Sustainability in Agriculture, Food Production and Food Technology in the Danube Region – DAFM

Joint study program Sustainability in Agriculture, Food Production and Food Technology in the Danube Region – DAFM (Danube AgriFood Master)

DAFM is a two-year master program taught in English with the contribution of all full and associated partners in the implementation of the joint introductory module and all courses, including a mandatory joint summer or winter school, where DAFM students gather once a year.

DAFM program students enroll in studies at two partner universities, in accordance with the selected mobility path. During the first and second semesters, they attend classes at the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) in Gödöllő or at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague (CZU), where they acquire the basic knowledge provided by the curriculum. In the third and fourth semesters, students can choose to continue their studies at one of the following partner universities: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna (BOKU), University of Novi Sad (UNS), University of Zagreb (UNIZG), Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (SUA), or King Mihai I University of Life Sciences in Timișoara (ULST).

The fourth semester is dedicated to the preparation of the master’s thesis. The preparation of the thesis is led by a mentor from the university where the student is attending the second year of studies, with co-mentorship from a teacher at the university where the student attended the first year. All DAFM program students are required to attend a joint summer school, which carries 3 ECTS, as well as to complete professional practice lasting 100 working hours, which also is worth 3 ECTS. Professional practice is primarily realized with the associated non-academic partners of the consortium, enabling students to acquire practical knowledge and experience in a real work environment. The curriculum is organized within two focus areas (Agriculture – Food), which include mandatory and elective courses.

Why enroll in the DAFM master academic studies program?

The DAFM program aims to educate students who are committed to the principles of sustainable agriculture and food production. Improving the safety and stability of food production, while simultaneously preserving natural resources and ecosystem services, is of key importance for adapting to climate change, the growth of the world population, and the depletion of natural resources.

The joint 120 ECTS master program, “Danube AgriFood Master – DAFM”, is focused on sustainable development as a responsible and competent response to upcoming climate change challenges, as well as the protection and improvement of the quality of life and sustainable sources of livelihood. The program uses the Danube region as a model for all coastal areas worldwide.
The program brings together the unique knowledge and expertise of the consortium of higher education institutions to provide students with top-tier, research-based education in the fields of sustainable agriculture, food safety, food production, and food technology. It provides students with a solid foundation in all relevant disciplines – from natural and technical sciences, through economics, to social sciences – offering broad opportunities for an interdisciplinary approach, intercultural cooperation and communication, while simultaneously promoting the principles of a sustainable bioeconomy.

Where can you find employment after completing your studies?

DAFM graduates (Danube AgriFood Master – Sustainability in Agriculture, Food Production and Food Technology in the Danube Region program) acquire interdisciplinary knowledge and international experience, enabling them to be employed in a wide range of sectors related to sustainable agriculture, the food industry, and the bioeconomy.

They can be employed in:

• Agricultural and food enterprises (production, food processing, quality control, product development, sustainable production);
• Companies dealing with food technology and innovation, agricultural digitalization, and precision agriculture;
• State institutions and public administration, including ministries, departments, and agencies responsible for agriculture, food safety, environmental protection, and rural development;
• Research institutes and universities, as researchers, assistants, or associates on national and international projects;
• International organizations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the European Commission, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and other organizations dealing with sustainable development and food safety;
• Non-governmental organizations and development agencies implementing projects in the fields of environmental protection, climate change, and rural development;
• Consulting companies in the fields of sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, certification, standardization, and environmental impact assessment;
• Start-up companies and entrepreneurship, through the development of innovative solutions in the agri-food sector, bioeconomy, circular economy, and sustainable technologies.

Graduates are also qualified to continue their education in doctoral academic studies in the fields of agriculture, food technology, environmental protection, bioeconomy, and related disciplines.