Wageningen University originated in the 19th century at a time when Western Europe was experiencing an agricultural crisis. In the Netherlands, in addition to providing funds and economic support for agriculture, new laws provided for state-run agricultural schools. The first such school was opened in 1876, at Wageningen. Much has changed since that early start. Today Wageningen University has little in common with its 19th century forerunner. However one elementary aspect has not changed. Since its inception Wageningen University has been orientated towards society and its problems. Wageningen University was founded on March 9, 1918. The first 45 years of agricultural education at Wageningen focused on agriculture, forestry and horticulture. Since its foundation in 1918 the University has widened its activities to include environmental control, nature conservation and related subjects. The research at Wageningen University takes its cue from relatively new scientific disciplines such as biotechnology, molecular biology and computer science. During recent decades, Wageningen University has evolved into a university that focuses as much on environmental problems as on issues in agriculture. For many years, Wageningen scientists have been aware of the ultimate importance of maintaining habitable planet earth, as well as providing a reliable food supply for man and beast. This led to the university's single, integrated faculty being renamed in 1989 as the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Since 1998 Wageningen University co-operates with the Netherlands Organisation for Agricultural Research (DLO) and the Netherlands Organisation of Applied Research in Agriculture (PO) in the framework of Wageningen University and Research Centre (Wageningen UR). The core activities of Wageningen UR are:
The Executive Board holds the ultimate responsibility of Wageningen University. The chairs, which are organised within five departments, form the core of activity and capacity of the university. They are the units responsible for education and research. In Dutch, they are called ‘leerstoelgroepen’ (the word ‘stoel’ means chair). In English, apart from chair, several other names are used, for example sub-department, (research) group, and lab. Each chair is managed by a professor.
Wageningen UR has formulated its mission statement as follows:
Wageningen UR is developing into an organisation with a strong international orientation while retaining its solidarity with the agricultural sector in the Netherlands.
Most students at Wageningen University originate from Dutch secondary education. They follow one of the eighteen Dutch 4 or 5-year study programmes. The first year consists of course units in ‘basic disciplines’ such as (depending on the study programme) chemistry, physics, mathematics and sociology. Students who have passed this year receive a ‘propaedeuse diploma’, which is necessary to be able to continue their study. After that is a 3 or 4-year phase called ‘doctoraal’, leading to the title of Ingenieur (abbreviated to Ir.), which is equal to a Master’s degree. The last one to two years of the doctoral phase consist of at least one thesis and a practical training. Many students spend their practical training phase abroad, which is quite unique for the Netherlands. Other students graduated from Dutch vocational colleges. They follow a shortened (2 to 3 years) version of the regular degree programme, because they are exempted from specific course units and from the practical training. Wageningen University has also 17-month international MSc study programmes on offer. These are meant for international students with a BSc-degree or equal. These are English programmes. A MBA Food Industry and Agribusiness programme has been established for students who have passed the Graduate Management Admission Test. Registration is handled via the Educational Testing Service in the United States of America. Work experience in the food industry and agribusiness is valued highly in the admission process.
Furthermore, there are a number of international students who study in Wageningen in the frame of an exchange programme, e.g. SOCRATES/ Erasmus. They follow course units in Wageningen for three to twelve months as a part of a degree programme at their own university.
Students with an ir.-degree can, without further examination, continue with a research training, which leads to the title of Doctor (Dr.). This is the highest university degree awarded in the Netherlands.
In 2002, the educational system of Wageningen University will change, because of the implementation of the so-called BSc/MSc model. Fourteen study programmes are established. These new programmes will start with a broad foundation course (three years) leading to the BSc degree that can be followed up by the MSc phase (two years) during which the student specialises and/or acquires professional qualifications. The contemporary MSc study programmes will be integrated with the fourteen Dutch study programmes. In the MSc-phase, the language in all course units will therefore be English.
At Wageningen University, the language of instruction is Dutch or English. The course units that are given in English are listed in the Study Handbook; the Dutch course units are listed in the 'studiegids' (Dutch Study Handbook). In this information package, only the course units that are given in English, are listed. For students with enough knowledge of Dutch, it is, of course, possible to follow course units with Dutch as the language of instruction. The advantage is that there are even more Dutch than English course units on offer. It is possible to follow language courses in Dutch and English. The Dutch 'studiegids' can be obtained at the 'Centraal Magazijn' (central store), Droevendaalsesteeg.
In case of a MSc-thesis, the language of instruction and supervision can be either Dutch of English, depending on the student. All staff and students at WU understand and speak English.
For more information you can visit www.wageningenuniversity.nl