professor L. Nozdrovicky, PhD. 4th ERABEE Workshop, 16-17 November 2009, Valetta, Malta RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN THE FIRST TWO CYCLES OF EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY STUDIES IN SLOVAK REPUBLIC professor L. Nozdrovicky, PhD. Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Faculty of Engineering Department of Machines and Production Systems NITRA, Slovak Republic

1. News on the Bologna process Implementation of the structure of the Bologna process in Slovakia The responsibility for practical implementation of the Bologna principles in higher education policy was taken over by the organization unit of the Section for Higher Education at the Ministry of Education 2

Based on the activity of the European Commission the National Group of Bologna Experts was established from university professors and student delegate nominated by the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic in cooperation with the Slovak Rectors’ Conference and the Higher Education Council. The National Group of Bologna Experts is administered through the Office of Socrates/Erasmus. The Ministry of Education of SR financially supports the activities of the National Group of Bologna Experts.

Important changes during the implementation of the Bologna process National Qualifications Framework (NQF) plays an important role in the Bologna process. Work on implementing the framework has started and a timetable for implementation has been agreed.

The creation of the NQF will be the core activity in the process of implementation of the European Qualification Framework (EQF) in Slovakia. National Qualifications Framework will be created by progressive incorporation of University Study Branches into particular referential levels in terms of EQF descriptors.

Description of the organization of the three cycles at the Faculty of Engineering in Nitra Studies at the Faculty of Engineering (former Faculty of Agricultural Engineering) of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra has been established in the year 1969. The current structure of three cycles is defined and outlined by Law No. 131 of 21 February 2002 on Higher Education.

the Faculty of Engineering is legal entity and has the prerogative According to the Law No. 131, the Faculty of Engineering is legal entity and has the prerogative to provide higher education. The study programmes are carried out at three levels. 7

2. Research related activities in the 1st Cycle Students of the Faculty of Engineering studying in the first cycle have the access to research in the field of Agricultural Engineering by means of Bc. thesis. At the beginning of the 2.year of the Bc. study the students have to choose the topic of the Bc. thesis.

Each department of the Faculty of Engineering prepares the list of the topics with the tutors. The topics of the Bc. thesis are prepared with regard to the research projects at the departments. For the work the student has the time of 18 months. Student is obliged to submit written work (30 – 35 pages) matching defined requirements.

Examples of the topics of the Bc. thesis Physical properties of the solid biofuels  Biological methods of the biogas desulphurization Cofermentation of the biovastes Equipments for biogas incineration Technologies for energy crop harvesting Equipments for small breweries . Vaste biomas as a energy source

Main problems connected with the Bc. thesis: Students do not have enough experience to select such topic which give them the chance for their personal professional grow. They have no idea about their jobs in a future after graduation. Only few students are able to specify their interests.

Criterions used for evaluation of the Bc. thesis: evaluation of the topicality in relation to the study programme; using of national and foreign literature; matching the aims and objectives; logical layout (structure of the text, figures, tables, SI units, citations, references); evaluation of the obtained results.

Bc. thesis is considered as a document by which the graduate confirms his ability: to work with the scientific and professional literature, to prepare and specify the methodology, to evaluate obtained knowledge or even own results (if some simple experiments have been conducted), to formulate conclusions.

3. Research related activities in the 2nd Cycle In the 2nd cycle there is used the similar procedure regarding research related activities. Students studying in the second cycle have the access to research in the field of Agricultural Engineering by means of Diploma thesis. At the beginning of the 1.year of the Eng. study the students have to choose the topic of the Diploma thesis.

Examples of the topics of the Diploma thesis Evaluation of the fertilizer spreaders. Evaluation of the accuracy of the field guidance systems. Environmental aspects of the using of the straw for the energy purposes. Effect of the water moisture content on the biomass pellets durability. Economical effectiveness of the using of biogas as a energy source.

Testing of fertilizer spreader Measuring of CO2 emmisions from the soil

Taking of soil samples Taking of grain samples

Measuring of soil penetrometric resistance GIS data processing

The topics of the Diploma The topics of the Diploma. thesis are prepared with regard to the research projects at the departments. The student usually select such topic of the diploma thesis that is near to the topic of his Bc. thesis to continue in their previous work. Work on diploma thesis is more research oriented and in general it is requested to provide some experiment.

Projects where students are involved: Research of the effects of soil tillage technologies and machines with regards to the CO2 emmisions to atmosphere. Project MicroCHEAP, with the aim to study the integration of microunits for combined heat and electricity production with the renewable energy systems; Project BICEPS, focused on Biogas Integrated Concept – A European Program for Sustainability. Effect of the alternative biofuels on the engine parameters and environment.

In order to support the students during their research work the Diploma Thesis Seminars are organized. Syllabus of the Diploma Thesis Seminar: general prerequisites for working on a thesis, main criteria for thesis evaluation, most frequent problems, citations, research of sources, ethics, plagiarism, individual consultations for detailed objective settings, thesis structure and methodology for a particular student's thesis,

The Diploma thesis is considered as a tool allowing to verify encompassment of the basics of the theory, professional terminology and application of the basic standard scientific methods. The quality of the Diploma thesis reflects the level of the knowledge and skills, which has student acquired during study. By submitting of the Diploma thesis student proves the ability to work individually and solve the given task from contentual and formal point of view.

Graduates of the 2nd cycle usually do not have access to research position and some of them they continue to study in 3rd cycle (10-12 students, 5-7 %). In Slovakia there no research institute oriented to the field of Biosystems/Agricultural Engineering. Only institution dealing with Biosystems or Agricultural Engineering issues is Faculty of Engineering of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra.

Students can present results of their scientific work on the International student scientific conferences which are organized by the Faculty of Engineering each year.

Presentation of the own research results Awarding of the best papers

Sections of the International student scientific conference: machinery and mechanization of agricultural and food production, agrophysics, electronics and automation, mobile and communal machinery, heat engineering and hydraulics, machines for renewable energy sources, agricultural buildings and their technical equipment, quality and reliability of machinery.

Number of students participated on the International student scientific conference at the Faculty of Engineering Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 Sections 4 3 7 Participants domestic 32 20 23 45 Participants foreign 14 12 10 6 Papers total 46 33 51

International student scientific conferences have international character as there are each year the participants from: Faculty of Engineering - Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Czech Republic, Faculty of Agronomy - Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Czech Republic, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering - Szent Istvan University, Gödöllő, Hungary, Faculty of Agricultural Science - University of Life Sciences in Warsaw, Poland, Department of Farm Machinery Management, Ergonomics and Bases of Agriculture - Agricultural University, Krakow, Poland.

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