Duration
63h AUTR
Number of credits
| Master in agricultural bioengineering, professional focus | 7 crédits |
Lecturer
Mohamed Ayadi, Jérôme Bindelle, Fanny Boeraeve, Thomas Dogot, Patrick du Jardin, Benjamin Dumont , Frédéric Francis, Haissam Jijakli, Kevin Maréchal, Sébastien Massart
Substitute(s)
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The group project of the Master 2 in Agricultural Sciences is now referred to as an Expert Mission. Its objective is to respond to expertise needs from stakeholders involved in the broader "food system" and external to the faculty.
The stakeholders correspond to organizations active in the "food system," from inputs to processing, and include private companies, NGOs, public bodies, cooperatives, pilot centers, and advisory structures.
The project content (7 credits = 210h per student) may concern different approaches (non-exhaustive list):
- Analysis and proposal of solutions (and resolution?) for existing problems
- Methodological developments for data acquisition and/or analysis
- Analysis and interpretation of pre-existing data (and proposal of actions)
- Optimization of one or more steps in operational processes
- Future prospects for the organization (market analysis, new products or services, relevance of research directions...)
Evaluation will be carried out under the same modalities for all groups (submission of a report-methodological or results-oriented depending on the case-and presentation of results).
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
1. Technical and Methodological Skills
Analysis and resolution of complex problems: Identify, analyze, and solve specific problems linked to the host organization using rigorous scientific and methodological approaches.
Work methodologies and project management: Apply appropriate tools and methods to manage a project within an organization.
Data collection and processing: Carry out research and analyses based on existing or newly generated data. Be able to extract trends, correlations, and operational or strategic insights for the host organization.
Production of deliverables: Draft reports, studies, or other written outputs that meet professional expectations within fixed deadlines.
2. Interpersonal and Collaborative Skills
Teamwork: Collaborate effectively with peers in a group environment. Plan and organize task distribution, and monitor project steps while respecting deadlines and contributions.
Interpersonal communication: Adapt oral and written communication to the needs of different interlocutors (students, professional contacts, supervisory team).
Collective decision-making: Participate in shared decision-making processes that respond to professional requests.
3. Immersion in the Professional Environment
Understanding organizational dynamics: Understand the internal functioning of the organization (structure, culture, communication).
Professional immersion: Integrate codes of conduct, professional standards, and best practices specific to the organization.
Professional networking: Build relationships with professionals that may be valuable in the long term.
Societal responsibility: Integrate ethical and sustainable considerations in analysis, actions, and proposals.
4. Personal Development
Self-confidence: Gain confidence by taking on challenges in a real-world context.
Critical thinking: Develop critical reflection on one's own performance and that of the group while using feedback from supervisors and professional contacts.
Autonomy and initiative: Work proactively and independently outside the academic framework.
Adaptability: Adjust to constraints and the specific functioning of the host organization.
Global vision: Broaden academic perspectives by confronting theories with real-world practices.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Bachelor and master in agricultural bioengineering, 1st year, cursus
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Three key moments are scheduled:
- Kick-off meeting at the beginning of October
- Mid-term meeting in mid-November
- Oral presentation of results at the end of the mission
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Blended learning
Further information:
Collegial work framed by the scientific people in charge of promoting the projetc.
Problem-solving context
Course materials and recommended or required readings
People in charge of promoting the project may indicate reference books
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Further information:
The examination is based on a written report and an oral presentation in a group followed by a question and answer session.
The evaluation is organized only one time a year in January. The obtained note is valid forthe two examination sessions.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Students obligations
1. Commitment and professionalism: Students must respect agreed rules (schedules, behavior, confidentiality) and adopt a professional posture.
2. Autonomy and initiative: Although the organization provides resources, students are expected to work autonomously and proactively on the project. They must take initiatives to meet with external partners and/or the supervisor outside the predefined schedule.
3. Adaptability: Students must be ready to adjust their analyses or recommendations according to the specific constraints of the organization (budget, deadlines, operational realities). Initial project objectives may be adjusted (in agreement with partners and the supervisor) during the project (mid-term meeting).
4. Use of appropriate project monitoring tools:
Mobilization of project management tools (role distribution, Gantt chart, objectives).
Documentation of project progress (meeting minutes, intermediate and final deliverables, action plan, timesheet).
Contacts
Coordinator: Sebastien Massart
sebastien.massart@uliege.be