Mensen die durven denken over de uitdagingen van morgen, daar streven we naar. Daarom is het onderwijs aan onze universiteit stevig verankerd in zes grote onderwijsdoelstellingen: denk breed, blijf onderzoeken, steun talent, bouw mee, verleg grenzen en kies kwaliteit. De UGent besteedt continu aandacht aan het verbeteren van de kwaliteit van de opleidingen. Het UGent-kwaliteitszorgsysteem geeft voor elke opleiding informatie over de troeven van de opleiding, de sterke punten én de werkpunten .

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Onderwijsdoelstellingen van de UGent

Kwaliteitszorg van de UGent

1. The program builds knowledge on nutrition and rural development: Both quantitative and qualitative aspects are considered, with a particular emphasis on evidence-based approaches and critical appraisal of research to guide and evaluate population nutrition and develop interventions. As such, the program fosters life-long learning and consideration of knowledge and education for development.
2. The program has a strong emphasis on hand-on competencies and skills: In various courses, students work in teams and carry out joint planning of proposals and discuss evaluations of interventions. The groups are composed out of students with various nationalities and technical backgrounds. Students learn how to defend group work in interactive sessions and evaluation by peers.
3. Multi-perspective focus: The course has a comprehensive focus on nutrition in populations and in the context of food security and sustainable development.
4. Applicability: Guest lecturers are invited to discuss experiences and practical challenges of programs and interventions. In addition through the master dissertation, students learn how to define a problem, collect data and develop research informed interventions. Also, students can choose to do an internship, in which the students are exposed to practical challenges when developing programs. As a consequence, alumni are found at different organisations e.g. national governments, United Nations specialised agencies, local and international NGO’s and research institutions across the globe. A considerable share of the students also pursues a PhD.
5. Integration of research in education: Lecturers are actively involved in research on food, nutrition and development. This research is conducted in national, European as well as global partnerships. Ongoing research findings feeds into the courses and ensures lectures are up to date with the most recent findings and innovations.

1. Students have close contact with the lecturers. This includes the tenured academic staff as well as the teaching assistants that take care of the practical courses. Students interact with the staff on both a formal and informal way to discuss research, as well as academic and practical matters related to studying in Belgium.
2. Educational matters and quality control of the programme are reviewed and guided by an international advisory board. This board is composed out of representatives from national governments, NGO’s, program alumni, UN agencies as well as academic staff of universities in the south.
3. Students and assisting staff actively contribute to quality control of the program. The education commission meets on a monthly basis to discuss matters related to the quality and organisation of the program. Student representatives are at least 1/3 of the members and have voting rights.
4. Motivated lecturers with large research expertise. Lecturers in the program are engaged and motivated and come from a wide variety of disciplines. They are international leading researchers in the area of nutrition and devolvement and combine passion for research with education. (number 5 globally according to Shangai ranking 2017 for Food Science & Technology). The international experience and networks of the lecturing staff are highly appreciated by the students.
5. Strong support from the faculty educational council. An education commission at faculty level provides strong support for the education commission and brings high quality education on the agenda of the faculty staff. Transparent procedures are put in place and regular workshops around quality assurance in education, exchange of good practices between lecturers are organised.

1. The program considers the internship as an integral part of the master program. Albeit not mandatory, students will be even more encouraged to take up an internship in their curriculum. Supported by the staff of the course, students are stimulated to pursue internship options and empowered to develop personal collaborations and networks.
2. Exchange with other Master Programs in Europe. The program has identified various linkages with other master programs at UGent and in Europe. Students will be even more encouraged to take courses from other programs and gain additional international experiences.
3. To ensure further integration with other (international and national) Master courses at the Faculty, the education commission of the Master in Nutrition and Rural Development will promote the involvement of more lecturers in the education commission and management of the program.