Global Environment and Development

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Global Environment and Development
Course sheet
A.Y. 2024/2025
Master programme
interateneo Uniwersytet Warszawski (Poland), University of Copenhagen (UCPH)
LM-69 - Agriculture
Master programme
120
ECTS
Access
Limited enrolment with admission test
2
Years
Course location
Copenaghen, Milan, Warsaw
Language
English
International title
Joint Degree
Global Environment and Development (MERGED) is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (https://merged.info/).
The course aims to create globally competitive graduates that can identify critical aspects of sustainable natural resource management for economic, environmental, institutional, and societal development in both the global south and the global north and develop sustainable, appropriate, and feasible solutions. The programme will educate high-quality digitally-competent graduates to become professionals in private and public companies, I/NGOs, government bodies, and research institutions. Through interdisciplinary and disciplinary, multicultural real-life experiences and laboratory experiments, students will learn to identify, analyse, understand, and forecast complex systems. MERGES provides two curricula: in Agricultural Development (at the university of Milano) or in Sustainable Environmental Development (at the university of Warsaw).
The MERGED graduate with a specialization in Agricultural Development is an innovative professional figure, equipped with a solid technical-scientific culture, a broad multidisciplinary vision of the environmental and agricultural system and a high operational preparation to manage economic and productive activities related to agriculture and natural resources in a global framework and long-term sustainability. The figure can operate in international contexts, both in the North and in the South of the world.
The MERGED professional figure in Sustainable Environmental Development is equipped with the ability to interpret the principles and processes that inform sustainable development on a global level from an economic, sociological, and legal point of view.
During the first year at the University of Copenhagen the student acquires skills also through practical and interdisciplinary courses, which include training visits in other continents. During the second year at the university of Milano the subjects offered are dealing with interdisciplinary disciplines of natural, environmental, and territorial resource management; disciplines of animal production; engineering disciplines and biosystem design; disciplines of the sustainability of crop production. The student refines his/her knowledge in the field of sustainability for agricultural systems, in particular by acquiring: a) knowledge with a strong applicative nature, based on case studies in real scenarios, on a global scale; b) skills with a technical and quantitative slant, based on scientific knowledge and acquisitions and on the applications of technological innovations. During the second year at the university of Warsaw, the students acquire a socio-economic and legal perspective on environmental issues from a global perspective. The aim is to allow the student to master the tools to be used in the analysis of the sustainability of the global environmental development.
As a consequence of the knowledge and skills acquired, the graduates in Global Environment and development:
- have a solid technical and cultural preparation, a multidisciplinary and global vision, and a good command of the scientific methods of the sciences of environmental and agricultural sustainability
- have in-depth knowledge of the qualitative criteria and quantitative methods necessary to plan, evaluate, and manage agricultural production systems and processes in a sustainable way, integrating the technical, economic, regulatory and environmental aspects, in a global context
- know how to formulate and apply quantitative assessments using conceptual models and IT tools, to animal and plant production and to choose the most suitable and sustainable technologies
- know how to manage the global climate change challenges to the management of water resources
- know how to manage the technical and economic quality of products and processed products in the plant and animal production chains, to be able to operate in support of regulatory policies with governmental and non-governmental bodies, and private companies.
Expert, manager and consultant of policies and rural and environmental development in private companies, public administration and public bodies with international interests, and international organizations (governmental and non-governmental) in the agro-food sector.
In the private sector, the graduate can take on the organization, evaluation and management of the interaction between agri-environmental activities and systems.
In the public sector, the graduate supports administrations on environmental and territorial policies, especially on issues related to sustainable husbandry and agricultural engineering. The international bodies are a preferred career opportunity provider.
MERGED graduates can disseminate, within institutions, the principles of environmental sustainability, promote a culture oriented towards safety and the protection of the agricultural environment, also through the awareness of public opinion.

Skills associated with the function
Those who complete the MERGED study path are able to carry out analyses, evaluations and monitoring of natural, territorial and environmental resources, carrying out environmental impact studies with tools deriving from social sciences, economics, law, agricultural business management and environmental planning. These tools are made available through the first-year interdisciplinary courses. The skills allow to operate in interdisciplinary and diversified contexts (such as those outlined by the European Green Deal and similar policies) and/or continue the studies with further masters and courses. Those who complete MERGED can contribute to: implementing and certifying environmental management systems in rural areas; carry out interventions on the production of goods and services to improve environmental quality; plan and implement interventions for the prevention of environmental risks, increasing safety, especially in agriculture.
The professional trained by MERGED has a holistic vision and can synthesize complex ideas and concepts deriving from the analysis of the agricultural reality at a global level.
Employment opportunities
The skills acquired allow to work in companies and organizations that operate - even globally - in the green economy and bioeconomy; in professional studies dealing with territorial analyses, agricultural environmental impact assessment, resource management in rural environments. Those who complete the MERGED study cycle find employment in the public administration and in local public bodies; in supranational organizations; in universities or research institutes (in Italy, such as CNR, ENEA, CREA, State Technical Services, National and Regional Agencies and Bodies for the Environment and the Territory, Parks and Protected Areas, Watershed Authority, Technical Services and Regional, Provincial and Municipal Departments, Land Reclamation and Irrigation Consortia, Mountain Communities and Mountain Watershed Consortia). Furthermore, they can work at NGOs globally, where they are able to understand and design the development of agricultural systems even under conditions of climate change.
The master's degrees of the LM-69 class allow to obtain the qualification for the profession of doctor of agronomy which can be accessed after a qualifying exam.
MERGED is a master based on international mobility, as it requires the student to complete the first year at the university of Copenhagen and the second year either at the university of Milano or at the university of Warsaw. The thesis work can be completed at a foreign university.
Competitive fellowships are available from ERASMUS MUNDUS program.
The participation costs for EU (Erasmus+ Programme Country) students for the two-year MERGED programme are set at euro 0/year.
For the two-year edition 2023-2024/2024-2025, the participation costs for Non-EU (Erasmus+ Partner Country) students are set at euro 9,000/year.
Students selected for an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship will automatically be granted a tuition waiver. Student with scholarship will be granted: Full coverage of participation costs, consisting of tuition fee, tutoring fee, and insurance. The fellowship includes the following costs: enrolment; registration; access to mandatory and elective modules; the optional language courses to be taken locally and all other participation costs for curriculum activities (excursions, fieldwork, etc.).
Lesson attendance is strongly suggested.
Enrolment
Requirements and knowledge required for access
Admission to MERGED requires possession of a three-year degree, or other educational qualification recognized as equivalent, after verification by the MERGED Commission of the curricular requirements, based on the documentation produced by the candidate.
English is the official language of MERGED. Level C1 is required by UCPH where the student enrolls. English knowledge should be documented as follows:
- holding a full degree (minimum 2 years of fulltime studies) in English (i.e. a secondary school diploma, Bachelor's degree or Master's degree from USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK or Ireland) exempts the candidate from the language requirement
- if not exempted, the candidate should provide an English language test:
IELTS Academic (6.5 overall test score). Only the overall score will be considered
TOEFL iBT (83), TOEFL iBT paper edition or TOEFL iBT Home Edition
Cambridge Advanced English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) passed at level C1 or C2.

MERGED is an international course that can be accessed by students who have completed three-year degree courses from different university systems. The range of disciplines is wide because the nature of the CdL is strongly interdisciplinary, and its teaching capacity depends on the presence of students with various backgrounds. Furthermore, students can undertake two paths with distinct characteristics, and which benefit from different starting skills.
For students coming from foreign universities, the following disciplinary areas are considered eligible: Agriculture, Agronomy, Agrobiology, Agricultural Economics, Forestry, Animal Science, Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Food and Nutrition, Food Science, Geography, Geology, Geoinformatics, Landscape Architecture, Natural Resources, Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology, Development Studies, Rural Development, Economics, Interdisciplinary Economic-managerial studies, Environmental Science, Natural Science.
For graduates from Italian universities, the following degree classes are considered eligible: L-2 (Biotechnology), L-13 (Biological Sciences), L-18 (Economics and Business Management), L- 21 (Sciences of territorial, urban, landscape and environmental planning), L-25 (Agricultural and forestry sciences and technologies), L-26 (Agri-food sciences and technologies), L-32 (Sciences and technologies for the environment and nature), L-36 (Political sciences and international relations), L-37 (Social sciences for cooperation, development and peace), L-38 (Zootechnical sciences and animal production technologies). Students from different Italian degrees can access if they have acquired at least 60 credits in the following disciplinary scientific sector, grouped by affinity:
Disciplines of engineering applied to agriculture and the environment (at least 14 credits)
AGR/08 Idraulica agraria
AGR/09 Meccanica agraria
AGR/10 Costruzioni rurali
ING-IND/11 Fisica tecnica ambientale
ING-IND/06 Fluidodinamica
Disciplines of agricultural production (at least 14 credits)
AGR/02 Agronomia e coltivazioni erbacee
AGR/03 Arboricoltura generale e coltivazioni arboree
AGR/04 Orticoltura e floricoltura
AGR/05 Assestamento forestale e selvicoltura
AGR/12 Patologia vegetale
AGR/19 Zootecnica speciale
AGR/20 Zoocolture
Disciplines of fertility, conservation and soil study (at least 10 ECTS)
AGR/13 Chimica agraria
AGR/14 Pedologia
BIO/04 Fisiologia vegetale
GEO/05 Geologia applicata
Economics-management and data analysis disciplines (at least 10 credits)
AGR/01 Economia ed estimo rurale
SECS-S/01 Statistica
SECS-S/02 Statistica per la ricerca sperimentale
SECS-S/03 Statistica economica
SECS-S/05 Statistica sociale
SPS/10 Sociologia dell'ambiente e del territorio
Biological, chemical and physical disciplines (at least 6 ECTS)
BIO/01 Biologia molecolare
BIO/07 Ecologia
BIO/08 Antropologia
BIO/13 Biologia applicata
FIS/07 Fisica applicata
CHIM/12 Chimica dell'ambiente e dei beni culturali
Disciplines of genetic improvement (at least 6 credits)
AGR/07 Genetica agraria
AGR/17 Zootecnica generale e miglioramento genetico

English is the official language of MERGED and prior to enrolment, knowledge of the English language equal to level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference or equivalent is required. Those in possession of a qualification obtained abroad, recognized as suitable, can also access, provided they demonstrate that they possess the necessary skills to profitably follow their studies. The verification of personal preparation will take place at the same time as the selection by an international panel of the Course, the Commission, which is responsible for this evaluation.
The requirements specifically requested by UW are listed in the MERGED website and in the UW website (https://merged.info/index.php/application-procedure/).
The course has limited access and the number of places available for enrollment in the first year for each cohort is 40. Access to the course is regulated by the evaluation - by an international panel of the course (Commission) - of documentation including the academic curriculum. A motivation letter and references will contribute to better calibrate the didactic compatibility of the student with MERGED.

Applications for admission are managed by the University of Copenhagen

Programme description and courses list
year
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Entrepreneurship and Innovation 7 88 English AGR/01
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Global Challenges in Environment and Development 8 96 English AGR/02 AGR/03 AGR/04
Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in Environment and Development 7 88 English AGR/01
Optional
Advanced Crop Production 8 96 English AGR/02
Agroforestry 8 96 English AGR/03
Applied Insect Ecology and Biological Control 7 88 English AGR/12
Applied Statistics 7 88 English AGR/02
Climate Change and Land Use 7 88 English AGR/02
Climate Management in Plant Production and Research 8 96 English AGR/02
Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility 8 96 English AGR/13
Tropical Crop Production 7 88 English AGR/02
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Practicing Interdisciplinarity: Field Research On the Environment 15 176 English AGR/02 AGR/03 AGR/04
Optional
Agricultural Value Chains in Developing Countries 7 88 English AGR/01
Environmental Impact Assessment 8 96 English AGR/02
Global Environmental Governance 7 88 English AGR/01
Land Use and Environmental Modelling 7 88 English AGR/02
Plant Ecophysiology in a Changing Climate 7 88 English AGR/13
Plant Genome Editing and Selection 7 88 English AGR/07
Tropical Forest Restoration 7 88 English AGR/02
Study plan rules
- I year - elective teachings at University of Copenaghen (UCPH) for the mobility track AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT - University of Milan (UMIL): choose 30 ECTS
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Entrepreneurship and Innovation 7 88 English year AGR/01
Advanced Crop Production 8 96 English First semester AGR/02
Agroforestry 8 96 English First semester AGR/03
Applied Insect Ecology and Biological Control 7 88 English First semester AGR/12
Applied Statistics 7 88 English First semester AGR/02
Climate Change and Land Use 7 88 English First semester AGR/02
Climate Management in Plant Production and Research 8 96 English First semester AGR/02
Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility 8 96 English First semester AGR/13
Tropical Crop Production 7 88 English First semester AGR/02
Agricultural Value Chains in Developing Countries 7 88 English Second semester AGR/01
Environmental Impact Assessment 8 96 English Second semester AGR/02
Global Environmental Governance 7 88 English Second semester AGR/01
Land Use and Environmental Modelling 7 88 English Second semester AGR/02
Plant Ecophysiology in a Changing Climate 7 88 English Second semester AGR/13
Plant Genome Editing and Selection 7 88 English Second semester AGR/07
Tropical Forest Restoration 7 88 English Second semester AGR/02
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Laboratory in Sustainability of Agricultural Mechanization 6 68 English AGR/09
Laboratory in Sustainability of Livestock Systems 7 64 English AGR/19
Laboratory in Sustainability of Water Management 6 60 English AGR/08
Optional
Agricultural Systems and Soil Science 6 48 English AGR/02
Bioeconomy: Management, Assessment and Intellectual Property 6 56 English AGR/01
Natural Resource Economics 6 48 English AGR/01
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Environmental Plant Biotechnology 6 56 English AGR/13
International Cooperation and Crop-Livestock Systems 6 56 English AGR/18
Land Planning and Life Cycle Assessment 6 52 English AGR/10
Plants as Biofactories 6 56 English AGR/07
Statistical Methods for the Environmental Research 6 64 English AGR/02
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Practical/experimental Internship 17 0 Italian
Optional
Additional Internship 3 0 English
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) 3 0 Italian
Merged Intra-Semester Workshop 3 24 English
Conclusive activities
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Final Exam 7 0 English
Study plan rules
- II year - elective teachings at University of Milan (UMIL) for the mobility track AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT: choose 6 ECTS
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Agricultural Systems and Soil Science 6 48 English First semester AGR/02
Bioeconomy: Management, Assessment and Intellectual Property 6 56 English First semester AGR/01
Natural Resource Economics 6 48 English First semester AGR/01
Environmental Plant Biotechnology 6 56 English Second semester AGR/13
International Cooperation and Crop-Livestock Systems 6 56 English Second semester AGR/18
Land Planning and Life Cycle Assessment 6 52 English Second semester AGR/10
Plants as Biofactories 6 56 English Second semester AGR/07
Statistical Methods for the Environmental Research 6 64 English Second semester AGR/02
- To obtain the degree, those who do not hold an Italian high school diploma or bachelor's degree must demonstrate proficiency in Italian at the A2 or higher level per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This level must be demonstrated prior to completing the course programme in one of the following ways:
- by submitting a certificate of A2 or higher level issued no more than three years prior to the date of submission. You will find the list of language certificates recognized by the University at: https://www.unimi.it/en/node/349/). The language certificate must be submitted to the University Language Centre (SLAM) via the Language Test category of the InformaStudenti service: https://informastudenti.unimi.it/saw/ess?AUTH=SAML;
- via a entry-level test administrated by SLAM that can only be taken only once.
Those who fail to reach A2 level will have to attend a 60-hour Italian course geared to their level.
Those who do not take the entry-level test or fail to pass the end-of-course test after six attempts will have to obtain language certification privately in order to earn the 3 credits of Additional language skills: Italian.
Italian students must acquire an additional 3 credits in activities dedicated to thesis work.
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Additional Internship 3 0 English Open sessions
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) 3 0 Italian Open sessions
- STUDENTS HAVE TO CHOOSE FREE-CHOICE COURSES FOR 8 ECTS.
A further 8 credits derive from free-choice courses, including 3 ECTS from the intra-semester workshop. The workshop is a strongly suggested, EU funded, interdisciplinary activity for all students, i.e. students from the university of Milano and from the university of Warsaw. The teaching tutors support students in selecting the elective courses.
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Merged Intra-Semester Workshop 3 24 English Open sessions
Learn more
Location
Copenaghen, Milan, Warsaw
Head of study programme
Academic guidance tutor
Erasmus and international mobility tutor 
Study plan tutor
Internship tutor
Seminar and workshop tutor
Dissertation tutor
University and programme transfer tutor
Master's degree admission tutor
Credit recognition tutor
Quality Assurance Delegate
Contacts