………………………………………………….. / 31
Graduates' Employment Monitoring ……………………………………………..... / 31
2.5.4. Study Process Arrangement ...... / 31
2.6.Programme Management ……………………………………………………… / 32
2.6.1. Programme Administration ………………………………………………... / 32
2.6.2. Internal Study Quality Assurance …………………………………………. / 32
2.7. Major Changes Triggered by the Results of the Last External Evaluation .... / 35
3. ANNEXES …………………………………………………………………... / 36
3.1. Descriptions of Study Subjects
3.2. Academic Staff List
3.3. Curriculum Vitae of the Academic Staff
3.4. List of Final Thesis
3.5. Programme Plans
3.6. Descriptions of Study Subjects (2011-2012)
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1. INTRODUCTION
1. Lithuanian University of Agriculture (LUA), hereinafter referred to as the University, is a higher education and studies institution, offering studies in the fields of biomedicine, technologies, and social sciences. The main management bodies of the University include the University Council and the Senate. The Rector is a single-person management body. The University enjoys autonomy in its academic, administrative, economic, and financial activities. In its operation, the University pursues the Bologna Declaration[1],the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania[2], the Law on Science and Studies of the Republic of Lithuania[3], related legislation, Decrees of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, the University Statute[4], and the University strategy.
2. Currently, the University has five faculties: the Faculties of Agronomy, Economics and Management, Forestry and Ecology, Agricultural Engineering, and Water and Land Management, and three institutes: the Institutes of Environment, Fundamental Science Studies, and Rural Culture. The units of science and studies infrastructure include the Library, Experimental Station, Training Farm, Agricultural Science and Technology Park, Career Centre, etc. It is the only university institution in Lithuania, preparing 6, 7, and 8 Level professionals in agronomy/agricultural science, forest, land, and water management.
3.The Faculty of Agronomy (hereinafter referred to as the Faculty) is the structural unit of Agronomy study programme implementation. The Faculty has five Departments with laboratories for studies, two laboratories for science and studies, and a computer class.
The departments are interrelated through the objects of scientific activities and study. Each department of the Faculty is engaged in teaching compulsory and special education subjects of the study fundamentals/subjects of the first cycle programme and deeper specialization. The subjects they teach are in line with the fields of the research and professional interests of the academic staff, such as research into changes in soil properties and crop yield formation, ecological/organic farming, weed control, mineral nutrition in field and garden crops, physiological and biochemical processes, breeding material, etc. Although the research areas of the departments and the subjects they teach have close links with each other, it would be appropriate to consider reorganising the structure of the Faculty by the research activities of the academic staff and the subjects taught (for example, to set up departments according to the research object and fundamentality). The reorganisation of the Faculty structure would prevent repetitions, which sometimes occur, and the University funds and staff time would be used in a more rational way. The structural changes are expected to be introduced after the strategic plan of the University under the Project Improvement of the Efficiency of Study System at LUA (No VP1-2.1 –ŠMM-04-K-01-008) is produced.
Scientific laboratories of the University and Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LRCAF) and study infrastructure units are used in the implementation of the objectives of the Agronomy study programme. The subjects of other study fields related to the major study field are also taught by teachers from the faculties of Economics and Management, Forestry and Ecology, Agricultural Engineering, Water and Land Management, and the Institutes of Environment, Fundamental Science Studies, and Rural Culture.
The Faculty offers first cycle study programmes including Agronomy (612D72001), Agricultural Technology and Management(612D77001), Horticulture and Greenery (612D70001), Bio-social Environment and Nutrition* (61210B105)[], and second cycle study programmes including Agronomy (621D72001), Agroecosystems (621C18003), Agrobiotechnology (621J70002), and Horticulture(621D72002). After the new list of study domains/areas and fields governing the studies at higher education institutions was approved in 2010, the study programme of Agronomy was attributed to the Agronomy branch of the field of Agricultural Sciences in the area of Biomedical Sciences. The Faculty also offers third cycle (doctoral) studies. Currently the Faculty has 19 doctoral students. Over the last 5 years, 25 doctoral students of the University successfully defended their dissertations and earned doctor's degrees in the field of Agronomy.
4. A subgroup of 5 members was instituted for conducting the self-evaluation of the first study cycle of Agronomy and producing the self-evaluation report. The activities of the subgroup were coordinated by a member of the self-evaluation subgroup Assoc. Prof. Dr. Steponas Raudonius (Table 1).
Table 1. List of the Self-evaluation Report Subgroup Members
No / Academic title (degree), full name / Position / Telephone(office and mobile) / E-mail
1. / Assoc. Prof. Dr. Steponas Raudonius / Associate Professor, Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agronomy / 8 37 75 26 79
+370 68 60 14 51 /
2. / Prof. Dr. Habil. Zenonas Dabkevičius / Professor, Department of Biology and Plant Protection, Faculty of Agronomy / 8-347-37 057
+370 68 63 76 31 /
3. / Assoc. Prof. Dr. Irena Pranckietienė / Head of Department of Soil Science and Agrochemistry, Faculty of Agronomy / 8 37 75 22 79
+370 69 99 40 11 /
4. / Assoc. Prof. Dr. Liuda Žilėnaitė / Head of Department of AF Crop Science and Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agronomy / 8 37 75 23 36
+370 69 99 42 56 /
The self-evaluation report was produced in January through April 2011. The work volume and responsibilities of each team member are specified in the Self-evaluation Schedule (Table 2).
A commission formed under the ordinance of the Dean (24-09-2010) for the purpose of conducting the self-evaluation introduced itself at the meeting of the academic and scientific staff of the Faculty of Agronomy. The Self-evaluation Report was considered at the meeting of the Agronomy Faculty Council on 30-03-2011.An electronic version of the self-evaluation material was published on the website of the Faculty of Agronomy
Table 2. Self-evaluation Schedule
No / Planned activity / Responsible person / Deadline/Period1. / Introduction / Assoc.Prof.Dr. Irena Pranckietienė
2. / Programme objectives and study outcomes / Prof. Dr. Habil. Zenonas Dabkevičius
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Liuda Žilėnaitė
stud. Ina Liorančaitė / 2010-11/2011-04
3. / Programme structure / Assoc.Prof.Dr. Irena Pranckietienė
Prof. Dr. Habil. Rimantas Velička / 2010-11/2011-04
4. / Staff / Assoc.Prof.Dr. Liuda Žilėnaitė
Prof. Dr. Habil. Rimantas Velička / 2010-11/2011-04
5. / Facilities and learning resources / Assoc.Prof.Dr. Liuda Žilėnaitė
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Steponas Raudonius / 2010-11/2011-04
6. / Study process and its evaluation / Assoc.Prof.Dr. Irena Pranckietienė
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Aurimas Krasauskas
Dr. Rimantas Dapkus / 2010-11/2011-04
7. / Programme management / Assoc.Prof.Dr. Steponas Raudonius / 2010-12
Self-evaluation annexes
Annex1.Descriptions of study subjects / Assoc.Prof.Dr. Irena Pranckietienė / 2010-12/2011-01
Annex2. Academic staff list / Assoc.Prof.Dr. Liuda Žilėnaitė / 2011-02
Annex3.Curriculum Vitae of the academic staff / Assoc.Prof.Dr. Liuda Žilėnaitė / 2010-12/2011-01
Annex4.List of Final Thesis (2 years) / Assoc.Prof.Dr. Aurimas Krasauskas / 2011-02
Annex5. Summary of the previous evaluation report / Prof. Dr. Habil. Rimantas Velička / 2011-02
The external evaluation and self-evaluation of the first study cycle programme of Agronomy were performed in 2001 and 2006, respectively, however, this is the first international assessment.
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2. PROGRAMME ANALYSIS
2.1. Need for the Programme, Its Intended Purpose, and Goals
2.1.1. Feasibility and Uniqueness of the Need for the Programme
5. Agriculture has traditionally been a major sector of the European and Lithuanian economy. Currently, agriculture is going through extensive changes. This sector is facing a tougher competition, higher costs, technological progress, and stricter requirements imposed by the consumers and environmental regulations. The overall growth of the sector creates a larger demand in specialists and competences. The report of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania on the Labour Demand and Supply in Agriculture[5] forecasts says that relevant teaching and education are highly important to ensure that agriculture can adequately meet the competitive challenges.
6. The need for the programme is directly related to employment. The findings of the graduate surveys performed in 2008 through 2011 show that 86% of the graduate employment is related to the acquired profession, i.e. the agricultural sector, where the graduates successfully put into practice the outcomes of the programme studies (Table 2). In the reporting period there were no graduates registered in the labour exchange (for more details see Par 98 Article2.5.3).
7. The survey of employers (agricultural, business enterprises, state institutions and local authorities, farmers, etc.) showed that in the next 5 years there will be a demand for approximately 40 employees with the knowledge and special skills described in the programme (the information is based on the survey of about 10% of potential employers). According to the surveys, bachelors in agricultural sciences with competences based on fundamental and applied knowledge and practical skills, who can perform the functions of crop and livestock junior consultants, managers of crop farms, business unit managers, and other functions are in demand in the modern agricultural labour market. The employers' requirements to the graduates are linked to the implementation of quality systems at agricultural enterprises. 84% of the employers maintain that the graduates must have special skills (agronomic: crop production management, environment and environmental impact of farming assessment, business planning), while 60% of the employers think that highly qualified agricultural specialists also need knowledge in business management and economics. Apart from scientific knowledge, special capabilities and practical skills, the employers especially value the capability of communication, absorbing knowledge and experience, and applying the same in the professional activities, as well as independence, initiative and creativity of the graduates.
8. The need for graduates of the programme is evidenced by both the active participation of the representatives of businesses in the Career Days organised by the University and direct employment offers through representatives of the Dean's Office (an average of 19 standing employment offers; 1-2 new job adverts every week) ( The graduates of the study programme successfully work at agricultural and related infrastructure enterprises, consulting agencies, state institutions and local authorities, and private companies, the business whereof is related to agriculture. Moreover, the graduates continue their studies with master's studies in the field of Agriculture or other fields.
9. The demand in the Agronomystudy programme is evidenced by the statistical numbers of applicants and enrolled students. In terms of the numbers of admitted students, over the five years the demand has remained unvaried (Table 3). The marketability of the programme is also demonstrated by the fact that 97% of the students admitted to the University in 2009 and 2010 pay the full tuition fee, which is 1.5 times higher than that in Social Sciences. Furthermore, the demand in the programme is demonstrated by the number of applications where the programme is attached Priority 1-4. The difference in the numbers of applicants and admitted students also reflects the financial capacity of the prospective students to pay for tuition, i.e. a significant number of them opt for cheaper study programmes. The ratio of applicants to admitted students is discussed in Par 68 Article 2.5.1.
Table 3. Applicant to Admitted Student Ratio
Year / Number of applications (Priority 1-4) / Admitted students / Applicant to admitted student ratio2010 / 352 / 67 / 5.2
2009 / 237 / 64 / 3.7
2008 / 156 / 88 / 1.8
2007 / 150 / 70 / 2.1
2006 / 177 / 68 / 2.6
The need for the Agronomy programme is expressively reflected by the new job ads which regularly appear on the notice board of the Faculty of Agronomy and the websites of the University which address the need in specialists in agronomy. The numbers of the first cycle Agronomy programme graduates are insufficient to satisfy the needs of the Lithuanian market and, therefore, the graduates do not apply to the labour exchange neither they become economic emigrants.
10. With regard of the needs of the employers, the changes in the numbers of the students, the requirement of the University to have at least 18 students per one academic group, and the drop out rates, which amount to approximately 24% in 4 study years, it appears that at least 47 students should be admitted to this programme.
11. The said study programme does not have analogues at other Lithuanian universities. It fundamentally differs from other first cycle study programmes currently accredited at the Lithuanian University of Agriculture, i.e. Agricultural Technologies and Management, Horticulture and Greenery.The first cycle study programme Agricultural Technologies and Managementis designed to train specialists in two fields: the major field of agricultural technologies and a minor field of management or rural development. The graduates of this programme acquire wide-ranging competences in different study areas and fields, and they are capable of performing the functions of a business manager, an agricultural production process manager, a technologist, a junior consultant, a sales representative, a local action group administrator, a farmer, a rural development manager, etc. The programme ofHorticulture and Greeneryis designed to train agronomists specializedin horticulture.
12. A large number of European universities with a broad study profile offer first cycle studies in the field of Agriculture: The University of Kassel (Germany), Technical University of Madrid (Spain), The University of Pisa (Italy), The University of Warmia and Mazury (Poland), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sweden), Ege University (Turkey). There are quite many universities specializing in Agriculture or Life Sciences: Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (formerly Czech University of Agriculture), TheUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Agricultural University of Krakow, Agricultural University of Athens, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, etc. The first cycle (bachelor's) study programmes in the field of Agriculture offered by European Universities include: Agriculture[6], Agricultural Science, Crop Science[7], Agricultural Science[8], Agricultural Science[9], Crop Production[10], Agricultural Science[11], Field Crops[12]. The analysis of the programmes of 7 random foreign universities brings to a conclusion that the studies of those programmes develop adequate competences in agronomy, although each single programme is unique in terms of its structure. Most of the subjects of those programmes: Agro-ecology, Plant Breeding, Weeds and Their Control, Microbiology, Physiology of Plantsand Its Production under Climate Change, Environmental Biotechnology, Energetic Plants: a Renewable Energy Source, etc. are adequate to the first cycle studies in agronomy offered by the LUA.
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2.1.2. Conformity of the Programme Study Outcomes to Legal and Other Instruments
13. The goals of the study programme are in line with the national and regional development perspectives. The intended purpose of the programme reflects the objective of the LithuanianAgricultural and Rural Development Strategy[13], which provides for the growth of economy by boosting the competitiveness of the agricultural, food, and forestry sectors, facilitating diversification of rural economic activities and improvement of quality of life in rural areas while nurturing human values assuming that the transfer of knowledge and innovations accompanied by investments into human and physical capital will promote the competitiveness of the Lithuanian agricultural food and forestry sector[14]. The outcomes of the programme are linked to the objectives prescribed in the University Statute: a sustainable development of scientific knowledge and studies required for agricultural and rural progress, environmentally sound use of forests, water and other natural resources, and improvement of the quality of life of people and the objective prescribed in the University Strategy: to train graduates, who are competitive in the national and international job market and who are able to take creative participation in the processes of sustainable rural development.
14. The contents and rationale of the study outcomes of the programme conform to Level 6 of the Lithuanian National Qualifications Framework or Level 1 of the European Qualifications Framework[15] and the provisions of the Law on Science and Studies of the Republic of Lithuania[16], and they are compatible with the LUA Research and Learning Goals and Objectives[17]. Furthermore, they embody the objectives set out by the Bologna Declaration[18] (to adopt higher education systems essentially based on two main cycles, to establish a system of credits, to promote student mobility, etc.) and the conference The Bologna Process 2020 - The European Higher Education Area in the New Decade[19] (to improve the quality of higher education and its accessibility, the employability of the graduates, the mobility and international openness of the students and teachers, to seek ongoing curricular reform). The upgrade of the study programme takes into account the aim of the Tuning project[20]: to establish a link between the learning outcomes, competences, and workload-based ECTS credits, and relevant approaches to learning, teaching, and assessment.