ARDPA - Course of Specialization in Agricultural and Rural Development Policies Analysis in the Western Balkan Countries
Course description
Due to historical and geographical reasons, the territory and its use in Western Balkans make up a fundamental resource for the pursuit of a sustainable development.
The rural and agricultural development as well as environmental protection are important challenges in the integration process of the region in the European Community.
In these countries agriculture will be one of the sectors of particular importance considering especially that the change from subsistence or semi-subsistence agriculture to a market oriented one represents a fundamental challenge for the development of the whole economy. This challenge can be won by promoting and supporting the small and medium enterprises that shall become one of the main driving forces of the economy of these countries.
Aim of the Course
The General Objective of the Course is to provide to the participants adequate tools in order to understand and analyze the agriculture and rural development policy giving particular importance to Adriatic-Ionian Basin Countries and Western Balkans.
The Course wants to deal with sustainable development of agricultural and rural areas in an interdisciplinary approach, helping the contact of scientific community of the countries of the Adriatic Ionian area. This approach will encourage the interrelation of different issues linked to sustainable development. (among others demography, environmental degradation, income and production increase, the role of the institutions at local, national and international level, etc).
The continuous and multidisciplinary education in a multicultural context is important for different reasons. It is a crucial moment for the consolidation of the democratic transition process and the passage to market economy as well as an important occasion for the mutual knowledge of the European cultural components.
This kind of approach is very relevant for the Western Balkans where the passage from communism to post communism is facing a dramatic process of political, economic and socio-cultural transition that will finalize with the gradual membership in the European Union. The Universities and the cooperation between them can play a fundamental role in this context, so that the process of harmonization of the Balkan countries in the membership conditions could turn on the most possible homogeneous way.
Educational Objectives
The Course of Specialization in Agricultural and Rural Development Policies Analysis in the Western Balkan Countries is aimed to give to the participants:- Advanced professional knowledge, characterized by an interdisciplinary approach;
- Adequate tools for the analysis of agricultural and rural development policies.
Eligible Participants
The Course is addressed to 24 students (maximum nr.) with the following characteristics:
- graduated students, who aim to hold assignments in the future related to the planning and management of the agricultural, rural and environmental systems at different levels: at local or national entities, public administration, international agencies, governmental and non-governmental organizations, research centers and universities;
- employees of public administration;
- employees of research institutes, consulting agencies both private and governmental, who wish to update their knowledge in subjects connected to the planning and management of the agricultural, rural and environmental systems.
Credits
14 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System);.
Language of the Course
English