CES Resolution: RPC-SO-29-No. 473-2019

Entry profile:

The applicant to enter the Master is Degree in Agroecology and Sustainable Development of the Postgraduate Unit of the Quevedo State Technical University, must meet the characteristics presented below:

• Possess a degree in the area of knowledge of agriculture, teaching and research, preferably; Agricultural Engineer, Agricultural Engineer, Forestry Engineer, Zootechnical Engineer, Environmental Engineer, Agro-industrial Engineer, Veterinary Doctor, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business Administration, Biology among others that cover the knowledge of agroecology.

Graduate profile:

• Integrate knowledge and skills of agricultural science and technology with traditional knowledge in a manner appropriate to their specific working conditions, with an environmental conception, so that they can play an active role in agro-ecological soil and pest management, in the development of sustainable agricultural and animal production.
• Implement agroforestry systems with the introduction of analogous agroforestry, thus working with social actors on the basis of socio-economic and environmental sustainability.
• Analyse the physical, chemical, biological, ecosystemic, economic, political, social and cultural processes interacting in agro-ecosystems in order to include relevant modifications for their ecosystemic and cultural sustainability.
• Describe and compare the structure and function of different types of agro-ecosystems, both ecologically and culturally.
• To innovatively develop technologies for the production of organic fertilisers for plant and animal production.
• Design technologies that promote the production of biopreparations and contribute to agro-ecological pest management.
• Structuring soil management and conservation systems with a view to reducing soil deterioration.
• Design production systems based on agro-ecological techniques that enhance climate change mitigation.
• Calculating the energy balance in agro-ecosystems and the determination of alternatives to enhance the stability of agro-ecosystems.
• Promote participatory, collective processes and knowledge dialogues for the analysis of proposed solutions to the ecosystemic, social, economic and cultural problems of different types of agriculture, in order to design effective strategies for sustainable development at local, regional and national levels.
• Use environmentally friendly technologies for food production.
• Analysis of the energy behaviour in the agroecosystem and the contribution of the different components of the agroecosystem.
• Leader for the identification and solution of problems inherent to the integrated management of agroecosystems in different biophysical and cultural environments in Ecuador.

General objective

To provide students with advanced, specific and multidisciplinary training aimed at academic, research and professional training in Agroecology, with tools to solve problems, with a global and specialised integrating vision, which will enable them to achieve greater efficiency in agricultural processes and thus achieve food security, conserving agroecosystems and contributing to the needs and development of the productive matrix within the context of the country, region, province and community.

Specific objectives.

• To develop skills based on knowledge of the theoretical foundations related to the theories of sustainable development, the theory of complexity, in relation to the trends of agroecology based on conservation agriculture, genetic improvement of plants, adjustments of food production systems to changes in the final consumer and retail distribution channels, particularly supermarkets, climate-smart agriculture that includes the systematisation and computerisation of agriculture to achieve greater production of healthy food with fewer resources. Furthermore, to develop methodological and practical foundations, which demonstrate a high scientific level, based on the complexity and integration of knowledge from different disciplines in order to play a leading role and lead actions in the increase, improvement and production for the benefit of society.
• To develop research capacity for the scientific solution of problems inherent to the environment and the behaviour of the social actors in agriculture, from a holistic viewpoint, since agriculture is a technological and bio-ecological activity that interacts intimately with the cultural, socio-economic and political spheres and therefore cannot be conceived separately from these. The problems of rural development are more than technical problems and require solutions at local, regional and global scales.
• Develop skills from education and research on the complexities of sustainable agricultural development with inter- and trans-disciplinary perspectives on key issues such as natural resource conservation, development models, consumption patterns, technological systems, market signals, ecological and economic externalities of production models, or food-health relations, as well as the analysis of socio-cultural and political factors that determine the decisions taken by farmers, consumers and planners and their forms of organisation and environmental management.
• Evaluar la problemática de la sostenibilidad en la agricultura basada en la premisa de que el mejoramiento de la agricultura ligado a las esferas sociales, políticas, económicas y ecosistémicas, que afectan no solo al sector rural sino también, crecientemente, al espacio urbano, el papel del respeto hacia la diversidad cultural, los saberes ancestrales, las tecnologías interculturales en la transformación rural hacia una agricultura con alta sustentabilidad. y tener un desempeño honesto, disciplinado y profesional acorde a lo planteado en el Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 2017-2021. A Lifetime.

Timetable of classes:

Saturdays: 08:00 - 12:00/13:00 - 17:00
Sundays: 08:00 - 12:00/13:00 - 17:00

Modules:

• Methodology of Scientific Research
• Statistical Methods applied to Agroecological Research
• Agroecology
• Rural Sociology
• Agroclimatology
• Agricultural economics and development
• Agroecological Soil Management
• Agroecological pest management
• Biotechnology for sustainable agroculture
• Degree workshop I
• Sustainable agricultural production
• Sustainable animal production
• Degree workshop II
• Agroforestry systems
• Agricultural waste management
• Environmental impact assessment
• Degree workshop III