Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:
The Master of Science Program in Plant Pathology is fundamentally dedicated to safeguarding the world's food supply and protecting natural ecosystems, placing it in direct alignment with several key Sustainable Development Goals. The curriculum's core mission is to produce experts who can diagnose, manage, and innovate solutions for plant diseases, which are a primary threat to agricultural productivity. This focus makes the program a powerful contributor to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by developing strategies to prevent crop losses and ensure sustainable, resilient food production systems. By emphasizing integrated and biological control methods, the program promotes responsible agricultural practices that align with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and protect biodiversity, supporting SDG 15 (Life on Land). The development of advanced molecular diagnostics and disease-resistant plants connects the curriculum to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). As an advanced research-based degree, the program is a cornerstone of SDG 4 (Quality Education) and fosters the global scientific collaborations essential for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
SDG 2: Zero HungerAlignment Summary: This program is central to the goal of ending hunger by focusing on the prevention and management of plant diseases, which cause significant pre- and post-harvest losses worldwide. The curriculum equips students with the knowledge to protect crops, improve agricultural productivity, and develop resilient, sustainable food production systems to ensure global food security.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| AG 117 101 | Principles of Plant Pathology | Provides foundational knowledge for preventing crop losses due to diseases, directly supporting the goal of increasing food production and ensuring food security. |
| AG 117 201 | Fungal Plant Pathogens | Addresses a primary cause of crop loss by focusing on fungal diseases, contributing to sustainable food production systems and enhanced agricultural productivity (Target 2.4). |
| AG 117 202 | Bacterial Plant Pathogens | Focuses on bacterial diseases that threaten crop yields, contributing to the development of resilient agricultural practices to ensure food security. |
| AG 117 203 | Plant Virology | Addresses viral diseases that can devastate essential food crops, directly supporting the effort to end hunger by protecting agricultural productivity. |
| AG 117 301 | Plant Disease Management | Directly aligns with Target 2.4 by teaching integrated strategies to increase agricultural productivity and maintain sustainable food production systems by controlling diseases. |
| AG 117 302 | Biological Control of Plant Pathogens | Promotes sustainable agriculture by focusing on non-chemical methods to control plant diseases, ensuring long-term food security and resilient ecosystems. |
| AG 117 304 | Host Plant Resistance | Contributes to maintaining genetic diversity and developing resilient agricultural practices (Target 2.5) by breeding crops that can naturally resist diseases. |
SDG 4: Quality EducationAlignment Summary: As a Master of Science program, this curriculum provides high-quality, specialized education in a critical scientific discipline. It equips graduates with the advanced research, technical, and analytical skills necessary for high-level employment in academia, government, and industry, fostering lifelong learning and scientific innovation.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| AG 117 701 | Research Methodology in Plant Pathology | Directly supports Target 4.4 by providing students with the advanced technical and scientific skills required for relevant employment and entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector. |
| AG 117 891 / 892 | Seminar in Plant Pathology I / II | Enhances lifelong learning opportunities (Target 4.3) by training students in critical analysis, scientific discourse, and the communication of complex research findings. |
| AG 117 898 / 899 | Thesis | Represents a capstone lifelong learning opportunity where students conduct original research, thereby acquiring superior technical and vocational skills for employment and innovation (Target 4.4). |
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureAlignment Summary: This program drives innovation in the agricultural industry by focusing on the development and application of modern technologies. Through advanced training in molecular diagnostics and breeding for disease resistance, it enhances scientific research and upgrades the technological capabilities of the plant health sector.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| AG 117 304 | Host Plant Resistance | Enhances scientific research and innovation (Target 9.5) by focusing on the development of disease-resistant crop varieties, a key technological upgrade for the agricultural industry. |
| AG 117 401 | Molecular Plant Pathology | Supports Target 9.5 by enhancing scientific research and upgrading technological capabilities through the application of advanced molecular tools for disease diagnosis and management. |
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and ProductionAlignment Summary: The curriculum promotes responsible production patterns by emphasizing sustainable plant disease management. It focuses on reducing food losses through effective disease control and advocates for integrated approaches, such as biological control, to minimize the use of chemical pesticides and their environmental impact.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| AG 117 301 | Plant Disease Management | Contributes to substantially reducing food losses along production and supply chains (Target 12.3) through effective disease management, which prevents pre- and post-harvest spoilage. |
| AG 117 302 | Biological Control of Plant Pathogens | Promotes the environmentally sound management of chemicals (Target 12.4) by teaching non-chemical alternatives, reducing the release of pesticides into air, water, and soil. |
SDG 15: Life on LandAlignment Summary: This program contributes to the protection and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems by promoting agricultural practices that are harmonious with nature. By focusing on biological control methods, it helps reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides that can harm biodiversity and disrupt ecosystem functions.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| AG 117 302 | Biological Control of Plant Pathogens | Supports the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems (Target 15.1) by promoting biological solutions that protect biodiversity and reduce chemical pollution. |
SDG 17: Partnerships for the GoalsAlignment Summary: The research-intensive nature of this program inherently fosters partnerships for sustainable development. Seminar and thesis work require engagement with the global scientific community, promoting the knowledge-sharing and multi-stakeholder collaborations that are vital for addressing the complex challenges of plant health and food security.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| AG 117 891 / 892 | Seminar in Plant Pathology I / II | Enhances the global partnership for sustainable development by having students engage with and present on the latest global research, fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing (Target 17.6). |
| AG 117 898 / 899 | Thesis | Represents a significant contribution to global partnerships (Target 17.17) by creating new, publishable knowledge that is shared internationally to help solve critical sustainability challenges in agriculture and plant health. |