The need for highly educated professionals with deep understanding in plant health for sustainable agriculture is high at both, program and partner countries. This project has the ambition of harmonizing and modernizing doctoral education in this field and to create a network of researchers that is capable to respond to current challenges in plant health. The specific objectives are: to harmonize, improve and modernize the doctoral study programs in plant health among partner universities in order to increase the competences and skills of PhD candidates to respond to the global plant health issues; to develop a draft of curriculum of International Joint PhD study program in Plant Health; and to foster regional integration in the field of plant health research and education among WBC and between WBC and EU countries. The unique platform for PhD education in plant health issues will be set up among partners. PIs will adapt the best practices related to management and conducting PhD study programs. Scientific content and learning outcomes of different courses will be improved and harmonized. Teachers will be trained in new educational methods and for mentoring of PhD students. Creation of scientific network among scientists, mobility periods and exchange of students and staff, together with establishment of diagnostic and training hubs in PIs will improve human capacities of the candidate countries to adapt EU policy in plant health to develop and to introduce the new non-pesticide methods in agricultural practice and to conduct and/or participate in research in the field of plant health at international level. Proposed activities will allow for the international recognition of the proposed courses and will enable education of young scientists in plant health ready to cooperate and participate in scientific research at regional and international level. The draft of the curriculum will be created and ready to be submitted to accreditation.
The specific objectives of the project are: to harmonize, improve and modernize the doctoral study programs in plant health among partner universities in order to increase the competences and skills of PhD candidates to respond to the global plant health issues; to develop a draft of curriculum of International Joint PhD study program in Plant Health; and to foster regional integration in the field of plant health research and education among WBC and between WBC and EU countries.
Due to increasing concerns about the negative impacts of pesticides under the European Green Deal, Farm to Fork and Biodiversity 2030 strategies, a target has been set to reduce the use and risks of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030. To achieve this goal, professionals with in-depth knowledge of plant health are needed. This project aims to harmonize and modernize PhD training in this field and create a network of researchers able to respond to the current challenges.
<< Background >> Due to increasing concerns about the negative impacts of pesticides under the European Green Deal, Farm to Fork and Biodiversity 2030 strategies, a target has been set to reduce the use and risks of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030. To achieve this goal, professionals with in-depth knowledge of plant health are needed. This project aims to harmonize and modernize PhD training in this field and create a network of researchers able to respond to the current challenges. << Objectives >> The specific objectives of the project are: to harmonize, improve and modernize the doctoral study programs in plant health among partner universities in order to increase the competences and skills of PhD candidates to respond to the global plant health issues; to develop a draft of curriculum of International Joint PhD study program in Plant Health; and to foster regional integration in the field of plant health research and education among WBC and between WBC and EU countries. << Implementation >> To create a unique platform for PhD training in plant health, PIs shared best practices, improved scientific content, and developed new courses and curricula for the international PhD program. Staff capacity building was achieved through training for supervising PhD students, joint research activities, mobility periods, and student and staff exchanges. The creation of the curriculum and the establishment of diagnostic and training hubs in the PIs contributed to their international recognition. << Results >> HarISA formed new partnership among 195 PIs members, 74 of whom are faculty, 31 students, and 6 administrators from partner countries. Existing PhD programmes were revised, a platform for teaching materials was developed, and student and faculty competencies were increased through training and mobility activities. PIs' laboratories were equipped to facilitate students' advanced training and research activities. The curriculum for the joint PhD programme in plant health (PHiSA) was established.