1. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN THE FIRST TWO CYCLES OF EUROPEAN BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY STUDIES 4 th ERABEE Workshop 16-17 November 2009, Valetta, Malta RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN THE FIRST TWO CYCLES OF BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING STUDIES IN THE LITHUANIAN UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE Kestutis Navickas Lithuanian University of Agriculture

2. News on the Bologna process How is the new structure implemented in Lithuania Higher education is divided into undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral studies. Universities award Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctor’s degrees. Undergraduate studies (160 credits = 240 ECTS credits) lead to a Bachelor’s (Bakalauras) degree. Master's (Magistras) degree is awarded for an individual who has received a Bachelor’s degree and conducted the 60 to 80 (90 to 120 ETCS) credits study programme in one and a half or two years, acquiring a special training and skill for research The Doctor of Science (Mokslu daktaras) degree (D.Sc), which equates with a Ph.D., takes a further three or four years to acquire and is only awarded to those whose research provides a significant and original contribution in the selected field

3. College Bachelor + 1-1,5 Lithuanian Higher Education System

4. some important changes or readjustments made during the implementation process As implementation of Bologna system is still in progress, the following changes have taken place: The three level system of higher education was introduced An advanced system of credits for measuring the amount of study and promoting student exchange was introduced A ten-point grading scale assessment system was introduced An external assessment system for the quality of studies was introduced The content of education has been updated - the system has become more flexible, students are offered more choice, more time is provided for the students’ individual work Universities and colleges are using ECTS credits in student exchange

5. The organization of the three cycles and in particular regarding the Biosystems/Agricultural Engineering 1 Lithuanian University of Agriculture provides three cycles of studies in Agricultural Engineering. After the first cycle graduates receive Bachelor qualification in the Mechanical or Energy Engineering. First cycle of study lasts for four years, a total of eight semesters. Since 2005 Agricultural Engineering curriculum have been modified in order to meet the requirements of the National Regulation of Engineering Studies. This document contains basic requirements fore core curricula of the Engineering studies and recommendations for the content of different modules of the curricula. Duration of the second cycle is two years, on completion of which graduates are awarded of Master degree. During three semesters students have mandatory courses for theoretical sciences, compulsory and optional courses in applied sciences and mandatory Research work. Under the Faculty regulation 10 % of the academic workload - 8 national credits (or 12 ECTS) given for the courses of theoretical sciences. Compulsory courses of applied sciences for selected specialisation contain 25 % of all academic workload 20 national credits (or 30 ECTS). For optional courses of applied sciences students use 25 % of academic workload. Research work and final thesis - 32 national credits (or 48 ECTS) – 40%

6. Master studies are accomplished by preparing and defending Final thesis. According to the Faculty Regulation thesis are assessed by reviewers and analyzed in departments. After the Department allows public defence of the work it is submitted to the opponent, who evaluates and recommends it for a public defence. Public defence of Final Theses is performed in Assessment Commission, which composition is confirmed annually by Agricultural Engineering Faculty Board and LUA Rector. The Law of Higher Education enacted in 2000 defines Master studies “designed to independent work in the sphere of science and arts or work that requires more solid scientific knowledge and skills” (Law of higher education 2000). The organization of the three cycles and in particular regarding the Biosystems/Agricultural Engineering 2

7. Research related activities in the 1 st Cycle The research activity for first cycle students is not mandatory. However it is recommended that students may prepare part of their Bachelor theses or course work based on the results of their research studies. Teachers or researchers are inviting students for work on university or national level research projects. It might be a good opportunity for students to find interesting research subject for further studies on the second or third cycle. On other hand it is conventional way to invite 3 rd or 4 th year students to research group and select motivated candidates for Master and Doctoral studies. It is common on the 3 rd year studies, because under the rules 3rd year students are invited to select their field of interest for final thesis. It might be noticed that students starting their research activity from the first cycle of studies are more successful, because they have an opportunity to develop their skills in methodology of research, instrumentation, examination and analysis of research results. Departments of the faculty of Agricultural Engineering always are open for students’ interest to research activities. Teachers are inviting students for research during lectures or laboratory works. Sometimes there are some limitations related with financing capabilities and unattractively of short term projects.

8. Students participating in research related activities There are two opportunities to start research activities for the 1 st cycle students: as part time auxiliary staff of department voluntary participant of the project. The first option is more attractive for the student and the department but is limited by the finances of the department or students’ study schedule. Second option is common for the students interested to perform their first own research tests and search process or technology. There is no reliable data about number of students of first cycle participating in research projects. Our department is inviting each year 2-3 students of 1 st cycle for research projects as part time staff. As usual they continue Master studies at our department. 1-2 students are volunteers.

9. Access to research positions (private or public) for 1 st cycle graduates in Lithuania There are no limits to access research position for 1 st cycle graduates in Lithuania. Commonly after Bachelor studies graduates may pretend to junior research position. The chance depends on the situation in the labour market. The higher chances appear in the period of development of economy and lower in the regress period. Prosperous economy requires more university graduates both first and second cycles. Private sector or public administration offer better conditions than research institutions. In such period universities have trouble to invite motivated graduates to research laboratories. Much higher competition for research positions we have in a decline period. Research institutions or universities are looking for more experienced employee – graduates of Master level. Masters have more chances to access a research positions because they have more experience in methodology, instrumentation and analysis.

10. Research related activities in the 2 nd Cycle (1) Research activities are compulsory for the 2 nd cycle of studies. Students have mandatory Research work for each semester – total 12 national credits or 15 % of all academic workload. Forth semester (all 20 national credits) of Master studies is given for Final thesis. Supervisor of the Master student is responsible for the content and quality of the Research work and Final thesis The faculty of Agricultural Engineering declare that present Master studies in Biosystem/Agricultural Engineering are oriented for scientific work. There are two kinds of this model: applied research-oriented and fundamental research-oriented. In practice big number of Master students are employed and they are willing that studies have to be practice-oriented.

11. Research related activities in the 2 nd Cycle (2) Scientific Research Work is one of the most important study subjects. Students perform Scientific Research work during all period of studies: they select area of Scientific Research work in the beginning of the first year and prepare work plan for four semesters. students get evaluation for their research work after the public presentation on the scientific seminar of Master students of the Department in the end of each semester The course Scientific Research Methodology is taught in the 1 st semester for a better execution of Research work, creation of research programme and methodology. Students together with their tutor and technical staff of the Department perform research work during overall study period. Students are able present results of scientific work in the annual University conference of young scientists It is mandatory for Master student to publish at least one scientific or science popularising article on subject of the research

12. Research related activities in the 2 nd Cycle (3) By entering Master studies students attempt to anchor in labour market that demands high qualifications. Also Master students and graduates are willing to continue studies and deepen their knowledge. They choose Master studies as a preparatory stage for Doctorate studies Number of graduates of the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering with graduates from other technical universities competing for the grants of Doctorate studies. The score of scientific review and written scientific papers during or after Master studies give additional point for the candidate. It is significant motivation for Master students who are potential candidates for PhD studies

13. Rare knowledge Rare disappearing in Agriculture/Engineering in Lithuania: Old machinery and techniques Wind, Hydro and Biomass, Horse Energy and Power Farm buildings and infrastructure There is no research groups working on rare knowledge in the field of Biosystems/Agricultural Engineering in Lithuania Faculty offers mandatory course “History of Techniques” for the Bachelor students Rare academic methods skills to prepare sketch of the scheme or drawing in a simple form (by hand) skills to create an algorithm for simple calculations, because there is a computer programme doing it weaken writing skills

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