Wageningen University and Research Centre

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Wageningen University and Research Centre
Wageningen Universiteit en Researchcentrum
Wageningenuniversity.gif
Motto To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life
Established 1918
Type state
Rector Martin Kropff
Executive Board President Aalt Dijkhuizen
Admin. staff 6500 total (including 185 full professors)
Students 9426
Undergraduates 3813
Postgraduates 3713
Doctoral students 1900
Location Wageningen, Netherlands
Student nationalities 106 (44% of the postgraduates)
Website www.wageningenur.nl

Wageningen University and Research Centre (also known as Wageningen UR; abbreviation: WUR) is a Dutch public university in Wageningen, The Netherlands. It consists of Wageningen University and the former agricultural research institutes (Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek) of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture. Wageningen UR trains specialists (BSc, MSc and PhD) in life sciences and focuses its research on scientific, social and commercial problems in the field of life sciences and natural resources. In the field of agricultural science, the university is considered world-class.[1]

Contents

Wageningen University [edit]

Wageningen University offers undergraduate and professional degrees, including doctorates. The university has about 6,000 students from 105 countries. Its core focus is the life and agricultural sciences. It is a member of the Euroleague for Life Sciences (ELLS) university network.

ECTS-Label [edit]

Aula of Wageningen University
Building sign of WUR

Wageningen University was the first Dutch University or school that was allowed to use the ECTS label. This label is awarded by the European Commission and guarantees the quality of the study programme. An important consideration is that the University consequently applies the European Credit Transfer System; this promotes the mobility of students within Europe and prevents study delay. The label is an acknowledgment of the international character of the University. Out of 56 European applications in 2005, only 3 ECTS labels were awarded.

BSc programmes [edit]

Wageningen University offers 18 BSc programmes (2005-2006). The language of instruction is partly Dutch, partly English. For some BSc programmes the language of instruction is English. The programmes start each year in September, they last three years and consist of 180 ECTS credits. The programmes are in the field of economy & society, health, life sciences & technology, nature & environment, animals & plants.

Economy and society

  • Business and consumer studies
  • Economics and policy
  • International development studies

Health

  • Health and society
  • Nutrition and health

Technology

Nature and environment

  • Soil, water and atmosphere
  • Forest and nature conservation
  • International land and water management
  • Landscape architecture and spatial planning
  • Environmental sciences

Animals and plants

  • Biology
  • Biological Production Sciences
  • Animal sciences
  • Plant sciences

MSc programmes [edit]

Panorama of the greenhouse of the Lumen building
The Biotechnion building, where the Food and Nutrition departments are situated

Wageningen University offers a 28 different MSc programmes (2011-2012).[2] The language of instruction is English. The programmes start each year in September, they last two years and consist of 120 ECTS credits. Most programmes offer various specialisations and possibilities for majors.

  • Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering
  • Animal Sciences
  • Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management
  • Bioinformatics
  • Biology
  • Biotechnology
  • Climate Studies
  • Communication Science
  • Development and Rural Innovation
  • Earth and Environment
  • Environmental Sciences
  • European Masters Degree in Food Studies
  • Food Quality Management
  • Food Safety
  • Food Technology
  • Forest and Nature Conservation
  • Geo-information Science
  • Hydrology and Water Quality
  • International Development Studies
  • International Land and Water Management
  • Landscape Architecture and Planning
  • Leisure, Tourism and Environment
  • Management, Economics and Consumer Studies
  • Meteorology and Air Quality
  • Molecular Life Sciences
  • Nutrition and Health
  • Organic Agriculture
  • Public Health and Society (independent specialisation under Management, Economics and Consumer Studies)
  • Plant Biotechnology
  • Plant Sciences
  • Soil Science (now Earth and Environment)
  • Urban Environmental Management

PhD programme [edit]

The PhD programme is a four-year programme which consists of a research component and a smaller education component. To apply for a PhD position, the applicant must contact one of six the Graduate Schools of Wageningen University.[3] In order to guarantee adequate supervision, the research subject must fit in the research programme of a Graduate School. The four-year PhD programme consists of a research component (conducting research under supervision and writing a thesis) and a smaller education component (up to 15% of the total PhD time). Upon completion of PhD programme, the PhD student is expected to be:

  • Able to function as an independent scientist.
  • Able to integrate his or her own work in the theoretical framework of his or her discipline in a broader area of research and able to communicate this in a scientific or general setting.
  • Competent in identifying priority areas of research and in formulating questions and experimental hypotheses pertinent to this research.

History [edit]

[icon] This section requires expansion. (May 2012)

In 1876 the Rijkslandbouwschool (National Agricultural College) was established in Wageningen. Due to the development of the training to a higher educational level it changed in 1896 to the Hoogere Land- en Boschbouwschool (Agricultural and Forestry College) and in 1904 in Rijks Hoogere Land-, Tuin- en Boschbouwschool (National Agricultural, Horticulture and Forestry College)

In 1918 the school became academic by law (Academic Education Act). The name changed to Rijks Landbouw Hoogeschool (National Agricultural College). The openings date and official Dies Natalis is 9 March 1918.

In 1986 due to modification of the Academic Education Act the school became a University with the name Landbouwuniversiteit Wageningen (LUW) (Wageningen Agricultural University (WAU)). The University became more than a Agricultural University and the name was changed into Wageningen UR (University and Research centre). This took place in 1997 when the university and DLO merged. In 2009 was decided to only use the English name of the university, the official name became Wageningen University (WU).[4][5]

Research Institutes [edit]

The following research institutes are part of Wageningen UR:

Panorama of the campus of Wageningen University with the Forum, Gaia, Lumen and Atlas buildings on the left, the sport center in the foreground, and the northeastern part of Wageningen on the right.

Rankings [edit]

In the 2011 Times Higher Education World University Rankings[6] Wageningen University was ranked 75th overall in the world. In the THE life sciences ranking, Wageningen was ranked 17th, being the highest placed life sciences university in continental Europe.[7]

In the more specialised Higher Education Evaluation & Accreditation Council of Taiwan [8] Wageningen University is ranked second in the field of agriculture, behind the University of California, Davis.

The Shanghai Index ranks Wageningen University as number 37 in the field of Life Sciences and Agriculture [9]

Student activities and associations [edit]

  • Aktief Slip is the study association for students participating in the study programmes Milieuwetenschappen (BMW), Environmental Sciences (MES) and Urban Environmental Management (MUE). The name is in Dutch and originates from the bacteria containing material (active sludge), that is used to clean wastewater. It was founded in 1966.
  • M.S.V. Alchimica is the study association for students Molecular Life Sciences. For over 35 years it has been organising different activities for its members.
  • B.V.W. 'Biologica' is the study Association for all Biology Students.
  • CODON is the study Asscociation for all Biotechnology students. Established by the first students of Bioprocesstechnology on 16 September 1991. At that time the association carried the name "BiPS" which was later changed to CODON. The association's main language is English.
  • Di-Et-Tri is the study Association for Nutrition and health students.
  • Genius Loci is the study Association for students Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning. The name reflects the atmosphere of a certain place. It was founded on February 15, 1990 after the merger of two older study programmes.
  • Heeren XVII is the study Association for Agrotechnology students. It was founded on 1 April 1965.
  • Ipso Facto is the study Association for International Development students.
  • Licere is the study association for the students of the MSc Leisure, Tourism and Environment. It was founded in 2006 and its name means 'Leisure time' in Latin.
  • Mercurius is the study Association for Consumer studies. It was founded in 2000.
  • Nicolas Appert is the study Association for Food Technology students. It was founded on 6 September 1962, and was named after the French food scientist Nicolas Appert.
  • Nitocra is the study association for students International land and water management.
  • Pyrus is the study association for students Soil, water and atmosphere.
  • Semper Florens is the study Association for Plant Scientists and Plant Biotechnologists.
  • StEL is the study Association for Organic Agriculture students.
  • WSBV Sylvatica is the study Association for students Forest and Nature conservation.
  • De Veetelers is the study association for Animal Sciences students. The name means "Animal Breeders". It was founded in 1962.

Notable alumni (including present or former employees) [edit]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ [1] public access to this webpage is not authorized
  2. ^ http://www.wageningenuniversity.nl/UK/informationfor/stud-eu/
  3. ^ http://www.wageningenuniversity.nl/UK/research/Graduate+schools/
  4. ^ "Wageningen Universiteit (WU)" (in Dutch). Studie.nl. Retrieved 6 March 2013. 
  5. ^ "History of Wageningen UR". www.wageningenur.nl. Retrieved 6 March 2013. 
  6. ^ http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2011-2012/europe.html
  7. ^ http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2011-2012/life-sciences.html
  8. ^ http://taiwanranking.lis.ntu.edu.tw/DataPage/TOP300.aspx?query=Agriculture
  9. ^ http://www.shanghairanking.com/FieldLIFE2011.html

External links [edit]

Coordinates: 51°58′01.52″N 5°39′30.97″E / 51.9670889°N 5.6586028°E / 51.9670889; 5.6586028

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