Information on the Institution

Name and address

Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza (IAMZ) Mail address: Apartado 202, 50080 Zaragoza, Spain Office: Av. Montaana 1005, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain Tel.: +34 976 716000 Fax: +34 976 716001 E-mail: iamz@ iamz.ciheam.org Web: www.iamz.ciheam.org

General description of the institution

Since its accreditation in 1969, the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza (IAMZ) is one of the four Mediterranean Agronomic Institutes belonging to the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM). CIHEAM is an intergovernmental organization comprising thirteen member countries: Albania, Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey. Created in 1962 by an intergovernmental agreement, ratified by the national parliaments of the member countries, it has been entrusted the duty of providing higher education at postgraduate level in the fields of agriculture, economics and environment. CIHEAM offers two kinds of educational activities: degree programmes and short-duration specialized courses. The Master degrees are offered in the four Mediterranean Agronomic Institutes of CIHEAM located in Bari (Italy), Chania (Greece), Montpellier (France) and Zaragoza (Spain) and are often devised in partnership with member countries Higher Education Institutions. CIHEAM, through its Mediterranean Agronomic Institutes, also supports applied research and contributes to the development of international cooperation in the Mediterranean Region. At IAMZ training is given by highly qualified invited experts, selected for their experience and prestige in each subject. These experts come from universities, research centres, international organizations, administrations and firms from all over the world. The quality of the speakers invited to lecture at the IAMZ guarantees high-level training and constant updating of topics. The diversity of their origin, both geographical and institutional, contributes to the dynamics of the courses and enables the participants to contrast different theories, methods and results. Participants in the educational programmes come mainly from CIHEAM-member Mediterranean countries, although candidates from other parts of the world also participate, particularly from Europe and Latin America. A large part of IAMZ activities is carried out in collaboration with numerous national and international institutions of the Mediterranean region and take place both at the IAMZ and in other centres of Mediterranean countries.

IAMZ is situated on the Campus of Aula Dei and some of its activities interact closely with the research and experimentation programmes that are carried out in the various institutions on campus.

Academic authorities
Decisions are taken under the ultimate authority of the Governing Board of CIHEAM, which is composed of a representative of each member country. In this duty, the Board is supported by the General Secretariat, composed of the Secretary General and the directors of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institutes, and by the Scientific Advisory Committee, composed of renowned scientific personalities from Higher Education or Research Institutions of the member countries. Most academic decisions are taken at the level of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute where each Master programme is managed, under the authority of the Director, by scientific coordinators of renowned prestige either from the institute or from universities or research centres.

List of degree programmes offered

Masters degree programmes (120 ECTS) (each programme is held every two years): Plant Breeding. Offered since 1982 (17 editions). Held at IAMZ jointly organized with the University of Lleida (UdL). Next edition starts in October 2012. Olive Growing and Oil Technology. Offered since 1995 (7 editions). Held in Crdoba and Sevilla jointly organized with the University of Crdoba (UCO), the Regional Government of Andaluca (JA), the Spanish Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), the National Institute for Agro-food Research and Technology (INIA) and the International Olive Council (IOC). Next edition starts in September 2011. Animal Nutrition. Offered since 2007 (1 edition). Held at IAMZ jointly organized with the University of Zaragoza (UZ) and the Spanish Foundation for the Development of Animal Nutrition (FEDNA), with the collaboration of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM). Originated from a previous Master programme on Animal Production that was offered since 1979 (14 editions). Next edition starts in October 2011. Animal Breeding and Reproduction Biotechnology. Offered since 2007 (1 edition). Held in Valencia and Barcelona jointly organized with the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), with the participation of the Valencian Institute for Agricultural Research (IVIA), the National Institute for Agro-food Research and Technology (INIA), the Institute for Food and Agricultural Research and Technology (IRTA) and the Foundation of the Community of Valencia for Agro-food Research (AGROALIMED). Originated from a previous Master programme on Animal Production that was offered since 1979 (14 editions). Next edition starts in October 2011. Integrated Planning for Rural Development and Environmental Management. Offered since 1976 (22 editions). Held at IAMZ jointly organized with the University of Lleida (UdL). Next edition starts in October 2012.

 Agro-food Marketing. Offered since 1987 (11 editions). Held at IAMZ. Next edition starts in October 2011. Aquaculture. Offered since 1997 (6 editions). Held in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria jointly organized with the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and the Canarian Institute of Marine Sciences (ICCM) of the Regional Government of the Canary Islands. Next edition starts in October 2012. Fisheries Economics and Management. Offered since 2004 (3 editions). From 2011 held in Alicante jointly organized with the University of Alicante (UA) and the Spanish Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM), with the collaboration of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Next edition starts in October 2011. The State of Spain has conferred the CIHEAM Master of Science Degree, issued through the IAMZ, the equivalence with the official Master Degree of the Spanish university system. Most of the IAMZ Master Programmes are jointly organized with Spanish Universities, and, besides being CIHEAM programmes, they are also official Masters of the Spanish university system. In these programmes, conditions regarding registration and academic regulations adapt to the requirements established by the organizing institutions. IAMZ participates in the Erasmus mobility programme, therefore students from diverse European universities may be received.

Academic calendar
The academic calendar of the institution extends from September to June. Each Masters degree programme is held every two years, so candidates can only be enrolled in each specialization every other year. Masters degree programmes are developed over two academic years on a full-time basis [120 credits, following the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)] and are structured in two parts. The first part of the Masters degree programmes starts at the end of September or beginning of October and, depending on the programme, concludes end of April, end of May or beginning of June. In this part there are two holiday breaks: at Christmas (3 weeks) and at Easter (2 weeks). The exact dates are decided each year according to the annual planning of the academic year. The second part of the Masters degree programmes starts at the beginning of October in the case of programmes whose first part ends in May or June, and in May in the case of programmes whose first part ends in April. This second part lasts approximately 10-12 months, depending on the programme and on the development of the Master Thesis chosen by participants. As this part of the programme is carried out in collaborating institutions (universities, research centres or firms), the calendar adapts to the specific conditions of these collaborating institutions.

Admission/registration procedures
Admission to training programmes is open to candidates of any nationality. Applicants must have the academic level that qualifies them to undertake postgraduate level studies in their home country, or equivalent to a minimum of four years of undergraduate studies. Particular requirements for admission to Masters degree programmes are specified in the following section Information on degree programmes General description Admission requirements. Specific requirements for admission to each programme are detailed in the corresponding programme file. Candidates should submit their application to IAMZ including: Completed application form. Application forms can be requested at the IAMZ address or can be obtained directly from the web site. Detailed curriculum vitae stating degree, diplomas, professional experience, activities carried out, language knowledge, and reasons for applying to participate in the activity. Documents accrediting the curriculum vitae, including the transcript of records if the application is for participating in a Masters degree programme. The application forms, curriculum vitae and the documents accrediting the curriculum vitae can be sent by e-mail or fax if it is necessary to send them promptly. However, the originals should be sent by post or by courier. For the first part of the Masters degree programmes, the deadline for submission of applications from non-Spanish candidates is 2 May of the year when the programme starts, except for the Master on Olive Growing and Oil Technology whose deadline is 15 April. The first deadline for submission of applications from Spanish candidates is 30 June of the year when the programme starts. Candidatures presented by this deadline will have preference. The second deadline is 15 September. A selection committee studies the applications and informs the candidates of their admission and of the financing conditions of their participation within approximately 15 days after the application deadline. To formalize registration, accepted candidates must sign the agreement with participation norms, provide 3 photographs and present proof of medical insurance cover. They receive, according to the programme in which they are going to participate, detailed instructions about the payment of registration fees, procedure to present authenticated copies of their university diploma and official transcript of records, legalized through diplomatic channels, and about the language in which they have to provide official translations. Admission and registration procedures for the second part of the Masters degree programmes are detailed in the section Information on degree programmes General description Admission requirements.

Main academic regulations

CIHEAM academic regulations (see Annex I) govern the organization and development of IAMZ postgraduate programmes. IAMZs specific rules of application of these academic regulations concern:

 Requisites for admission regarding language knowledge. The working languages of the first part of the Masters degree programmes (Postgraduate Specialization Courses) held at IAMZ are English, French and Spanish. Lecturers can teach in any of the three languages. Simultaneous interpretation into Spanish is provided when lecturers speak English or French. From the beginning of July to the end of September an intensive course of Spanish is organized for those who require it. During the course, participants can answer the exams in any of the three languages. In the case of the first part of the Masters degree programmes held in coorganizing institutions the working language is Spanish. From the beginning of July to the end of September an intensive course of Spanish is organized for those who require it. Knowledge of English and/or French is nevertheless valued, as some lectures and part of the documentation distributed may be written in one or both of these languages. Detailed requisites for admission to each programme regarding language knowledge are detailed in the corresponding programme file. Attendance and punctuality. The total time of absence for a justified cause throughout the academic year must not exceed 10% of the total duration of the programme. Should this limit be exceeded, the participant will be excluded from the programme and if applicable, his or her grant will be withdrawn. The previous rule is applicable per section; therefore if the absences are concentrated in a single section, they must not exceed 10% of the duration of the section in question. Assessment of group work. In the group work established in the programme, with a given assignation of credits and evaluated by an examining board, the final result awarded to each member of the working group is calculated considering the following: assessment by the examining board of the whole work: 48% of the mark; assessment by the examining board of the presentation and delivery of each group member: 12% of the mark; assessment by the tutor of the group of the contribution made by each member to the whole work: 30% of the mark; and assessment by the IAMZ programme coordinator of the attitude and contribution made by each member to the group work as a whole: 10% of the mark. Exam retake policy. Participants that have failed an exam or that have obtained less than 70/100 (minimum result required for admission to the second part of a Master programme) can retake it. The highest numerical score that a participant can obtain for a retake is 70/100. The grade obtained in the retake is definitive, even if it is lower than the result obtained in the first sit.

ECTS institutional co-ordinator

Manuela Cerezo, Principal Administrator for Training