1. Research activities in the first two cycles of European Biosystems Engineering university studies in Sweden ________________________________ Professor Christer Nilsson Department of Rural Buildings POBox 86, SE-230 53 Alnarp Tel.:+46 40 41 54 71; Christer.Nilsson@ltj.slu.se

2. The Bologna process Legislation and Regulations The legal regulations of university studies are included in the national Higher Education Act (HEA) and the national Higher Education Ordinance (HEO) supplemented by Guidelines on education issued by the faculties of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). The “Bologna model” (3+2(1)+4 years) was implemented 1. July 2007 Levels: Bachelor level – Master level – Doctorate level + Vocational programmes (veterinary, agronomist, landscape architect etc) The HEC (ECTS) credit system was implemented at all cycles The HEC (ECTS) grade system (4 grades at SLU) was implemented in undergraduate and graduate education 1. July 2008.

3. The grading model should reflect the degree of attainment of stated learning outcomes and objectives (criteria-based assessment and grading) and not being relative. Grades are translated with a set model where the grades of the grading scale correspond to the following intervals in the ECTS scale: 5: Pass with Distinction = A and B 4: Pass with Credit = C 3: Pass = D and E U: Fail = F and Fx Grades

4. Courses: Level – Depth All courses (at 1 st and 2 nd level) are classified regarding level and depth. LevelDepth 3. Doctoraten.a. 2. MasterE (31 – 60 HEC)=>A2E, A1F D (0 – 30 HEC)=>A1E, A1F, A1N X=>AXX 1. BachelorC (61- 90 HEC)=>G2E, G2F AB (0 – 60 HEC)=>G1E, G1F, G1N X=>GXX Re-classification (new labels) in progress.

5. No Agricultural or Biosystems Engineering programme at SLU Biosystems Technology programme, 2003 and 2004 MSc specialisation in Technology Two related programmes running today with good recruitment: –Energy Systems –Environment and Water Technology NORBE-collaboration (Nordic School of Biosystems Engineering) Biosystems engineering

6. NORBE NORBE today (www.nova-university.org):www.nova-university.org MSc-programmes: Farm Buildings (SLU, Dept of Rural Buildings) Machinery for Biosystems (Helsinki University, Dept of Agrotechnology) Agricultural and Bioenergy Systems (SLU, Dept of Energy and Technology) Aquacultural Engineering (Norwegian University of Life Sciences) Environmental Engineering (jointly at SLU and Norwegian University of Life Sciences) Biosystems Engineering (University of Aarhus)

7. Research related to activities in the 1 st cycle Students of the first cycle can collaborate or have access to research projects mainly during their thesis work. Not as part time staff or in coursework projects. Less than 10% take part in Department research projects. The rest carry out thesis work in a company or self chosen projects 1 st cycle graduates very seldom go to research positions – a few work as e.g. experiment assistants Research elements are gradually introduced in 1 st cycle teaching: -”teaching should be based on research” - ”research method courses should be included”

8. Research related to activities in the 2 nd cycle Research activities are not compulsory for the students. 2 nd cycle shall finish with a thesis, preferably including a research task. Most thesis works are research oriented, to a minor degree they are market oriented. Some thesis works are extended when the students are part time empoyed. Research activities are mainly funded by external funds - reseach councils, private companies etc. To a minor extent students are taking part (employed) in university research. A 2 nd cycle graduate (Biosystems Engineering) often gets involved in reseach, either in a private company or at university. The number of PhDs in private companies is very low. In the 3 rd cycle 63 – 75 % of the studies is research (courses work shall amount to 60-90 ECTS of 240 ECTS)

9. Rare knowledge Topics of European interest: - Emerging energy sources and improved energy systems - Agrarian/Rural history -Traditional building technology - Horsemanship Topics of local/national interest: - Traditional building materials - Generalism – broad knowledge in agricultural engineering Research groups in Rare knowledge - Rural history - Garden conservation - Rural development

10. Rare knowledge – possible actions Suggestions for European actions: -Vernacular heritage, the need to ensure vernacular patrimony surviving in modern legislation relating to needs of farmers involved and of development trends of the land - Renovation and preservation of old buildings, understanding of traditional building materials and methods -Recycling of materials and constructions – buildings as well as machinery

11. Thank you for your attention! Questions??