Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences University of Osijek

Scientific area: Biotechnical sciences

Scientific field: Agriculture

Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek has been carrying out a postgraduate study of Agricultural Sciences for many years. Departments of the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek in Osijek developed activities within the general and specialized framework of Agricultural Sciences. By comprising initiatives, achievements, and special features in the activities of its departments, the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek in Osijek carries out the Postgraduate university (doctoral) study program Agricultural Sciences, with the aim of joining the European Higher Education Area, as the the the the the following the objectives set by the national strategic priorities for the agricultural knowledge. The concept of postgraduate university (doctoral) study with eight subprograms represents the highest level of science integration at the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek in Osijek and the most significant contribution to scientific research education within the scientific activity.

The university postgraduate (doctoral) study provides opportunities for agricultural engineers or masters in Agriculture to gain specific scientific knowledge in the field of biotechnology and agriculture. Furthermore to be able to personally contribute to the development of science in the field of agriculture. The study program in Agricultural Sciences is based on the world's latest scientific knowledge and as such, it encourages the development of new knowledge, skills, and technologies necessary for the development of a knowledge-based society, both nationally and in international surroundings. The study is based on scientific activities within ongoing research projects. Scientific research projects are the basis for cooperation within departments at the Faculty, as well as with other universities and scientific institutes. Joint research activities are planned within the study program in its concept of eight subprograms. The need to explain a certain issue occurs at a higher level of science integration, i.e. at a level of agricultural sciences, so that specific explanations presume an understanding of processes and mechanisms at a lower level of science integration, within the branches of agriculture that are covered by the study subprogram: agrochemistry, plant production, seed science, genetics and breeding of plants, animals and microorganisms, phytomedicine, livestock breeding, feeding, hunting, mechanization, and economics.

The intention is to direct the students’ scientific work to the research activities of projects that will be carried out in scientific project sites, Faculty's experimental plots, and in the production facilities in private and public sectors of agricultural production, as well as in cooperation with other scientific institutions, to assure that the results would be directly applicable in practice. 4 The study program is updated with the latest knowledge referring to the concept, structure, and realization of the study programs at other European higher education institutions, especially in the European Union countries. The programs provided within the study are comparable to a variety of European postgraduate studies. The highest comparable level is achieved with the program offered at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the University of Hohenheim, Germany. Some specific subprograms can be compared with other programs offered in the EU countries, as of the following: subprogram Agroeconomics: - the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences-Economics and Business Administration, Uppsala, Sweden - International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies-Montpellier, France - Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, England - Agricultural University of Norway (NLH) AAS, Aberdeen, Norway - the University of Wageningen, Department of Agricultural Economics, the Netherlands subprogram Technical System in Agriculture: - Agricultural Engineering, Gödöllö University of Agricultural Sciences, Hungary - Agrartechnik, Univesität Hohenheim, Germany - Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University, Wageningen, the Netherlands - Agricultural Mechanisation, Harper Adams University College, England subprogram Hunting and Cynology: - doctoral study the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria.

During 62 years of continuous teaching and scientific work at the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, there were 4733 graduates and 192 postgraduates awarded the degree of Masters of Science, while 155 graduates were awarded a Ph.D. title. Development of postgraduate activities by the Faculty Departments within branches of agriculture is supported by the following data: - The first postgraduate study at the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek with the name "Protection of plants, agricultural products, and by-products" started with realization in 1972. The curriculum of this study was changed in 1996 and the study name was also changed to "Plant protection". Within this study, there were so far 94 graduates awarded the title Master of Science, and 29 students were awarded the Ph.D. title. - postgraduate scientific study Seed science has been performed for many years, from which many well-known experts, scientists, and university professors graduated - since 2000, the postgraduate study Physiology and plant nutrition has been realized at the Department of Agroecology, providing the student with master and doctoral degrees - in the past 20 years, students are offered studies to acquire master or doctoral degree in the branch of Livestock breeding - postgraduate study "Hunting and nature protection" was realized until 1990, and since 1990, there is a new postgraduate study "Hunting and general cynology" offered by the Faculty - in 2001, there is postgraduate master study offered in Agricultural mechanization.

Since the Postgraduate university (doctoral) study program is comparable with similar studies offered by other European higher education institutions, students have the opportunity to attend individual modules or perform research at other universities through various forms of international cooperation, if such modules research is compatible with those within home study program. The openness of the study to student mobility is also facilitated through the ECTS credit transfer system, and conditions for credit transfer are defined in the Regulations of the University.

The study program is defined to allow cooperation within the joint study programs with other universities in Croatia or abroad.

Cooperating institutions

1. Agricultural Institute Osijek
2. Department of Biology of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
3. Department of Mathematics of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
4. Faculty of Food Technology of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
5. Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Zagreb
6. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Zagreb
7. Faculty of Economics of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
8. Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts

Upon completion of the study, the student is awarded the academic degree of doctor of science in the field of Biotechnical Sciences, and the scientific field of Agriculture. The possibility of continuing scientific research work is found in scientific research projects in scientific institutions or in postdoctoral training at home and abroad. Upon completion of the study, doctors of sciences will be able to use the latest scientific knowledge within their work in scientific and scientific-education institutions, government bodies, city and county governments, advisory services, state inspectorates, control laboratories, and other institutions in the public and private sector.

Structure and organization of the doctoral study program

The study program is assigned by credits as of the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). During the study, a student has to collect at least 180 ECTS. Within this postgraduate doctoral study program, ECTS credits are assigned to activities that are divided into seven groups, of which the first four groups are obligatory, and the rest three groups are added.

Obligatory groups of activities: 1. Obligatory and elective modules – student enrolls all obligatory modules within specific subprograms of the study and elective modules so that the total value of all modules is at least 30, and the most 60 ECTS 2. Scientific training 3. Scientific presentation 4. Dissertation

Additional groups of activities: 1. Professional activities 2. Teaching activities 3. Postgraduate studies. From each obligatory group of activities, a student must collect at least the number of credits that is determined as the minimum. The sum of the minimum number of credits from the obligatory group is 140, and the remaining 40 credits a student has to collect from the same groups or from the groups of additional activities. For example, a student can the remaining 40 credits collect from the group of additional activities (professional activities 10 + teaching activities 30), or from the scientific training because that group of activities allows a maximum of 100 credits (40 more than the required minimum). In addition, 40 credits can be collected by combining various activities, for example, 10 from the additionally enrolled modules, 10 from scientific training, 10 from scientific presentation, 5 from professional activities, and 5 from teaching activities.

Doctoral study majors

1. Agroeconomics
2. Agrochemistry
3. Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Genetics and Breeding of plants, animals, and microorganisms
4. Plant Protection
5. Animal Breeding
6. Animal Nutrition and Forage Technology
7. Hunting and Cynology
8. Technical System in Agriculture