MSc in Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Engineering

1. The name of the master’s degree programme: Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Engineering

2. Level of qualification obtainable in the master's programme and designation of professional qualification on the diploma

• level of qualification: master (master; abbreviated: MSc-)
• professional qualification: Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Engineering

3. Field of study: agriculture

4. Degrees accepted as prerequisites for admission to master's programmes

4.1. Full credit value can be considered for the following undergraduate programmes: horse breeding, equestrian sports organization, agricultural engineering, nature conservation engineering, game management engineering, animal husbandry engineering, and crop production engineering.

4.2. The following may also be considered upon completion of the credits specified in Section 9.3: undergraduate programmes in food engineering, agricultural and food engineering, agricultural education, rural development agricultural engineering, and economic and rural development agricultural engineering.

5. The length of the training: 4 semesters

6. Number of credits required to obtain a master's degree: 120 credits

• Orientation of the programme: balanced (40-60 percent)
• credit value assigned to the thesis: 30 credits
• Minimum credit value for optional subjects: 6 credits

7. Classification of fields of study according to the uniform classification system for vocational training areas: 621/0811

8. The aim of the training and professional competences of the master’s degree

The aim of the training is to train Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Engineers who are committed to their profession, who have up-to-date, complex knowledge of the feed and feed management sectors, in line with the principles set out in the European Union's regulatory framework, and who are prepared to provide the feed industry, farm animals, companion animals, and hobby animals, as well as to perform engineering-level design and management tasks in the areas of product development, product manufacturing, economics, environmental and health protection, and quality assurance throughout the entire feed management chain. They are prepared to continue their studies in doctoral programmes.

8.1. Professional competencies to be acquired

8.1.1. Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Engineer’s

a) knowledge

• Knows the modern principles related to the feed and feed management sectors, as well as complex knowledge consistent with the European Union's regulatory framework.
• Knows the professional vocabulary of agriculture, particularly in the field of feed science, in their native language and at least one foreign language.
• Knows the product development, product manufacturing, environmental and health protection, and quality assurance aspects of the entire feed industry and feed management vertically, including its theoretical and practical aspects and its connections to food chain safety.
• Knows the structure of the agricultural sector, in particular the structure of the feed and feed management subsector, the legal regulation of feed production, distribution, and control, the structure, powers, and procedures of the authorities responsible for their operation, and the context of agricultural policy that determines agricultural production.
• Understands the importance of R&D&I in the development of feed production, regarding the nutritional requirements of farm animals and new knowledge related to the safe production of animal products.
• Is also familiar with the possibilities for generating the resources necessary for R+D+I activities.
• Possesses up-to-date knowledge of management theory and organizational management applicable to their field of activity, with a view to strengthening the efficiency and health-promoting nature of work organizations.

b) competencies 

• Capable of continuous self-education and searching for the necessary information sources.
• Understands the conditions for professional advancement and can plan their career accordingly.
• With their theoretical and practical knowledge of feed and feed safety engineering, they can perform engineering-level design and management tasks.
• Can form an independent professional opinion in various areas of the feed industry, feed management, and feed control, support it with the latest scientific findings, and defend their opinion in debates on the given issue.
• Able to independently produce high-quality products with a product chain approach, produce animal feed and preserve its quality, and recognize and comprehensively evaluate usable natural, economic, and social resources.
• Able to participate in various decision-making processes in the agricultural economy and agricultural policy through the performance of expert tasks in professional administration and other state institutional systems.
• Able to provide specialist advice in the sector and suitable for operating and managing individual and joint ventures, as well as participating in or managing R+D+I projects in the field of animal feed.
• Able to form opinions based on both professional and scientific considerations and defend their position.
• Knows and uses professional vocabulary, can communicate professionally in a foreign language.
• Can summarize and critically evaluate knowledge in the field of animal nutrition and feed management.
• Can communicate professional findings orally or in writing to a professional audience or to regulatory authorities.
• Effectively uses modern tools of oral and written communication, with regarding the advantages and possible disadvantages of information technology.
• Able to actively participate in projects and working groups working on specific tasks.

c) attitudes

• Understands and authentically represent the importance of the feed industry and feed management sector, as well as its significance within the agricultural sector, both domestically and internationally.
• He is committed to maintaining and improving the positive social perception of agriculture, including feed raw material production and manufacturing.
• Respects the opinions of domestic, EU, and other international players in the feed industry, and is open and receptive to them.
• Uses its professional knowledge to approach and handle professional issues in a constructive manner.
• He is sensitive to problems arising in any sector of agriculture, particularly the feed industry, and strives to solve them.
• Shows interest in the latest developments in the life sciences, particularly in feed research, and is willing to critically test and then introduce them into daily feed practice.
• Recognizes the importance of professional development and career planning, continuous self-education, and lifelong learning. 
• Has an environmentally conscious approach.
• Committed to environmental and health protection, animal welfare and other ethical rules in agricultural production and product manufacturing.
• Completes with and enforces the ethical rules and standards of scientific research in the field of research and development.
• Accepts and represents the most important values of agricultural production, regarding sustainable development.
• Recognizes values, is receptive to the application of effective methods and tools and is committed to the values of human health.
• Recognizes and accepts the limitations and risks of their decisions, is always characterized by law-abiding behavior in their work and expects the same from their subordinates.
• He is critical and demanding of themselves.
• Accepts the differing opinions and criticism of others if they are supported by professional reasons.
• Is committed to solving problems on a professional basis.
• These are thoughtful, base your opinions on professional considerations, and represent them consistently.
• Can understand and authentically communicate the overall and detailed issues of your profession.
• In your engineering work, you give preference to environmentally friendly solutions that support the health of individuals and society.

d) autonomy and responsibility

• Performs professional tasks independently, whether it be management, research project leadership, or operational tasks.
• Can answer professional questions and solve problems independently.
• Plans their career independently.
• Takes full responsibility for the decisions and activities undertaken in their work.
• They are also responsible for the work of their subordinates.
• Their sense of responsibility is reflected in their professional, legal, ethical, and moral attitudes.
• They take responsibility for their professional opinions and statements and also accept the consequences of their opinions.

9. Characteristics of the master’s training 

9.1. Professional characteristics 

The disciplines and fields of study that make up the programme and lead to professional qualification: 

• basic knowledge of natural sciences and engineering (biochemistry, microbiology, digestive physiology, production physiology, research methodology, biometrics, and communication skills that form the basis of professional knowledge) 18-24 credits; 
• professional knowledge of feeding and feed safety (modules covering specific areas of expertise: feed crop cultivation, grassland utilization, feed knowledge, compound feed production, feed preservation and feed grading, digestive characteristics of different animal species, nutrient supply and feeding, testing and grading of different feeds, and feed safety and quality control) 40-50 credits; 
• elective subject-specific knowledge (macro- and microeconomics of the feed sector and related sectors, business management, companion and hobby animals, intensively farmed and fed fish species, and the protection of the natural environment) 14-22 credits. 

9.2. The requirements of professional practice 

Professional internship lasting at least four weeks, organized at a feed industry facility, livestock farm, research institute primarily engaged in feed research, or institution conducting feed research 

9.3. Minimum requirements for admission to the master's degree programme for holders of the certificate specified in section 4.2.

The minimum number of credits required for admission to a master's programme that differs from the bachelor's programme is at least 84 credits, as follows:

• 20-26 credits in natural sciences (zoology and animal physiology, botany and plant physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, animal health)
• 28-36 credits in agricultural sciences (feed science, soil cultivation and land use, grassland management, plant production, animal husbandry);
• economic and management knowledge (business economics, management and organization) 8-14 credits;
• technical and IT knowledge (basic technical knowledge, IT) 4-8 credits.

Admission to the master's programme requires that the student have at least 60 credits. Missing credits must be obtained in accordance with the study and examination regulations of the higher education institution.