Country: Italy Continent: Europe Name: University of Padova Homepage: www.tesaf.unipd.it Postal Address: University of Padova Agripolis - Via Romea I-35020 Legnaro PD Italy Focal Points: · Agricultural and Forestry Economics and Policy · Appraisal and Law · Ecology, Sylviculture and Forest Planning · Mechanization and Plants · IDEA Laboratory (Hydrology, Soil protection, Ecology and Environment) · Plant Pathology The part of the faculty concerned with forestry investigates both regional and global aspects of our discipline. It collaborates with several other European and non European countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Ukraina and Argentina. These international projects are carried on by the different departments located near the lecture building (see below for a description of the stucture). It tends to give students a knowledge of all aspects of forestry and ecology, and goes in depth in topics which concern the region: for le Alpine environments and snow - hydrology. Education system: It had a five year course in forestry and envirnmental sciences. It has now (year 2001) changed to a 3+2 years course. It means that one studies for three years and gets a non specialized "laurea", or keeps studying for another two years and gets a specialized "laurea" . The first year starts with very general courses such as chemistry, physics, mathematics and general biology. The courses narrow down and get more into our professional field as one goes on with the years. At the last year the student gets a choice of four directions for studying: landscape management, environmental ecology, wood technology or economic aspects of forestry. These make the person a specialized on a certain aspect of forestry and environmental studies. Language: Italian Description: It is located 8 Km. from Padova, one of the main towns of the Veneto region in Italy. The town is called Legnaro, and it is very small compared to Padova. That is why many students live in Padova and take the bus to and back from the university. The faculty was in Padova some years ago, but they moved it due to overcrowding of students in Padova. The university complex is called Agripolis. It hosts forestry students, agronomy students and veterinary students. There are several labs for different specific courses. A separate building houses the lecturers' and professors' offices and labs. Agripolis is also where most of the work on projects and research in our line of work is done. We have two computer labs, a GIS/Remote Sensing lab, a library and a secretariat of the university. The departments have also several labs, equipped according to their work. Enthomology, agronomy, cattle-management, wood technology, land and territory management and Biology are just some examples. For the veterinarians there is also the availability of stables for horses and other animals, and a animal hospital also equipped for having big sized animals taken care of. by Francesco Pirotti (local student) Local IFSA-Group: Associazione Universitaria Studenti Forestali (AUSF): legnaro@ifsa.net