Master of Agroecology - Learning from experience
Karen AdlerBecause the Master in Agroecology is not just about gaining knowledge, the pedagogical approach needs to be adapted to assist in the development of the agroecologist as a whole.
In the first semester, students are exposed to a different type of learning. Learning is strongly based on experiences from project work using real-life cases in Norwegian agriculture. The semester is comprised of the core courses, Agroecology. Action learning in farming and food systems. A main component of the semester is group based case work.
Students visiting a farm in Drøbak
Photo: Numa Courvoisier
After two visits to the community and the farm, the groups write two reports: one for the food system, and one for the farm system, providing suggestions for meeting the goals of increased organic consumption and production. The municipalities the groups have worked with in the past have varied. Last year’s groups went to Tolga, Hadeland, Kvam/Voss, Stavanger and Arendal/Grimstad.
The education is focused on viewing farming and food systems holistically, emphasising sustainability, systems theory, project management, stakeholder analysis and action research. In this way, the course takes a ‘top-down’ approach by examining the system as a whole, followed by viewing the sub-systems. The process of improving the situation, and the learning obtained from this process, are important for enhancing the student’s competency as an agroecologist.
The course also introduces the idea of ‘just-in-time’ learning, where students use the situation and challenges presented to guide the study that is needed to improve the situation. This tool is intended to allow students to practice identifying and addressing problems based on what they find experientially. This can be used in the future to ensure that knowledge or expertise held by those who are working to solve a problem do not overshadow innovative, practical solutions adapted to the localised situation.
This backs our belief that experiential learning is essential in developing agroecologists who themselves will be able to put theory into action. However, the instruction methods and evaluation in semesters of elective courses depend on the courses chosen from the different thematic areas.
Updated: 03.06.11
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Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB)
PO Box: 5003, N-1432 Ås
Phone: (+47) 64 96 61 00
Fax: (+47) 64 94 75 05
E-mail: opptak@umb.no
PO Box: 5003, N-1432 Ås
Phone: (+47) 64 96 61 00
Fax: (+47) 64 94 75 05
E-mail: opptak@umb.no