Responsible: Jridi Mourad
Strengths:
The VPAM program provides both theoretical and practical training, preparing students to acquire foundational knowledge on the techniques used in the valorization of aromatic and medicinal plants (AMP). This program trains professionals in areas like distillation, identification, and extraction of active molecules from AMPs, as well as sustainable development within the AMP field. It offers scientific, technical, and practical expertise in the cultivation of AMPs through a targeted training approach.
The program focuses on mastering the theoretical and practical foundations of this field, which will be taught during formal classes, practical workshops, and internships at laboratories or companies. The diversity of life in the plant kingdom is reflected in the existence of numerous species and varieties that humans can use to endow plants with desired characteristics. These wild or cultivated plants are genetic resources, and their conservation and management are essential for safeguarding the future. Research actions focus on the collection, characterization, description, conservation, exploitation, and valorization of these resources for human or animal food, environmental protection, medicine, pharmacology, and even energy sectors.
Specific Objectives are divided into three levels:
1. Scientific Scope:
- Acquire a high level of scientific knowledge, enabling students to pursue further studies abroad.
- Develop linguistic skills and oral and written communication to easily integrate into an international environment.
- Master the techniques for collecting, characterizing, describing, conserving, exploiting, and valorizing AMPs for human/animal food, environment, medicine, and pharmacology.
2. National Scope:
- Take responsibility to improve food products by adding additives derived from the active principles of AMPs.
3. Socio-Economic Environment:
- Equip students with the tools needed for a smooth integration into the socio-economic environment of their specialty. After completing the program, students will be capable of making decisions and having a strong personality to thrive in the professional world. ISBB is surrounded by various professional environments such as OEP, CRRGC, INGC, agri-food industries, etc.
- Provide entrepreneurial training, enabling students to acquire the skills needed to manage a startup.
Study Organization:
The training lasts two years (M1 and M2) and is divided into four semesters. Three semesters focus on theoretical education (lectures, practicals, and tutorials). At the end of the first year (M1), students must complete a 4-week summer internship to introduce them to professional life. The final semester (S4) will consist of a 4-month graduation project, culminating in an internship report and a defense before a jury designated by the Master's committee of the institution.
Internships must be completed at an agri-food company or a research facility related to the specialty.
Admissibility:
The first year (M1) is open to students holding:
- A Licence in biology, biotechnology, agri-food, bio-industries, agronomy, or equivalent disciplines, or any other degree equivalent to Bac +3 related to the field of study.
The second year is accessible by:
- Successful completion of M1 at our institute.
- Entry through a competitive exam via a call for applications published by ISBB for profiles of students holding a Master’s degree, an engineering diploma, or who have completed M1 in a similar field. Evaluation criteria and the number of students admitted will be determined annually by the Master’s committee before the application call is published.
Objectives:
This Master’s program trains managers or assistant managers in the AMP industry, especially in production, but also in research and development, quality control laboratories, packaging, and quality assurance.
The program aims to train scientific managers with a Bac+5 level in the AMP, food science, and food processing fields to integrate into agri-food companies or research entities (private or academic labs).
Graduates will be capable of:
- Mastering AMP production technologies and management, with a constant focus on quality.
- Mastering AMP transformation processes from both scientific and technological perspectives.
- Identifying and analyzing technical-economic factors for different AMPs.
- Being responsible for the implementation of projects and achieving set objectives.
- Being autonomous while having the ability to work in teams.
- Communicating effectively and managing conflicts.
- Bio-engineer in AMP.
- Study manager in biodiversity of medicinal and aromatic plants (AMP).
- Agricultural development manager for AMPs.
- Researcher on biomolecules/active principles from AMPs.
- Agricultural and land expert in AMPs.
- Forestry expert in AMPs.
- Forest engineering expert for AMPs.
- Plant production engineer in AMPs.
Skills:
Students will acquire knowledge in plant biology, physiology, genetics, and microbiology. The learning outcomes include:
- Knowledge to conduct molecular biology studies on plant breeding, including concepts like genetic diversity, genetic markers, improving AMP yields, and disease resistance while protecting the environment.
- Ability to work in both laboratory and field settings.
- Ability to create and manage their own project.
- Identifying the resources needed for a given project and preparing the corresponding budget.
- Demonstrating the ability to set up a continuous evaluation and improvement system for their projects.
- Proficiency in using data acquisition and analysis software with a critical mindset.
- Ability to negotiate a job contract or secure an internship in an agri-food company.
- Ability to formulate and characterize new products and by-products from AMPs.