al. 29 Listopada 54
31-425 Kraków
tel: +4812 6625922
e-mail: biot@ar.krakow.pl

Head Henryk Kołoczek, PhD, DSc.

The Inter-Faculty Programme in Biotechnology was established by the resolution of the Agricultural University of Krakow Senate in the academic year 1999/2000. It was formed by four faculties: Agriculture and Economics, Animal Sciences, Horticulture and Food Technology. Initially the programme functioned at the Faculty of Horticulture and on 1 September 2003 was changed into Inter-Faculty Study of Biotechnology. At present it is an independent unit focused on educating specialists in the field of Plant, Animal and Food Biotechnology.
Biotechnology is a modern field of knowledge which holds out fine future prospects, so it is widely popular among young people. Every year numerous graduates from secondary schools apply for admission. It is connected with dynamic development of this science focused on formation of scientific bases for genetic engineering and practical applications. First food and pharmaceutical products produced using genetically modified organisms have already been marketed in many countries. There is a growing number of possible applications of biotechnology in medicine, agriculture, environmental protection and in many other areas of life.
There are 60 students enrolled each year in Biotechnology programme (a total of 200). The studies last 5 years (10 semesters) and comprise 3400 hours. Students have at their disposal well equipped laboratories and numerous workshops (in vitro culture lab, microbiological, biochemical, molecular genetics and cytological and embryological lab) offering modern apparatus. They may also use two computer laboratories with Internet access and electronic databases in the Main Library.
Classes and lectures at the Inter-Faculty Study of Biotechnology are taught by researchers and academic staff employed in 45 units of the seven faculties of Agricultural University of Krakow. Some tutorials and lectures are also taught by researchers from Faculty of Biotechnology of the Jagiellonian University, Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of sciences and Institute of Animal Science There are altogether 69 senior lecturers teaching various courses in the field of Biotechnology. They specialise in various areas of Biotechnology, co-operate with many research centres and enterprises in Poland and abroad (In United Kingdom, the Netherlands, in France and US).

Education The Study educates about 200 students in the field of :

• Biotechnology (specialisation: Applied Biotechnology)