This course is the introduction to the field of Biosystems Engineering (Agrotechnologie in Dutch). The course is split in two parts. The focus of part 1 is on getting to know the most commonly used technology in the main primary production sectors: arable farming of field crops, greenhouse plant production, livestock farming.
The focus of part 2 is on familiarizing yourself with different approaches taught in the biosystems engineering program to work on challenges in the domain.
In part 1, each week will focus on one specific production sector. Every week is built up the same, starting with an introductory lecture on Monday, in which the structure of the sector is presented, the most important technologies explained, and issues and new developments are introduced. On Tuesday, you study literature by yourself, with theoretical background information provided on Brightspace. There is an excursion on Wednesday, to see the production technologies in practice. On Thursday, there is a discussion hour supported by the lecturer, to identify and clarify aspects that were not clear yet . At the end of the week there is a short practice test on the content of that week via Brightspace.
The course also incorporates two skills modules. The module CCI trains you in applying the more advanced functions of office applications (Word, PowerPoint and especially Excel). The module Information literacy teaches you to retrieve information from different sources.
