Valorization and sustainable development of mountain areas

Paese di montagna
Valorization and sustainable development of mountain areas
Scheda del corso
A.A. 2024/2025
Laurea magistrale
LM-73 - SCIENZE E TECNOLOGIE FORESTALI E AMBIENTALI
Laurea magistrale
120
Crediti
Accesso
Libero con valutazione dei requisiti di accesso
2
Anni
Sede
Edolo (BS)
Lingua
Inglese
The Master's Degree Course in VALORIZATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF MOUNTAIN AREAS, taught in English, aims to form professionals who are capable of promoting the enhancement, development and sustainable management of mountain territories, by applying innovative approaches and a systemic vision. Multidisciplinary training will integrate environmental and agro-forestry knowledge with proficiency in the economic, legal, historical-geographical and communication skills necessary to clearly delineate the specifics of mountain territories. This will foster the ability to highlight and transmit unique and valuable elements of the mountain context. The graduate will be able to promote the creation of products and/or services of economic and social value beginning from the specific environmental, natural and agro-forestry resources of the mountains, following the principles of sustainability and in relation to local and global processes operating at the level of environmental (e.g., climate change) and socio-economic factors (depopulation, competitiveness and new models of development, etc.) and related national, European and international intervention policies.
The master's degree program will allow graduates to acquire concrete knowledge, skills and abilities specific to the environmental characteristics of mountain agro-forest ecosystems, specific technologies and methods for monitoring and sustainable management of the mountain environment and its resources, and to optimize the services rendered (ecosystem services, tourism, etc.) and the products that can be obtained. Indeed, the training aims to promote the sustainable enhancement of the specific resources of mountain territories in strategic sectors for the economy such as tourism (e.g., planning and promotion of greenways and paths, dissemination/environmental education), energy from renewable sources, as well as (with regard to "bio-resources" and mountain agrobiodiversity) traditional local short supply chains (e.g. agritourism companies, catering, crafts, etc.) but also in typical industrial supply chains in various sectors such as agri-food, medicinal/health, nutraceutical, cosmetic, manufacturing (e.g. textile) biotechnology, or in the context of the bioeconomy and the circular economy. The specific knowledge, skills and competence of a historical-geographical, juridical-legislative and economic nature will allow the graduate to contribute to the development of business, marketing (product, service and territorial strategies) appropriate to the mountain context, both for the start-up of new businesses and for the planning and management of interventions in the context of programs and strategies for the development of these areas. Furthermore, the expert professional of the mountain territory knows how to use effective communication techniques and methodologies (transversal skills applicable across a range of sectors) including the most innovative digital technologies (web, social, etc.). This is essential to effective interaction with service and innovation centres, between the mountain and urban, local and "global" scales, for continuous training, networking, technical-scientific dissemination and outreach, as well as the marketing of the territory and its products and services. The master's degree in VALORIZATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF MOUNTAIN AREAS is characterized by unique elements with regard to training for the management and sustainable development of mountain territories, including international orientation (the inclusion of these territories in an international framework of dialogue is essential to their development) and multidisciplinarity. Another unique aspect is the logistical location of the course, which takes place entirely at the UNIMONT pole of the University of Milan, which has been active for 25 years at Edolo (a mountain municipality in the central Alps) exclusively dedicated to the development of mountain areas through teaching, research and third mission activities. The location of the centre favours teaching within the mountain environment and gives students the opportunity to experience, on a day-to-day basis, the characteristics of the territory that, as professionals, they will influence. However, from a methodological and operational point of view students are guaranteed an experience that is anything but "local", as UNIMONT is part of an "ecosystem" that includes the main sector stakeholders at regional, national and international levels, effectively connecting the local dimension with the supra-local, facilitating the processes of innovation, capacity building and empowerment of human capital essential for the enhancement of these territories. Therefore, the master's course is specific for mountain areas, includes multidisciplinary and the connection between the local and the "global" dimension.
The graduate in VALORIZATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF MOUNTAIN AREAS is a specialist in the enhancement and sustainable development of mountain areas who operates using innovative and specific scientific and technological methods and approaches with particular reference to the analysis, monitoring, conservation, management and enhancement of natural and agro-forestry resources (e.g. analysis and monitoring of mountain ecosystems, planning of forestry and silvicultural restoration and conservation actions, protection and production functions including ecosystem services; collaboration in defining natural resource management plans, enhancing agrobiodiversity, etc.). The graduate will be able to collaborate in the design, implementation and promotion of unique products and/or services of economic and/or social value deriving from the environmental and agroforestry resources of the mountain territory (e.g. planning and coordinating interdisciplinary interventions for the tourist/recreational and educational use of the territory; enhance and promote the use of energy from renewable sources, with specific reference to local sources and the forest-wood-energy supply chain; collaborate in defining processes for enhancing traditional and innovative local products, etc.). The graduate can use their training for the identification of business strategies and resource enhancement in relation to specific governance and development policies and regulations, participation in the management of projects for the enhancement and development of the mountain territory in the context of local, regional and national programs, and European and international cooperation. The graduate can apply digital technologies and communication methods to networking, strategic marketing and scientific dissemination of environmental resources and products and services of mountain areas.
Additionally, graduates will have the ability to understand and interpret the specific legal, administrative and socio-economic cultural framework of these territories, to understand dynamic phenomena related to change (climatic and demographic), within the context of the planning of interventions allowing ecological and digital transitions for the definition of new models of sustainable development.

The graduate is able to:
- recognize the specific environmental, natural and agro-forestry resources of the mountains and the ecosystem services connected to them;
- evaluate the evolution and effects of climatic and anthropogenic factors on the natural and agro-forestry components of the environment, the main impacts and adaptation and/or mitigation strategies;
- recognize and safeguard biodiversity heritage using specific intervention programs, including didactic-educational actions, with particular reference to agro-biodiversity;
- apply scientific, technological and economic knowledge to collaborate in the promotion of processes for enhancing traditional and/or innovative products from raw materials (bio-resources, agrobiodiversity) from natural and mountain agro-forest ecosystems, interacting with specialists from different sectors in multidisciplinary working groups;
- identify calls for regional, national and European funding programs for the development of mountain areas and collaborate in the design and management of systemic enhancement and development interventions;
- use territorial information systems and the most innovative technological tools for territorial monitoring, management and planning, also for the purposes of tourism and energy enhancement;
- apply specific knowledge about the economic and cultural environment in which companies and public and private subjects operate, identifying appropriate strategies for enhancing resources, additionally to support decision-making processes in governance, in the planning of interventions for territorial development and enhancement products/services;
- apply specific knowledge regarding the juridical-legislative framework from which policies, strategies, programs and regulations relating to the sustainable development of mountain territories are derived, for the planning of sustainable development interventions and technical support for managing the complexity of these areas;
- work in interdisciplinary and international groups;
- apply economic and marketing knowledge to working processes for territorial development (territorial marketing);
- apply specific technical knowledge to collaborate with professionals from sectors specializing in promoting the use of energy from local renewable sources, combining methods of assessing economic sustainability with methods of quantifying environmental impacts;
- apply knowledge related to the use of digital technologies and communication tools for networking and effective interaction with service and innovation centres, strategic marketing and technical-scientific training and dissemination.
Professional opportunities include entrepreneurial activities, or as a freelance consultant or employee with coordination and responsibility roles in private or public, national or international companies in strategic sectors for the mountain economy, such as environmental, environmental tourism, agro-forestry, energy and project management for the development of mountain areas at:
- technical-professional firms and consultancy and design companies for the enhancement and development of the territory;
- forestry companies and consortia;
- local action groups - LAGs;
- territorial and tourism promotion consortia;
- farms;
- syndicates of agricultural producers;
- trade associations;
- parks and protected areas;
- Municipalities, consortia and unions of Municipalities, Mountain Communities, Provinces, Regions, Ministries;
- developmental agencies;
- foundations and NGOs;
- training and dissemination bodies and companies;
- research and development bodies;
Graduates can carry out freelance activities as a Doctor in Agronomy and Forestry, and after passing the state exam and enrolment they can access recruitment contests for positions as officials of the former State Forestry Corps and other Environmental Policing Corps, pursue a research doctorate in Italy or abroad, or a second level master's degree.

The professional profile covers the following categories:
Agronomists and Foresters; Planners, landscape architects and specialists in the reclamation and conservation of the territory; Researchers and technicians with degrees in agricultural, zootechnical and animal production sciences; Editors of technical journals.

Statistiche occupazionali (Almalaurea)
The Master's Degree Course offers ample opportunities for study abroad mainly through the Erasmus + program which includes about 30 foreign universities located in the countries of the European Community and the Swiss Mobility Program. The sectors that can be developed at the partner universities embrace all the specific areas of the Master's Degree Course. The definition of the study program (learning agreement) takes place in collaboration with the Erasmus manager of the study course, both with regards to the choice of exams and the organization of the internship at the partner university. Before completing the learning agreement, the student must obtain formal approval, from professors holding equivalent or similar courses at the University of Milan, of the exams to be taken at the host university. To carry out an experimental activity abroad, which can constitute part or all of the internship activity, a letter of consent is required from a professor of the partner university and the formal approval of the objectives, of the program and the period of the internship by a professor of the course of study who acts as a supervisor. The grade and the associated credits obtained in the partner universities are recognized almost in their entirety, thus giving the students the certainty that what work carried out at the host university is then positively evaluated in their study curriculum. There are also other opportunities for cultural exchanges with universities that have established agreements with our university but which are not part of the Erasmus system. These belong to non-community areas such as China, Japan, and Latin America. Thus, through the constant interaction in European and international working groups, as part of the degree course in "Valorization and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas", students will have the opportunity to activate Erasmus exchanges and internships at research and universities both in the Alpine Region and in an international non-European context.
The participation of the UNIMONT pole in the principle networks of institutes and research centres active on interdisciplinary issues relating to the enhancement and sustainable development of mountain areas and their specifics (https://www.unimontagna.it/networking/livello-internazionale/), facilitates the interaction between students and the specific international "ecosystem" of innovation for mountain areas, increasing opportunities to gain specific experiences abroad at these institutions.
Attendance of the training activities is strongly recommended.
Immatricolazione
Graduates in degree class L-25 (Agricultural and Forestry Science and Technology, pursuant to Ministerial Decree 270/04), L-26 (Agri-food Science and Technology, pursuant to Ministerial Decree 270/04) or in the equivalent class 20 (Agricultural, agri-food and forestry sciences and technology, pursuant to Ministerial Decree 509/1999) and L-32 (Environmental and Nature Science and Technology pursuant to Ministerial Decree 270/04 ) or in the equivalent class 27 (Environmental and Nature Science and Technology, pursuant to Ministerial Decree 509/1999) or those in possession of an equivalent qualification obtained abroad can access the Master's Degree Course in Valorization and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas
Graduates from classes other than those indicated above can also access the course, if they have acquired at least 45 credits (CFU) in the scientific-disciplinary sectors listed below, of which at least 12 credits (CFU) earned in biological and agro-forestry and environmental disciplines:
Mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science and statistics
MAT/02 - Algebra, MAT/03 - Geometry, MAT/05 - Mathematical analysis, MAT/06 - Probability and statistics, MAT/08 - Numerical analysis, FIS/01 - Experimental physics, FIS /03 - Physics of matter, FIS/06 - Physics of the earth and the circumterrestrial medium, FIS/07 - Applied physics (to cultural heritage, the environment, biology and medicine), CHIM/01 - Analytical Chemistry, CHIM/03 - General and inorganic chemistry, CHIM/06 - Organic chemistry, CHIM/12 - Chemistry for the Environment and Cultural Heritage, INF/01 - Computer science, ING-INF/05 - Data processing systems information, SECS-S/01 - Statistics, SECS-S/05 - Social statistics
Biological and agro-forestry and environmental disciplines
AGR/02 - Agronomy and field crops, AGR/03 - General arboriculture and tree cultivation, AGR/05 - Forest management and silviculture, AGR/14 - Pedology, AGR/15 - Food science and technology, AGR /16 - Agricultural microbiology, AGR/17 - General zootechnics and genetic improvement, AGR/19 - Special zootechnics, BIO/01 - General botany, BIO/03 - Environmental and applied botany; BIO/05 - Zoology, BIO/07 - Ecology, BIO/19 - General microbiology, GEO/02 - Stratigraphic and sedimentological geology, GEO/04 - Physical geography and geomorphology, GEO/05 - Applied geology , GEO/07 - Petrology and petrography
Agricultural and forestry engineering and land planning disciplines
AGR/08 - Agricultural hydraulics and hydraulic-forestry management, AGR/10 - Rural buildings and agroforestry land planning, ICAR/06 - Topography and cartography, ICAR/20 - Urban planning and technique, ICAR/21 - Urban planning, ING-IND/09 - Systems for energy and the environment, ING-IND/22 - Science and technology of materials
Socio-economic and legal disciplines
SPS/10 - Urban and environmental Sociology of the environment, M-GGR/01 - Geography, M-GGR/02 - Economic and political geography, AGR/01 - Rural economics and appraisal, SECS-P/01 - Political economics, SECS-P/02 - Economic policy, SECS-P/08 - Economics and business management-marketing, SECS-P/06 - Applied economics, SECS-P/12 - History of Economics, IUS/03 - Agri-food law, IUS/14 - European Union law, IUS/09 - Public law, IUS/10 - Administrative law

Students without an Italian University degree
Those holding another qualification obtained abroad and recognized as suitable by the admission commission will also be able to access.

Admission procedure for all students
Admission requires the verification of the curricular requirements specified above and of personal preparation. These verifications are carried out by a Commission. The verification aims to ascertain the candidate's possession of the necessary preparation in the basic subjects. If needed, the commission may require the candidate to integrate the information provided. The candidates will be informed of the outcome of the procedure via the online admission application system.

Proficiency in English at a B2 level or higher, under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), is required for admission.
The B2 level requirement will be assessed as follows:
- by submitting a Language certificate at or above B2, through the online application;
- during a specific admission interview.

Ammissione

Domanda di ammissione: dal 22/01/2024 al 31/10/2024

Domanda di immatricolazione: dal 02/04/2024 al 15/01/2025


Allegati e documenti

Avviso di ammissione


Note

Gli studenti non UE richiedenti visto sono tenuti a presentare domanda di ammissione entro e non oltre il 30 aprile 2024. Le domande presentate oltre i termini non saranno valutate e non sarà in nessun caso possibile richiedere il rimborso del contributo di ammissione.

Per approfondire:
Manifesto ed elenco insegnamenti
Primo semestre
Attività formative Crediti Ore totali Lingua SSD
Obbligatorio
Applied statistics for mountain agri-environmental analyses 6 56 Inglese SECS-S/01
Bioresources for innovation in mountain products 12 112 Inglese AGR/16 CHIM/06 VET/04
Environmental geology for mountain areas 6 56 Inglese GEO/05
Secondo semestre
Attività formative Crediti Ore totali Lingua SSD
Obbligatorio
European union law 6 48 Inglese IUS/14
Geographic and historical development of the mountain in the long run 6 56 Inglese M-GGR/01 SECS-P/12
Mountain ecosystems and biodiversity valorization 12 112 Inglese AGR/19 BIO/03
Sustainable management and bioeconomy of mountain forests 8 80 Inglese AGR/05
Primo semestre
Attività formative Crediti Ore totali Lingua SSD
Obbligatorio
Economics, management and valorization of mountain goods and services 8 72 Inglese AGR/01
Renewable energy and mountain sustainable environment management 6 56 Inglese AGR/09
Secondo semestre
Attività formative Crediti Ore totali Lingua SSD
Obbligatorio
Infrastructures and landscape planning for sustainable tourism in mountain areas 6 48 Inglese AGR/10
Web communication theories and techniques 6 48 Inglese SPS/08
Attività conclusive
Per queste attività non è previsto un periodo di offerta (es. corsi online a frequenza libera).
Attività formative Crediti Ore totali Lingua SSD
Obbligatorio
Internship 6 0 Inglese
Final exam 20 0 Inglese
Primo semestre
Attività formative Crediti Ore totali Lingua SSD
Facoltativo
Co-creation for policy: challenge-based learning and outdoor education as tools to connect people and places 3 28 Inglese SPS/08
Secondo semestre
Attività formative Crediti Ore totali Lingua SSD
Facoltativo
Current issues in mountain tourism management 2 16 Inglese SECS-P/08
Mountain biodiversity conservation and protected areas 4 40 Inglese BIO/03 BIO/05
Periodo non definito
Per queste attività non è previsto un periodo di offerta (es. corsi online a frequenza libera).
Attività formative Crediti Ore totali Lingua SSD
Facoltativo
Additional language skills: italian (3 ECTS) 3 0 Italiano
Other training activities (1 ECTS) 1 0 Inglese
Other training activities (4 ECTS) 4 0 Inglese
Attività a scelta e regole di composizione del piano didattico
- The teaching plan includes 8 self-chosen ECTS credits, to be acquired with modules offered by the University of Milan.
Some of the activities of your choice may include the attendance of seminars, conferences, refresher courses, or other activities organized by the university or another body, always following a favourable assessment from the Academic Board, and can usually allow students to acquire up to a maximum of 4 ECTS credits.
These activities must appear in the study plan and are freely chosen by the student with the help of the tutor, but must be approved by the Academic Board which judges their consistency with the master's course. The courses specifically activated by the Master's degree in Valorization and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas are listed in the table below. See also the paragraphe "Programme structure - Study plan definition and submission for approval.
Attività formative Crediti Ore totali Lingua Periodo SSD
Co-creation for policy: challenge-based learning and outdoor education as tools to connect people and places 3 28 Inglese Primo semestre SPS/08
Current issues in mountain tourism management 2 16 Inglese Secondo semestre SECS-P/08
Mountain biodiversity conservation and protected areas 4 40 Inglese Secondo semestre BIO/03 BIO/05
- STUDENTS HAVE TO ACQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL 4 CREDITS.

Additional Language Skills: Italian (foreign students).

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 and is compulsory for all students who do not have a valid language certificate.
Those who fail to reach A2 level will have to attend one or more than one 60-hour Italian course(s) 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.
Attività formative Crediti Ore totali Lingua Periodo SSD
Additional language skills: italian (3 ECTS) 3 0 Italiano Periodo non definito
Other training activities (1 ECTS) 1 0 Inglese Periodo non definito
Other training activities (4 ECTS) 4 0 Inglese Periodo non definito
Altre informazioni
Sede
Edolo (BS)
Presidente del Collegio didattico
Referente AQ del corso di studio
Contatti

Le tasse universitarie per gli studenti iscritti ai corsi di laurea, di laurea magistrale e a ciclo unico sono suddivise in due rate con modalità di calcolo e tempi di pagamento diversi:

  • l'importo della prima rata è uguale per tutti
  • l'importo della seconda rata varia in base al valore ISEE Università, al Corso di laurea di iscrizione e alla posizione (in corso/fuori corso da un anno oppure fuori corso da più di un anno).
  • per i corsi on line è prevista una rata suppletiva.

Sono previste:

  • agevolazioni per gli studenti con elevati requisiti di merito
  • importi diversificati in base al Paese di provenienza per gli studenti internazionali con reddito e patrimonio all'estero
  • agevolazioni per gli studenti internazionali con status di rifugiato

Altre agevolazioni 

L’Ateneo fornisce agevolazioni economiche a favore dei propri studenti con requisiti particolari (merito, condizioni economiche o personali, studenti internazionali)

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