The Master is mainly held in Zaragoza and is co-organised by the University of Lleida (UdL) and the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies, in collaboration with ICARDA and two Spanish research centres. One of them, the CBGP, has been granted the Spanish accreditation of Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence. The other, Agrotecnio, belongs to the Catalan i-CERCA network of Centres of Excellence in Catalonia.
This Master programme is designed to train professionals in the field of plant breeding by integrating the tools of cell biology, molecular biology, genomics, biotechnology and bioinformatics into classical selection methods. The specialization profile of this degree enables students to undertake technical responsibilities in this domain as well as to perform high-level scientific research. The first year (60 ECTS) of the programme has a professional orientation and includes lectures, practicals, study, individual and group projects and technical visits; and the second year (60 ECTS) of the Master consists of tutored initiation to research or to professional activity in collaboration with governmental institutions, universities, research centres, ONGs, associations and private firms. CIHEAM Zaragoza coordinators will provide information about the activities of the centres where students will carry out their projects. Students will choose a topic of their interest. They may also propose a project upon agreement with the host centres.
Why this MSc is unique:
1. The students of today will be the professionals of 2050. The growing demand for food in the twenty-first century highlights the need to train specialists that can apply knowledge of genomics to guarantee a healthier and more sustainable food production
2. An innovative programme that integrates the most advanced tools of plant genetics, data science for plant breeding, bioinformatics, structural and functional genomics, linkage maps and GWAS, marker enable prediction and selection and phenomics and analysis of omics data
3. A multidisciplinary programme delivered by more than 80 highly qualified professionals from 13 countries, selected for their expertise.
4. A comprehensive teaching system combining lectures, practicals, individual and group work as well as visits to companies and research centres.
5. Introduction to research with a Master's thesis carried out in reputed institutions.
6. A multicultural environment shared with students and lecturers from over 30 countries.
7. An opportunity to establish a network of contacts and collaboration, a clear differentiating advantage in the professional field.
8. Official Spanish Master degree awarded by the UdL and Master of Science Degree awarded by CIHEAM. Postgraduate Specialization Diploma awarded by CIHEAM upon completion of the first year.
9. This Master is perfectly aligned with SDGs 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9.