The Department of Agriculture of the University of Western Macedonia (UoWM) (former Department of Agricultural Technology, Food Technology and Nutrition of the TEI of Western Macedonia) was established in Florina in 2019 under Law 4610/2019 (Government Gazette 70, issue A’ 07/05/2019) following the merging of the two Institutions, i.e., UoWM and TEI of Western Macedonia.
The Department offers a five-year Undergraduate course, two Master’s degree programmes and Doctoral Research in Agriculture focusing on academic background and applied research. Teaching and research promote the discipline of Agricultural Science and contribute to the economic and social development of the countryside.
Courses last ten (10) semesters. During the first six (6) semesters students attend core courses to acquire a theoretical background in Agriculture. Specialist direction courses last four (4) semesters and include:
- Plant Production: Courses in deciduous and evergreen fruit, viticulture, floriculture, industrial and bioenergy crops, ornamental plants, greenhouse technology, weed science and pesticides, crop diseases and pests, applied plant physiology and fruit and vegetable post-harvest management, propagation, and organic and integrated agriculture.
- Animal Production: Courses in animals breeding, alternative forms of farm animal breeding, fish farming and fisheries, physiology of farm animals, genetic improvement of farm animals, reproduction, infectious and parasitic diseases, pharmacology, ethics and welfare of farm animals, and milk and meat technology.
- Agricultural Economics: Courses in innovations and entrepreneurship in agriculture, marketing, sales promotion and advertising of agricultural products and food, consumer behaviour, techno-economic research and investment evaluation, pricing of agricultural products, finance and management of food trade, and the environment and sustainable development.
The academic staff members are partners in competitive national and European research programmes financed by EU or national funds, and the private sector. Research output and recognition highlights the academic staff’s significant competence (high citation impact).
The state-of-the-art laboratories are used both for teaching and research processes.
PROFESSIONAL RIGHTS
Graduates pursue a career as:
- Plant Production Agronomists
- Animal Production Agronomists
- Agronomists of Agricultural Economy
Graduates of the Department of Agriculture of the University of Western Macedonia upon successful completion of their five-year university studies, enjoy full rights to practice the profession of Agronomist, having the ability and skills to be generally employed in public organizations, in the private sector and in international organizations. Specifically, in accordance with article 131 of Law 5039/2023, the article 1 of the Presidential Decree 344/2000 is amended and the professional rights of graduates of the Department of Agriculture of the University of Western Macedonia are defined.
Graduates are compulsorily registered with Geotechnical Chamber of Greece in accordance with article 3 of Law 1474/84 – Official Gazette 128 A’ and article 21 of Law 2040/1992 – Official Gazette 70 A’.
The registration is done electronically, through the Chamber’s main website (www.geotee.gr).
Graduates are eligible to work in the Public and Private sectors and as self-employed in the Private sector as follows:
- Higher Education (only PhD holders), secondary vocational education, post-secondary vocational training, and Lifelong Learning programmes.
- The Ministry of Rural Development and Food and other public organizations and services.
- Public and private Research Centers.
- Private research services to offer consultation to agricultural and livestock units, produce Agricultural Development Economics Technical Studies, apply national and community legislation where required, provide public health services in such as disinfestation, disinfection and mycicide.
- International organizations as advisors, specialists, and researchers.