Program’s purpose and objectives:
The postgraduate program aims to provide of postgraduate education of a high standard and generate graduates in the field of Agricultural Biotechnology in its broad sense, able to support the country's competitiveness and productivity, by providing services, expertise and research, leading to direct and indirect positive effects on the social and economic developmental at the regional and national level. The Master's Degree programme offers theoretical training in basic sciences governing biotechnological achievements, with advanced modules in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Microbiology and specialized modules in Genetic Engineering, Biotechnological Applications, Bio-economics, Bioethics and Biosafety, Molecular Ecology and Bioinformatics. Theoretical training is combined with the acquisition of significant laboratory experience in the use of advanced techniques, widely used in the agri-environmental and pharmaceutical industries, public bodies and in research and development of innovative products. The main aim of the curriculum is to provide students with theoretical and technical training in modern methods of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology that will enable them to perform specialized scientific work. Depending on the subject of thesis, the program offers the opportunity to specialize in Plant or Animal or Food Biotechnology during the stage of Master's Thesis, which lasts at least 6 months (June-December), is credited with 45ECTS and has a strong research orientation. The master's programme in Biotechnology retrieves graduates different fields of study including Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Veterinary, Pharmaceutics as well as other related scientific fields. The postgraduate program aims at scientific training of graduates with knowledge and skills required to: (a) be employed in Academic and Research Institutes in Cyprus or abroad or continue their studies at the doctoral level; (b) be employed in modern production units specializing in biotechnological applications, services and research & development departments in companies; and (c) invest in excellence and innovation.
Learning outcomes:
Upon completion of their studies, students are expected to:
- have acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in order to meet the requirements in their working environment of the broader field of Agricultural Biotechnology
- have developed critical thinking needed to provide appropriate advice
- have developed freethinking as well as productive and inductive thinking
- work effectively both independently and in groups
- be able to communicate with scientists of other specialties both in a written form and orally on matters related to their expertise
- acquire the ability to respond to real-work problems and take decisions on issues concerning their field of expertise
- be able to analyze and interpret the results of a study in their field
- combine background with technical skills in problem solving, according to their specialization
- be able to search, analyze and synthesize data and information using appropriate technology
- be able to use data from the international literature, analyzing methods and interpret graphs from peer-reviewed journals
- be able to use molecullar biology and biotechnology techniques and their applications
- demonstrate the ability to apply Biotechnology to the multidimensional nature of Agri-food sector in order to improve and promote it
The Master's Degree programme addresses in an interdisciplinary way the field of Biotechnology, offering theoretical training in the basic sciences governing biotechnological achievements, with advanced infrastructure modules in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Microbiology and specialized modules in Genetic Engineering, Biotechnological Applications, Bio-economics, Bioethics and Biosafety, Molecular Ecology, Bioinformatics, etc. Theoretical training is combined with the acquisition of significant laboratory experience in the use of advanced techniques, widely used in the agri-environmental and pharmaceutical industries, public audit bodies and the research and development of innovative products.
The aim of the programme is to provide students with theoretical and technical training in modern methods of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology that will enable them to practice in specialized scientific work and to continue their studies at doctoral level.
The master's programme in Biotechnology addresses graduates of recognized higher education institutions coming from the sciences of Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Veterinary, Pharmaceutics as well as other related scientific fields.
The programme has three directions:
- Plant Biotechnology
- Animal Biotechnology
- Food Biotechnology
The ability to specialize in one of the above areas is offered during the Master's Thesis stage, along with a limited number of elective modules.
A total of 107 ECTS is required to complete the Master's degree, including the preparation of a Master's thesis which receives 45 ECTS. Students attend a total of eight modules, six of which are compulsory and two are elective. In each semester, there are three compulsory modules and one elective module. Master thesis should be completed by the end of the third semester. During the first or third semester, all postgraduate students are required to take part in the ABF 512 postgraduate seminar.
The programme is offered on a full or part-time basis and has a minimum duration of three semesters, including the summer period, which begins after the termination of the spring semester and includes the months of June, July and August.
