EMRA (European Masters Programme for Rural Animators) is envisaged to be a European Master of Arts programme, which will be managed jointly by the consortium of this project, and will target graduates in humanities/social sciences (sociology, economy, political science, social geography) as well as agronomy, land use planning, engineering etc., both mid-career professionals and people who just completed their first degree. EMRA will be launched immediately after the end of this project.
Curriculum
The curriculum consists of a “core” course and 8 “specialist modules” relating to salient topics of rural development. The final version of the Curriculum, as it appears in the Academic Guide, can be downloaded here.
The core course will last one semester; and will include an introduction to sustainable rural development, adopting an integrated and inter-disciplinary approach; emphasizing the European perspective and EU policies; and probing into the key skills of Rural Animator.
Eight specialist modules are planned, developed on the basis of the Thematic Guides of Euracademy Association and additional material from the participating universities
- Sustainable agriculture
- Social and Human capital, welfare
- Environmental planning and management
- Cultural development
- Sustainable rural tourism
- Innovation and development policies in rural areas
- Education and lifelong learning for rural development
- Diversification of rural economies
Organisation of studies programme
EMRA will be running over 4 semesters, requiring full-time study. The first semester will be devoted to the core course. The second and third semesters will include three modules each – six modules in total. Students will be required to attend the core course and select 6 out of the 8 specialist modules. The core course and the specialist modules will be delivered via an e-learning platform.
Between the 2nd and 3rd semester a 10 day seminar will take place for all students. During the 2nd and 3rd semesters the students will do practical work by placement, in order to gather relevant experience for the writing of their Master Thesis. The students will be guided by the University closest to their residence to find a place for practical work. The fourth semester will be devoted to the Masters thesis.
Learning materials will be compiled in an electronic library and will be available on an e-learning platform. All students will have access to the learning materials, as well as to the university library network, utilising the facilities of N. Copernicus University.
An Academic Guide has been produced detailing the subjects, credits, requirements of applicants, regulations etc. The Academic Guide can be downloaded here.
EMRA will be conducted in English, including the e-learning modules, the seminar and the Masters thesis. Accreditation.
Each EMRA module will be delivered by a different university which will assure the credits. All credits will be awarded by N. Copernicus University.
The M.A. degree will be granted by N. Copernicus University.
The universities which will teach the modules are:
- Nicoaus Copernicus University, PL, www.umk.pl
- Szechenyi Istvan University, HU, www.uni.sze.hu
- University of Valencia ES, www.uv.es
- University BABES-BOLYAI, Cluj RO, www.ubbcluj.ro
- University of Rostock DE, http://www.auf.uni-rostock.de/
- Mediterranean Agronomic Institute- MAICH GR, www.maich.gr
- Estonian University of Life Sciences www.emu.ee