Location and history

The Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Szeged is located in Hódmezővásárhely, in a town with county’s rights in South-East Hungary, 25 kilometers far away from the University’s center in Szeged.

The agricultural training in Hódmezővásárhely has a past of more than 110 years. The first agricultural school providing basic level education was founded in 1896 in the area of the present pilot farm of the Faculty. In 1961 it was turned into a higher educational institute. The College, after several reorganizations has been training agricultural engineers since September 1992. As a result of the integration process in higher education in Hungary our Faculty became a part of the University of Szeged in January 2000.

Organization

The Faculty is lead by the Dean whose work is supported by two Vice deans and the staff of the Dean’s Office.

The educational and research work is organized in three Institutes:

- Institute of Animal Sciences and Wildlife Management

- Institute of Economics and Rural Development

- Institute of Plant Sciences and Environmental Protection

Post-graduate programs, specialized courses for professionals and extension service are organized by the Department of Further Training and Regional Extension Center.

Education

Undergraduate programs (BSc) in Hungarian language:

- Agricultural engineer BSc (full time and correspondent)

- Game manager BSc (full time and correspondent)

Undergraduate program (BSc) in English language:

- Agricultural engineer BSc program (full time)

Study period of the BSc programs:

7 semesters (3.5 academic years): 6 academic semesters

1 semester comprehensive professional training

Engineer assistant courses at ISCED level 5 in Hungarian language:

- in 7 different fields of agriculture (full time and correspondent)

Study period of the BSc programs:

4 semesters (2 academic years): 3 academic semesters

1 semester comprehensive professional training

Postgraduate specialist training courses:

- game management

- production and processing of medical plants

- agricultural value appraisal

2-4 semesters, correspondent

Further short courses in English language:

- selection of subjects for international students (Erasmus, Tempus, etc.)

- selection of short courses for graduate students and professionals (topics on demand)

Agricultural engineer BSc

Agricultural engineers can apply scientific, technical, agricultural, technological and farming knowledge; accomplish the task of production, management, controlling and organizing in different agricultural enterprises, as well as individual farming and the use of up-to-date technologies. They will also be able to form and develop the logistics and agrarian infrastructure and the economical technology innovations; the production, process and marketing of marketable agricultural goods. Due to the knowledge acquired, graduates can also work in agricultural and associated fields, such as in financial, project writing, commercial and organizing areas.

Compulsorily eligible specializations: agricultural entrepreneurship, agricultural environmental protection, agrarian economy and logistics, management of companion animals, horticulture and crop protection.

Game manager BSc

With the BSc game management diploma, there is a possibility for the high level game management work, its professional management, cooperation with forestry and field professionals, and the fulfillment of management tasks. The game breeding, hunting, game protection, game commercial, hunting organization and environmental protection positions can be fulfilled as well as the leading positions of professional authorities.

Graduates receive a certificate for the acquaintance of hunting and firearm possession examinations.

Rural Development Engineering bachelor

The purpose of the program is to train rural development engineers who are able to perform organizational, management, administrative, logistical and production tasks related to production, service, and consulting. With the knowledge of agricultural science, economics, management, economics, analytical-consulting, agro-commerce, agricultural marketing, environmental, and regional knowledge, and with the knowledge of the administrative tasks and relations of the agricultural economy, they are able to carry out professional work corresponding to labour market expectations. They have an understanding of rural development in line with EU standards, with the required skills to plan and implement rural development programs. They are ready to continue their studies in Master programmes.

Study period:

- 7 semesters: 6 academic semesters (180 credits)

- 1 semester comprehensive internship (30 credits)

Basic studies: Economy mathematics, Information technology, Economics, Business law, EU studies, Statistics, Administration studies, Technology in agriculture, Technology in agriculture II., Botany, Basic studies in agriculture, Anatomy and animal physiology, Water management, EU agricultural policy, Introduction to management

Professional core material: Land cultivation, Agricultural environmental management, Plant production I. Plant production II., Horticulture, Animal production I., Animal production II., Food chain safety, Agricultural IT systems, Finance and accountancy, Forestry and wildlife management, Farm business management I., Farm business management II., Agricultural economy, Logistics, Consultancy and extension, Agricultural marketing, Project management, Business planning, Regional economics, Rural development I., Rural development II., Regional policy, Spatial planning and programming, Local economy development, Human management, Regional analysis methods, GIS in rural development, Rural tourism, Rural sociology, Business control and organisation, Environmental protection and environmental politics, Competitiveness in economy, Community economy

Rural Development Engineering master

The objective of the program is to train rural development engineers who, with the knowledge they have acquired, will control the production, distribution, regulation and service-related organizational and management processes that ensure the optimal use of resources. They know in detail the nature and specifics of the functioning of rural and regional development in Europe and Hungary (the role of rural retention and the development of agriculture) and the reasons for these specifics. They are suitable for planning and development engineering, research and management positions. They are prepared to continue their studies in doctoral programs.

Duration: 4 semester

Course structure: Research Methodology, Human Resource Management, Rural and Environmental Policy, Economic Law, Rural Sociology, Integrated Settlement Development, Agricultural Policy, Rural Economy, Accounting for Managers, Regional Planning and Programming, Analysis of Agricultural Programs, Alternative Management, Local Economic and Business Development, Community Development, Food Chain Safety Knowledge, Economics of Agricultural Markets, Applied Logistics, Applied Project Management, Settlement Development, Agricultural Information Systems, Settlement and Regional Marketing

Practical training

The practical trainings are based on the pilot farm of the Faculty (est. 1976) and on the neighboring agricultural firms. The comprehensive practices can be done near the students' home.

Besides animal husbandry and crop production activities, the duty of the Pilot Farm is to train students, to do postgraduate practical courses and scientific researches. Besides the 378 acres of arable land, a Dutch-type Holstein Frisian dairy farm, a FUNKI system pig farm and the Hungarian speckled hen genetic preserving farm belong to the Pilot Farm. There is a family-size Dutch type milk processing unit, too. The farm is provided with ideal circumstances for livestock keeping compatible with the EU regulations for environmental and animal protection.

Research

The main research fields in the Institutes are listed below:

- Institute of Animal Sciences and Wildlife Management

• Body condition and conformation parameters of dairy cattle
• Body condition and production parameters of goats
• Conditions determining production in poultry husbandry
• Studies in the Hungarian speckled hen gene bank
• Reproduction biology and prolificacy of roe deer
• Population parameters of roe deer on plain habitat
• Parasitological assessment of roe deer populations
• Examination of nasal botfly (Cephenemya stimulator) of roe deer
• European hare monitoring
• Computer-based modeling of population regulation of game populations
• Eurasian woodcock monitoring
• Brooding biology and population ecology of European roller
• Usage of biological inoculants in forage conservation

- Institute of Economics and Rural Development

• Innovation in agricultural enterprises
• Possibilities in the development of rural tourism with special focus on regional products
• Marketing of animal products (e.g. rabbit meat, wild boar meat)
• Economical aspects of the production of agricultural products
• Studies on the economy of the South Great Plain region of Hungary
• Hydrobiological researches with special emphasis on the domestic distribution of some mussel species
• Studies on rabbit meat production
• Copyrights and brand protection

- Institute of Plant Sciences and Environmental Protection

• Analysis of the role of jasmonates in wheat development
• Analysis of agronomic factors determining wheat crop quantity and quality
• Environmentally friendly nutrient supply of maize
• Definition of the crop pollinator populations
• Prevention of calcium deficiency in peppers via agro-technical and plant breeding methods
• Studies on the ashitaba production and utilization opportunities in Hungary
• Effects of pesticides and growth regulators on arable crops
• In vitro micro-propagation of ornamental plants
• Studies on the utilization of renewable energy sources, with special focus on biogas production from communal and agricultural wastes

The institutes have a broad range of research partners in other universities, research institutes, state authorities and companies from Hungary, as well as in European and other countries, such as Serbia, Romania, Germany, Turkey, Japan and the USA.

In all institutes, students are fully involved in the implementation and evaluation of the experiments. As a result, in addition to writing their theses, students regularly and effectively participate in Scientific Student Conferences both on college and national level.

International relationships

The Faculty cares about the establishment and maintenance of international relationships. Relationships include mainly educational and research areas with several partner countries, e.g. German, Irish, English, French, Belgian, Italian and Finnish Universities. Students can take part in European student mobility projects and in farm practices abroad (Erasmus).

Cooperation in the frame of various Tempus projects involves among others Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, as well as Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Cross-border projects (CBC, IPA) with Romanian and Serbian institutions build an important field of co-operation.

Student life at the Faculty

In the own Student Hostel of the Faculty all full-time students can be provided 2-3 bed dormitory rooms. The hostel with reasonable prices and 24-hours reception is in the campus area, in the centre of Hódmezővásárhely. It has a car park and also the bus stop for local buses is right next to the building. It takes a few minutes to get here from the coach and railway stations.

The restaurant in the hostel offers several menus day-to-day.

The gym and the open-air sports ground are open to anyone, and there is also a possibility for horse riding.

Wifi-system is available in the whole campus. The Faculty’s library has ca. 45,000 books.