250019 International Horticulture

Details
Department of Agriculture and Ecology
Earliest Possible Year
DurationOne block
 
Credits7.5 (ECTS)
Course LevelMSc
 
ExaminationContinuous Assessment

written examination


All aids allowed

Description of Examination: The student is evaluated during the course based on deliverables from the weekly cases, an individual report on a selected issue on horticulture in the country selected for the excursion, and a post excursion report.

Weight: Case deliverables at colloquia 40%. Written report 30 %. Post excursion report 30 %.



pass/fail, internal examiner
 
Requirement For Attending ExamThe student must take part in the excursion and contribute to the excursion report
 
Organisation of TeachingThe teaching involves normally 1 lecture pr week. 1 colloquium and the rest is groupwork. A final 8 day excursion in week 34 (August)
 
Block PlacementBlock 3
Week Structure: A, The course only runs every second year. Next time in spring 2009
 
Teaching LanguageEnglish
 
Optional PrerequisitesThe course addresses MSc students in Horticultural Sciences. MSc students in Agriculture or other programmes are required to have followed one of 250059 Climate Management in Horticultural Crops or Fruit and Berry Crop physiology and Quality.
 
Course Contents
The horticultural sector is in Denmark and many other countries relatively small, including the scientific community. This, combined with an extensive international trade and mobility of horticultural products, which creates an intense international competition, inforces a strong need for students in horticulture to obtain an international experience and perspective. The state of art in horticultural sciences, growing methods and conditions, financial aspects etc in some of the major horticultural regions and crops is studied. A more detailed knowledge is obtained concerning a specific region/country chosen by the class. The area must be of significant international importance in horticulture. The conditons for the industry has to be analysed both concering environmental an economic conditions as well as the technology of growing.
The students will be expected to have a very active role in planning the excursion, fundraising and they will work in smaller groups searching for information concering the horticultural industry, climate and growing conditions as well as economic factors in the country or region of the world which will be the destination for the excursion.
 
Teaching And Learning Methods
Form of Study and Instruction The course is based on the involvement of the students in defining the specific content of the course. Thus, the course is introduced by a period of planning in which the region/country of detailed study and excursion is chosen. The practical planning of travelling, fund raising, contacts to places of interest for visiting etc. is initiated. The students work in small groups studying selected aspects concerning the chosen region. The data is presented in written reports and discussed in colloquiums based on oral presentations by the students. In a number of general lectures supported by case studies are the overall aspects of the international horticultural industry and products analysed. Finally the excursion involves visits at universities, research centres and a broad range of horticultural companies, producing, handling and selling horticultural products. Public institutions as botanical gardens, national parks or unique areas of nature may be included as well. After the excursion a report is produced in small groups. Each group or student writes a report based on one or two closely related visits in the form of a short article to a growers journal. The excursion report together with the reports from the group works and colloquiums provides the basis of the examination.
 
Learning Outcome
The objective is to give students the opportunity to study and analyse the horticultural sector in an international perspective. An overview of the most important horticultural products is to be obtained. The aim is to expand the scientific and analytic skills and force the students to evaluate aspects of national and international horticulture in a new perspective

Knowledge
- describe the importance and developmental trends of the horticultural industry in the major regions of the world.

Skills
- apply principles of crop management and growing techniques of a very broad range of horticultural crops in an international perspective.
- discuss and present current issues in international horticulture.

Competences
- demonstrate ability to transfer basic principles of Horticultural production and industry from the Scandinavian situation to new conditions.
- reflect on the importance of cultural values and differences in access to modern technologies
 
Course Litterature
Selected papers from the Journal Chronica Horticulturae form the basis for the case studies of the Horticultural Industri arond the world.
 
Course Coordinator
Brian Grout, bwg@life.ku.dk, Department of Agricultural Sciences/Crop Science, Phone: 35333407
Torben Bo Toldam-Andersen, tbta@life.ku.dk, Department of Agricultural Sciences/Crop Science, Phone: 35333411
 
Attendance Fee
The students have to finance the expenses for the excursion which can not be covered by funds from the University or external partners. The students help in fundraising during the spring semester.
 
Study Board
Study Committee NSN
 
Course Scope
lectures10
Colloquia26
project work50
Excursions50
preparation56
examination14

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