Biosolutions for Plant Health
Second Level University Master's Degree
Piacenza
The global market, and particularly the European market, is seeing growing attention to the production of high-quality, certified food that is healthy and produced in an environmentally friendly manner.
For example, the European strategies “From Farm to Fork” and “Biodiversity 2030” aim to reduce the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers by 50% by 2030 and to triple the area under organic cultivation. This forces the entire primary sector supply chain to adapt quickly, posing challenges for all stakeholders involved: from agricultural producers to processors and distributors. In this context, the development and use of natural solutions to preserve the health of cultivated plants are becoming increasingly important, both in organic farming and in integrated farming. These solutions (biosolutions) include, among others, a range of natural products, plant extracts (botanicals), biocontrol microorganisms, beneficial arthropods, and biostimulants, whose market is constantly expanding.
Master’s objective
The master aims to train a new professional figure capable of understanding, employing, and optimizing the effectiveness of biosolutions for plant health thanks to an integrated vision and a systemic approach, in line with the One Health concept, combining scientific and technical-applicative aspects.
The training program has a total duration of 1,500 hours (60 credits), of which 300 are dedicated to a company internship project.
WHY CHOOSE A MASTER’S AT UNIVERSITÀ CATTOLICA?
The latest Almalaurea report clearly highlights the advantages of a second-level master’s degree graduate profile compared to a master’s degree graduate. Master’s degree graduates have a very high employment rate just one year after graduation — for second-level master’s degrees, the rate is around 89.2% — while master’s degree graduates have lower percentages (around 75.7% one year after graduation). In addition, the average time to find the first job after the second-level master’s degree is about 4 months, significantly shorter than the time needed to reach comparable employment levels among graduates. Another positive aspect is the net monthly salary: second-level master’s degree graduates earn an average of €2,151 one year after graduation, exceeding the typical figures recorded for master’s degree graduates. This salary advantage translates into better overall remuneration even in the short term after graduation.
The second-level master’s degree is also often chosen by those already in the job market and aims to update and deepen specific skills. The survey results show that those who continue the work they started before the second-level master’s degree (a considerable share of graduates) achieve a significant improvement in professional skills – an element that, in turn, promotes faster and more profitable employability than master’s graduates.
The survey shows that the majority of first-level and, particularly, second-level master’s graduates are employed into permanent contracts and forms of self-employment. This not only provides greater job stability, but also encourages entry into more specialized roles and, in some cases, into senior management or intellectual positions. Such opportunities are generally less immediate for master’s graduates.
It is therefore understandable to think that the second-level master’s degree can be the winning choice and a strategic investment for one’s future: with its ability to provide practical and specialized skills, it emerges as a real fast track to entering the world of work, making a difference in the eyes of recruiters.
Il master di secondo livello è spesso scelto anche da chi è già inserito nel mercato del lavoro e mira ad aggiornare e approfondire competenze specifiche. I risultati dell’indagine mostrano che chi prosegue il lavoro iniziato prima del master (una quota considerevole dei diplomati) ottiene un miglioramento significativo nelle competenze professionali – un elemento che, di riflesso, favorisce un’occupabilità più rapida e proficua rispetto ai laureati magistrali.
L’indagine evidenzia che la maggior parte dei diplomati di master (in particolare di secondo livello) è assorbita da contratti a tempo indeterminato e da forme di attività in proprio. Questo non solo garantisce una stabilità lavorativa superiore, ma favorisce anche l’ingresso in ruoli di maggiore specializzazione e, in alcuni casi, in posizioni di alta dirigenza o intellettuali. Tali opportunità sono generalmente meno immediate per i laureati magistrali.
È quindi comprensibile pensare che il master di secondo livello possa essere la scelta vincente e un investimento strategico per il proprio futuro: con la sua capacità di fornire competenze pratiche e specialistiche, si configura come una vera e propria corsia preferenziale per entrare nel mondo del lavoro, facendo la differenza agli occhi dei recruiter.
WHY A SECOND-LEVEL MASTER AT THE UNIVERSITA’ CATTOLICA
Data from the last academic year (2022/23) confirm the primacy of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in the world of university master’s programs: with more than 180 programs and about 3,500 enrolled students, the University stands out as the leader in Italy, not only for the variety of its training offerings, but also for the number of students who choose its excellence each year. This leading position, consolidated steadily over the past eight years, makes choosing a master from the Università Cattolica a guarantee of seriousness and quality in teaching.
The Biosolution Master’s Program for Plant Health was born from the many years of experience of the Biosolution Academy Higher Education course. It was developed at the initiative of the Research Center in Plant Health Modelling (PHEM) of the Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, in collaboration with the High School of Agribusiness Management and Economics (SMEA) of the Piacenza-Cremona Branch: the Level II Master’s degree is therefore the ideal meeting point between market needs and the most innovative technical-scientific knowledge.
In fact, this master stems from the many years of experience of the Biosolution Academy advanced training course.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INTERNSHIP
Masters involve experiential teaching, with internships and project work, which not only facilitate job placement (with 31% of graduates receiving an offer of placement from the host institution), but also provide an opportunity to create professional networks and gain practical experience, elements that can make a difference in the job market.
In the second-level master’s degree in Biosolutions for Plant Health, the corporate internship plays a key role both in terms of its size (12 CFUs, or 300 hours) and coordination with host entities.
In collaboration with the companies that have long cooperated with the Biosolution Academy, numerous internship proposals have already been defined, with real job descriptions.
THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
The educational program provides a common path for all participants, which is structured as follows:
| Title | Scientific-disciplinary sector | Credits (CFUs) |
| Biosolutions and applicative strategies. Pathogens module | AGRI-05/B | 12 |
| Biosolutions and applicative strategies. Pests module | AGRI-05/A | 12 |
| Biostimulants | AGRI-06/B; AGRI-08/A | 12 |
| Good experimental practices | AGRI-05/A-B | 3 |
| Legislative aspects | AGRI-05/A-B | 3 |
| Biosolutions marketing | AGR-01/A | 3 |
| Internship | 12 | |
| Final test | 12 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 60 |
DIRECTOR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STEERING COMMITTEE
The Director of the master is Prof. Tito Caffi, professor of Plant Pathology.
The Steering Council is composed of the Director, internal members (Prof. Luigi Lucini, Prof. Emanuele Mazzoni, Dr. Giorgia Fedele) and external members (Prof. Vittorio Rossi, Dr. Giacomo Finotto).
The Steering Committee is composed of representatives of leading plant health companies.
WHO IS IT FOR?
The master is addressed to:
a) graduates in scientific/technical disciplines with a master’s/specialist degree or from the old system in one of the following degree classes pursuant to the Ministerial Decree of the Ministry of University and Research No. 270 of October 22, 2004, or in the classes corresponding to them pursuant to the previous regulations: LM-6, LM-7, LM-8, LM-9, LM-35, LM-54, LM-60, LM-69, LM-70, LM-71, LM-73, LM-75;
b) graduates of other master’s/specialist degree classes or of the old system, if they have a study plan that, in the opinion of the Admission Committee, is in line with the aims of the master.
In addition to the above-mentioned graduates, master’s degree students from the same degree programs may also apply for admission: these, if eligible, may be enrolled under the condition that they have completed their master’s degree or have applied for graduation by January 31, 2026, under penalty of forfeiture of enrollment.
Those who, in relation to the number of available places, are deemed suitable, through evaluation by the Selection Committee of the documents presented during the online registration phase (curriculum vitae, cover letter, degree certificate or self-certification with study plan and grades achieved) are admitted to the master.
ENROLLMENT COSTS
Candidates deemed suitable will be required to register by the date indicated in the letter sent by email that communicates the admission, paying the 1st non-refundable installment of 2,500 euros.
Fees, surcharges and contributions for attending the Master amount to a total of 8,000 euros.
UNIVERSITà CATTOLICA DEL SACRO CUORE
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Master’s Director
Prof. Tito Caffi
tito.caffi@unicatt.it
Master’s office
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Via Emilia Parmense 84 – 29122 Piacenza
Tel. 0523 599.134 – 0523 599.200
uff.master-pc@unicatt.it
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