Programme Specifications

N/A

December 2012

The main education aims of this programme are to:

• provide students with a detailed understanding of the principles and processes that underpin pasture-based sustainable and efficient food production, including the social and environmental contexts;

• develop students' intellectual, practical, numeracy, communication, information and communication technology (ICT), interpersonal / teamwork, self-management and professional development skills, in pasture-based food production context;

• inculcate the values of scholarship: inquiry, reflection, integrity, open-mindedness, evidence-based thinking, collegiality

• equip students who already have work experience in the food supply chain to implement the latest research into sustainable systems thinking, and to facilitate cutting edge careers for those who want to enter the food production and supply chain.

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas:

Depending on the options selected by the student, the following areas of knowledge and understanding will apply:

• Explore sustainable grassland systems by looking at the range and distribution of grassland and forage crops, while examining nutrient management and environmental protection in relation to grazing and forage preservation.

• Explore the theoretical and critical analysis of the practise and application of Carbon Footprinting (CF) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), as key tools in assessing the environmental impact of agricultural systems and identifying strategies for reducing the environmental impact of food production systems. This is a Bangor module for which credits may be transferred into the ATP scheme.

• Understand the development of new feeds and forages including; grass, clover, grain legumes, oats and barley, and forage maize. Explore the role of novel feeds and forages in improving animal production whilst helping to mitigate climate change

• Understand the complex set of issues influencing soil management, while gaining practical experience of undertaking soil quality assessments, assisting in the design of sustainable soil management regimes. This is a Bangor module for which credits may be transferred into the ATP scheme.

• Investigate the efficiency of animal production systems in terms of the fundamental genetics and physiology underpinning animal production, such as: reproductive technology, genetic improvement, dairy cattle production systems, meat production systems, meat and milk quality, as well as disease prevention and management.

• Explore the fundamental physiological and microbiological principles underpinning ruminant nutrition, including: nutrient digestion and metabolism, ecology of alimentary microbial populations and plant-microbe interactions; and metabolism of carbohydrates, protein and lipids in order to modify

• Develop knowledge of modern forage and grain ensilage systems: silage evaluation, fermentation, microbiology, inoculant development, and pathogen transfer and food safety.

• Examine the environmental, economic and social viability of alternative upland farming systems in the UK in the context of the production and marketing of food from upland farming. Explore issues such as biodiversity and ecosystem services (e.g. regulating flooding, water quality, greenhouse gas emissions). This is a Bangor module for which credits may be transferred into the ATP scheme

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated: 

Each module is made up of 10 units focussing on separate themes and building the trainees knowledge throughout the module. Each unit comprises:

• An introduction to its theme

• A guided (and optional extra) reading list

• Unit Study Guide - an interactive pdf on Blackboard that takes students through all the resources for the unit and linking to extra resources on theweb

• 2-3 Audio lectures

• Relevant peer reviewed papers

• Formative questions and model answers

Every two to three units, as appropriate, trainees are provided with:

• a summative assessment

• a seminar on a current topic

Trainees are encouraged to: communicate regularly with each other and their tutor; maximise their use of the materials and activities provided; and undertake extra individual research (particularly from peer-reviewed journals).

Assessment:

There is no exam for the scheme and we have broken the coursework down into fairly short assignments (2-4 per module), so that they remain compatible with the trainees' working life whilst developing their skills and knowledge. Each of the assignments is keyed to the learning outcomes in the module. They will utilise the following methods:

• Unseen quiz

• Remote group work

• Essay

• Written contributions to on-line discussions

• Multiple choice tests

• Report

• Dissertation

10.2.1) Intellectual skills

Students will develop independent learning and 'process' skills necessary to:

• Comment on the basic concepts of the subject.

• Critically analyse literature, and use the literature to expand interests in pasture based agriculture.

• Synthesise, manipulate and evaluate primary and secondary data from a variety of sources.

• Design and carry out individual research project and write research reports.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

• On-line lectures

• Student-led seminars

• Examination of case studies

• Practical classes

• Remote group work

• Field study

• Computer exercises

• Self study

• Research plan & project

• Feedback from coursework assignments

Assessment:

• Unseen quiz

• Remote group work

• Essay

• Written contributions to on-line discussions

• Multiple choice tests

• Report

• Dissertation

10.2.2) Professional and practical skills

• Understand the principles and processes underpinning sustainable and efficient food production in pasture-based agriculture

• Tackle problems by collecting, analysing and evaluating and interpreting appropriate qualitative and quantitative information and using it creatively and effectively

• Plan and execute research or development work, evaluate the outcomes and draw valid conclusions

• Write field based and management reports to meet the objectives of multitudinous stakeholders

On completion of the programme the student will be able to:

• Develop independent learning skills necessary for the foundation of lifelong learning

• Develop 'process skills' to become an effective post graduate scientist

• Communicate clearly, concisely and confidently in spoken and written format

N/A

December 2012

The main education aims of this programme are to:

• provide students with a detailed understanding of the principles and processes that underpin pasture-based sustainable and efficient food production, including the social and environmental contexts;

• develop students' intellectual, practical, numeracy, communication, information and communication technology (ICT), interpersonal / teamwork, self-management and professional development skills, in pasture-based food production context;

• inculcate the values of scholarship: inquiry, reflection, integrity, open-mindedness, evidence-based thinking, collegiality

• equip students who already have work experience in the food supply chain to implement the latest research into sustainable systems thinking, and to facilitate cutting edge careers for those who want to enter the food production and supply chain.

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas:

Depending on the options selected by the student, the following areas of knowledge and understanding will apply:

• Explore sustainable grassland systems by looking at the range and distribution of grassland and forage crops, while examining nutrient management and environmental protection in relation to grazing and forage preservation.

• Explore the theoretical and critical analysis of the practise and application of Carbon Footprinting (CF) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), as key tools in assessing the environmental impact of agricultural systems and identifying strategies for reducing the environmental impact of food production systems. This is a Bangor module for which credits may be transferred into the ATP scheme.

• Understand the development of new feeds and forages including; grass, clover, grain legumes, oats and barley, and forage maize. Explore the role of novel feeds and forages in improving animal production whilst helping to mitigate climate change

• Understand the complex set of issues influencing soil management, while gaining practical experience of undertaking soil quality assessments, assisting in the design of sustainable soil management regimes. This is a Bangor module for which credits may be transferred into the ATP scheme.

• Investigate the efficiency of animal production systems in terms of the fundamental genetics and physiology underpinning animal production, such as: reproductive technology, genetic improvement, dairy cattle production systems, meat production systems, meat and milk quality, as well as disease prevention and management.

• Explore the fundamental physiological and microbiological principles underpinning ruminant nutrition, including: nutrient digestion and metabolism, ecology of alimentary microbial populations and plant-microbe interactions; and metabolism of carbohydrates, protein and lipids in order to modify

• Develop knowledge of modern forage and grain ensilage systems: silage evaluation, fermentation, microbiology, inoculant development, and pathogen transfer and food safety.

• Examine the environmental, economic and social viability of alternative upland farming systems in the UK in the context of the production and marketing of food from upland farming. Explore issues such as biodiversity and ecosystem services (e.g. regulating flooding, water quality, greenhouse gas emissions). This is a Bangor module for which credits may be transferred into the ATP scheme

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated: 

Each module is made up of 10 units focussing on separate themes and building the trainees knowledge throughout the module. Each unit comprises:

• An introduction to its theme

• A guided (and optional extra) reading list

• Unit Study Guide - an interactive pdf on Blackboard that takes students through all the resources for the unit and linking to extra resources on theweb

• 2-3 Audio lectures

• Relevant peer reviewed papers

• Formative questions and model answers

Every two to three units, as appropriate, trainees are provided with:

• a summative assessment

• a seminar on a current topic

Trainees are encouraged to: communicate regularly with each other and their tutor; maximise their use of the materials and activities provided; and undertake extra individual research (particularly from peer-reviewed journals).

Assessment:

There is no exam for the scheme and we have broken the coursework down into fairly short assignments (2-4 per module), so that they remain compatible with the trainees' working life whilst developing their skills and knowledge. Each of the assignments is keyed to the learning outcomes in the module. They will utilise the following methods:

• Unseen quiz

• Remote group work

• Essay

• Written contributions to on-line discussions

• Multiple choice tests

• Report

• Dissertation

10.2.1) Intellectual skills

Students will develop independent learning and 'process' skills necessary to:

• Comment on the basic concepts of the subject.

• Critically analyse literature, and use the literature to expand interests in pasture based agriculture.

• Synthesise, manipulate and evaluate primary and secondary data from a variety of sources.

• Design and carry out individual research project and write research reports.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

• On-line lectures

• Student-led seminars

• Examination of case studies

• Practical classes

• Remote group work

• Field study

• Computer exercises

• Self study

• Research plan & project

• Feedback from coursework assignments

Assessment:

• Unseen quiz

• Remote group work

• Essay

• Written contributions to on-line discussions

• Multiple choice tests

• Report

• Dissertation

10.2.2) Professional and practical skills

• Understand the principles and processes underpinning sustainable and efficient food production in pasture-based agriculture

• Tackle problems by collecting, analysing and evaluating and interpreting appropriate qualitative and quantitative information and using it creatively and effectively

• Plan and execute research or development work, evaluate the outcomes and draw valid conclusions

• Write field based and management reports to meet the objectives of multitudinous stakeholders

On completion of the programme the student will be able to:

• Develop independent learning skills necessary for the foundation of lifelong learning

• Develop 'process skills' to become an effective post graduate scientist

• Communicate clearly, concisely and confidently in spoken and written format

N/A

December 2012

The main education aims of this programme are to:

• provide students with a detailed understanding of the principles and processes that underpin pasture-based sustainable and efficient food production, including the social and environmental contexts;

• develop students' intellectual, practical, numeracy, communication, information and communication technology (ICT), interpersonal / teamwork, self-management and professional development skills, in pasture-based food production context;

• inculcate the values of scholarship: inquiry, reflection, integrity, open-mindedness, evidence-based thinking, collegiality

• equip students who already have work experience in the food supply chain to implement the latest research into sustainable systems thinking, and to facilitate cutting edge careers for those who want to enter the food production and supply chain.

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas:

Depending on the options selected by the student, the following areas of knowledge and understanding will apply:

• Explore sustainable grassland systems by looking at the range and distribution of grassland and forage crops, while examining nutrient management and environmental protection in relation to grazing and forage preservation.

• Explore the theoretical and critical analysis of the practise and application of Carbon Footprinting (CF) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), as key tools in assessing the environmental impact of agricultural systems and identifying strategies for reducing the environmental impact of food production systems. This is a Bangor module for which credits may be transferred into the ATP scheme.

• Understand the development of new feeds and forages including; grass, clover, grain legumes, oats and barley, and forage maize. Explore the role of novel feeds and forages in improving animal production whilst helping to mitigate climate change

• Understand the complex set of issues influencing soil management, while gaining practical experience of undertaking soil quality assessments, assisting in the design of sustainable soil management regimes. This is a Bangor module for which credits may be transferred into the ATP scheme.

• Investigate the efficiency of animal production systems in terms of the fundamental genetics and physiology underpinning animal production, such as: reproductive technology, genetic improvement, dairy cattle production systems, meat production systems, meat and milk quality, as well as disease prevention and management.

• Explore the fundamental physiological and microbiological principles underpinning ruminant nutrition, including: nutrient digestion and metabolism, ecology of alimentary microbial populations and plant-microbe interactions; and metabolism of carbohydrates, protein and lipids in order to modify

• Develop knowledge of modern forage and grain ensilage systems: silage evaluation, fermentation, microbiology, inoculant development, and pathogen transfer and food safety.

• Examine the environmental, economic and social viability of alternative upland farming systems in the UK in the context of the production and marketing of food from upland farming. Explore issues such as biodiversity and ecosystem services (e.g. regulating flooding, water quality, greenhouse gas emissions). This is a Bangor module for which credits may be transferred into the ATP scheme

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated: 

Each module is made up of 10 units focussing on separate themes and building the trainees knowledge throughout the module. Each unit comprises:

• An introduction to its theme

• A guided (and optional extra) reading list

• Unit Study Guide - an interactive pdf on Blackboard that takes students through all the resources for the unit and linking to extra resources on theweb

• 2-3 Audio lectures

• Relevant peer reviewed papers

• Formative questions and model answers

Every two to three units, as appropriate, trainees are provided with:

• a summative assessment

• a seminar on a current topic

Trainees are encouraged to: communicate regularly with each other and their tutor; maximise their use of the materials and activities provided; and undertake extra individual research (particularly from peer-reviewed journals).

Assessment:

There is no exam for the scheme and we have broken the coursework down into fairly short assignments (2-4 per module), so that they remain compatible with the trainees' working life whilst developing their skills and knowledge. Each of the assignments is keyed to the learning outcomes in the module. They will utilise the following methods:

• Unseen quiz

• Remote group work

• Essay

• Written contributions to on-line discussions

• Multiple choice tests

• Report

• Dissertation

10.2.1) Intellectual skills

Students will develop independent learning and 'process' skills necessary to:

• Comment on the basic concepts of the subject.

• Critically analyse literature, and use the literature to expand interests in pasture based agriculture.

• Synthesise, manipulate and evaluate primary and secondary data from a variety of sources.

• Design and carry out individual research project and write research reports.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

• On-line lectures

• Student-led seminars

• Examination of case studies

• Practical classes

• Remote group work

• Field study

• Computer exercises

• Self study

• Research plan & project

• Feedback from coursework assignments

Assessment:

• Unseen quiz

• Remote group work

• Essay

• Written contributions to on-line discussions

• Multiple choice tests

• Report

• Dissertation

10.2.2) Professional and practical skills

• Understand the principles and processes underpinning sustainable and efficient food production in pasture-based agriculture

• Tackle problems by collecting, analysing and evaluating and interpreting appropriate qualitative and quantitative information and using it creatively and effectively

• Plan and execute research or development work, evaluate the outcomes and draw valid conclusions

• Write field based and management reports to meet the objectives of multitudinous stakeholders

On completion of the programme the student will be able to:

• Develop independent learning skills necessary for the foundation of lifelong learning

• Develop 'process skills' to become an effective post graduate scientist

• Communicate clearly, concisely and confidently in spoken and written format