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History - Location of the Department

The Department of Agriculture was founded in 2019 at the University of the Peloponnese, but actually it carries a history and experience of about 30 years, as it is the evolution of the Department of Agriculture Technology of the former Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Peloponnese. It is located in Kalamata, at the facilities of the University in the area of Antikalamos and its co-location with five other departments creates a student environment with multiple challenges and quests.

The Department has Teaching and Research Staff members (DEP) of all levels and Special Teaching Staff members (EEP), and the teaching and research activities are supported by Special Technical Laboratory Staff members (ETEP). According to the needs, teaching activities are supported by temporary research staff, teaching staff from other departments, doctoral candidates and post-doctoral researchers.

The department owns fully-equipped laboratories in all individual fields of agricultural science, greenhouses, arboreta and lands for crop productions, in order to support the teaching process and the development of research activities.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies

The Undergraduate Curriculum has a duration of 10 semesters, and in order to gain a degree, students have to accumulate 300 ECTS-credits in total. Students have to attend successfully 55 courses, write a thesis and do an internship.

The 55 courses include 49 compulsory and 6 elective courses (from a group of 24 elective courses off ered). Most courses include, apart from the theoretical education, compulsory laboratory exercises or outdoor practice. The compulsory courses, which off er 240 ECTS-credits in total, cover all individual fi elds of agricultural science, by off ering to students the necessary knowledge background in agricultural science, in the specialisation of plant production. The elective courses off ering 30 ECTS-credits give students the opportunity to focus on specifi c fi elds of study they are mostly interested in, either scientifi cally or professionally.

The thesis, which off ers 22 ECTS-credits, is usually prepared within the framework of some research activities at the Department’s laboratories, and off ers the opportunity of acquiring knowledge of laboratory and research techniques, and experience in the documentation and presentation of a research paper.

The compulsory 3-month internship off ers 8 ECTS-credits and gives students the opportunity to come into contact with their professional workplace, by gaining professional experience and oſten the chance for fi nding directly a job position.

The Department’s Undergraduate Curriculum is under the process of accreditation, while the process of its recognition as an “integrated master” is in progress.

The Department off ers the Postgraduate Curriculum “Controlled Environment Agriculture – Soilless Culture” and participates in the programme “MBA in Agri-food Sector” in cooperation with the Department of Management Science and Technology.

Career Prospects

The graduates of the Department have acquired all scientifi c knowledge which is necessary for their career and the development of their professional activities in all fi elds of agricultural science.

In parallel, they can continue their studies in Postgraduate Curricula in Greece or abroad.

Research

The Department’s main philosophy is its interconnection with the primary sector production through cooperations, actions and the extroversion at a local, national and international level. It pursues the cooperation with private and public institutions, so that it receives constant feedback for its curriculum with knowledge and problematics about the real economy, thus preparing students for their professional career. It supports and promotes the mobility of its students for studies abroad through Erasmus and postgraduate programmes. Cutting-edge fi elds of the Department are the following laboratories:

▶ Floriculture: it cooperates with private institutions for the planning of promoting actions for ornamental and aromatic crops.
▶ Olive Oil Taste: laboratory accredited by the Hellenic Accreditation System (ESYD) and the International Olive Council, which cooperates with the Hellenic Food Authority and private institutions, in order to off er consulting and research services in the fi eld of production, management and promotion of olive oil.
▶ Agriculture: it specialises in tissue culture for the production of plant propagation material.
▶ Business incubator: it promotes and supports the entrepreneurship of young scientists in the agri-food fi eld through local and international cooperations.
▶ Vegetable production: it has been appointed as an institution of preserving genetic resources of a local tomato variety, and supports not only the Postgraduate Curriculum, but also research in the field of soilless culture.

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