During last decades a tendency could be verified that Agricultural Universities (or Faculties/Colleges) are changing to Life science Universities. I would like to know your opinions on arguments that stand after this change .
What are pros and cons about this process?
Is this just a change of name for marketing purposes or a real substantial change?
Does it mean that agricultural knowledge systems have a wider role beyond conventional agriculture (for example healthy food and environment)?
Does it necessarily need to be supported by new academic disciplines and new curricula?
Best
Zydi Teqja
Agricultural University of Tirana
Transformation just the name from agricultural to life science is not good idea. However, transformation of courses means regular up to date the courses regarding the changing situation like food safety, security, food quality and research regarding these are always necessary that I feel.
I think it is not good idea.
The movement in the direction of life science is driven also by the microbiote-microbiome studies/technologies.
I teach in a biotechnological course for medical and veterinary students but I also work in agri-food research field and I think that the know-how is quite different.
Today I think that agriculture must go in the direction of "precision agriculture" with deep genetics, epigenetics, bioinformatics and IT interdisciplinary approaches.
actually I do have perception of such a change. Do you have any evidence of this trend? Maybe it could be related to the trend of merging faculties and departments (and sometimes also universities) which is very perceivable.
Dear Massimo thank you very much for your contribution. Actually in Europe there are several Universities like: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna; Czech University of Life Sciences Prague; Estonian University of Life Sciences; Norwegian University of Life Sciences; Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW; Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences; National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine etc.
As far as I know the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague changed its name in 2007 from Agricultural University of Czech republic.
The Estonian University of Life Sciences took this name in 2005.
The Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences changed its name in 2006. It used to be the Wroclaw Academy of Agriculture.
The Norwegian University of Life Sciences prior to 2005 it was known as the Norwegian College of Agriculture.
The above mentioned cases are the evidences I have. Maybe they have different histories and I have not done any detailed analyses on this subject so perhaps I am wrong when I use the word "trend".
At any case I am interested in this discussion topic because I come from an Agricultural University and actually there are some discussions about changing the name of our university also. So I would like to know different opinions especially from colleagues who already had such an experience.
Best
Zydi
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