Teaching establishments 

There are 25 University Schools in Agriculture and/or Forestry. IS and IT degrees in Agriculture and Forestry are offered in Albacete (1), Madrid (17), LLeida (14) and Lugo (16). IS degrees in Agriculture and Forestry in Córdoba (8); IT degrees in Agriculture and Forestry in Huelva (9) and Palencia (19); IS and IT degree in Agriculture in Cartagena (6), La Laguna (12), León (13), Logroño (15), Pamplona (20) and Valencia (23); IT degree in Agriculture in Almendralejo (2), Badajoz (4), Barcelona (5), Ciudad Real (7), Girona (10), La Almunia (11), Orihuela (18), Seville (21) and Valladolid (24); and IT degree in Forestry in Tolosa (22) and Vigo (25). 

The high number of courses is due to local political demand, justified in part by environmental variability. Spain is a very diverse country with a total area of 504,750 km2. About 40% of this area is cultivated; of which over 3 million ha are irrigated. In broad terms there are four climatic zones in mainland Spain. The northern coast has an Atlantic climate with an average temperature of 9ºC in winter and 18ºC in summer and annual rainfall of 965 mm. The central plateau has a continental climate with an average temperature of 4ºc in winter, 24ºc in summer and annual rainfall of less than 380 mm. Three sub-zones (the Ebro's basin, the northern plateau and the southern plateau) differ from one another due to their continent nature (the northern plateau being the most continental) and due to their water resources (the Ebro's basin being the area with the largest water resources in the country), both of which fashion agriculture there. The eastern and southern coast and most of the Guadalquivir Valley, in the south, have a Mediterranean climate with an average temperature of 11ºC in winter and 23ºC in summer and annual rainfall ranging between 250 mm. and 600 mm. Zones 2,750 m. above sea level have a mountainous climate and are of little agricultural interest. Finally, the Canary Islands and some small areas on the southern Mediterranean coast have a subtropical climate with average winter temperature above 15ºC and very low rainfall (around 300 mm.). The abundant availability of water, mostly from wells, allow very intensive tropical and subtropical horticulture. 

Curricula Make-up 
There are six different curricula for Agriculture and Forestry. i.e., Agricultural and Rural Engineering, Farm and Animal Husbandry, Food Industries, Forest Industries, Horticulture and Gardening, and Silviculture. Although there are some differences between Universities the percentage of time allocated to the different subjects is approximately as follows: basic sciences (20-25%), common technical (35-40%), optional courses. Both options (30%) and free choice optional courses (10%) are optional courses but the last one can be taken from other degrees (e.g. geography, philosophy, computing, etc.). 

In total, 225 credits are required for the IT degree, one credit being 10 hours academic course work (lectures, practical works or seminars). The proportion of practical work and seminars ranges from between 40- 50%. A final professional project, equivalent to 6 credits, is compulsory. 

An example of general common subjects requirements is presented below: Mathematics ( 12 credits), Physics (6 credits), Chemistry (12 credits). Biological and soil sciences (15 credits), Computer Sciences (5 credits), Cartography (6 credits) and Economics (15 credits). Table 1 gives the list of the different subjects required for each option in Agriculture IT curricula at LLeida University. 

Addresses. (see Appendix 1) 

Employment opportunities 

There is no quantitative data published regularly at national level. However, data provided by three IT Schools, for the period 90-94, indicates that the distribution of the employment market can be summarized as follow: 

        Public Administration                   40 %

        Cooperatives and Trade Unions            4 %

        Free professional activities            12 %

        Agro-industry sector                     5 %

        Farm technical management                7 %

        Inputs and Services to Agriculture      32 %

European dimension 
IT Schools' participation in European Programmes (ERASMUS, TEMPUS etc) was rather limited, with the lack of information and language problems being the main difficulties encountered in forming cooperation between universities. 

Ingeniero Superior Degree 

Curricula Make-up 
So far, there are seven different curricula relating to Agriculture and Forestry on offer in Schools of Agriculture and Forestry, namely Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Rural Engineering, Animal Sciences, Food Industries, Forest Industries, Plant Sciences, and Silviculture. Recently, new options are also starting to be available, such as Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences and Technology, Rural Development, etc. 
The increased number of Schools of Agriculture and/or Forestry will probably lead to greater diversification in the future. 

The total requirements can be broken down into approximate percentages per subject as follows: basic sciences (25-35%), common technical (25-35%), optional courses [options (30%) and free choice optional courses (10%)]. 

A total of 375 credits are required for the IS and the student either chooses the option A or B (Fig. 2). In addition to the basic requirements which are similar to those for the IT degree, an example of compulsory subjects for the most common options for Agriculture IS curricula is presented in Table 2. 

A professional project or research work equivalent to 12-15 credits in most cases is compulsory for all students. 

Addresses (see Appendix 1) 

Employment opportunities. 
As for the IT degree, quantitative data is not collated regularly on positions taken up by IS graduates. By using data of one IS School (ETSIAM, Córdoba), for the period 90-94, the employment market can be summarised as follows: 

        Public Administration                           27.5 %

        University teaching and research                15.2 %

        Cooperatives and Trade Unions                    8.7 %

        Free professional activities                     4.6 %

        Agro-industry sector                             1.2 %

        Farm technical management                       10.0 %

        Inputs and services to agriculture              31.2 %

        Others                                           1.6 %

European Dimension 
Foreign language courses (English) are usually included in the optional courses. Optional courses also play an of important part in giving courses a European dimension. For instance, in the new curricula approved by ETSIAM (Córdoba), a maximum of 75 credits can be recognised for studies taken under International Student Exchange Programmes, which is equivalent to the work-load of one academic year. Some Schools are involved in ERASMUS ICPs, which have approved Teacher Mobility, Intensive Programmes and Curricula Development activities, which are of great value in enhancing the European Dimension of the studies for all students.