Recommendation letter Erasmus Mundus International MSc in Rural Development (IMRD) www.imrd.ugent.

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IMRD, part of the European Erasmus Mundus program, offers the opportunity to study the European vision on rural development in its diversity of approaches and applications, on a scholarship provided by the European Union. The objective is to train specialists in integrated rural development , focussed on socio-economic and institutional aspects, not only from the European Union but also from developed, developing and transition countries outside the European Union through a 2 year master program jointly organised by six European leading institutes in agricultural economics and rural development. The Master program is offered by a consortium of 6 European universities: Ghent University (Belgium), Agrocampus Ouest (France), Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany), Wageningen University (The Netherlands), the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (Slovakia) and the University of Pisa (Italy). As of 2010-2011 these have been joined by 5 non-European partneruniversities: University of Pretoria (South-Africa), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore (India), Nanjing Agricultural University (China), China Agricultural University (China), Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral (Ecuador). The methodology consists of a combination of basic and specialised training in technical, economic and social sciences, a case study of one month, an individual master thesis and a high extent of student and scholar mobility .

ADMISSION
The International MSc in Rural Development offers admission to applicants who appear to have the highest potential for graduate study and who, with the benefit of a graduate education, are the most likely to contribute substantially to their academic or professional fields through teaching, research, or professional practice. The minimum graduate admission requirements are: o Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree of minimum 3 years with good overall scores (at least a second class or equivalent, preferably higher) from a university or recognized equivalent. Candidates are expected to have basic science training in: (1) mathematics and/or statistics, (2) agronomy and/or biology and/or environmental sciences and (3) social sciences and/or rural development. o The applicant must be proficient in the language of the course, i.e. English. Applicants generally have a Bachelor's degree or a recognized equivalent academic degree of minimum 3 years study in bioscience engineering or agricultural sciences (preferably agricultural economics), in combination with knowledge in environmental sciences, economics, sociology and rural development studies.

YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE IMRD APPLICANT

Please fill in this document in English or French, and sign the document. Include your CV at the end (maximum one page). The student will be asked to submit either an assessment form that bears your signature by regular mail (under closed envelope) or either you have to send the filled in, signed (and scanned) document from your email address in order for us to be able to verify the originality. Please be aware that your assessment is an essential component of the application file of the applicant. Lack of reference letters will result in the disqualification of the application.

IMRD Ghent University - Faculty of Bioscience Engineering - Department of Agricultural imrd@ugent.be

ASSESSMENT FORM TO BE COMPLETED Your name: Your title: .. Your field of research/profession: ..... Your institute (country, name): Telephone: E-mail: ... Please state your relationship with the candidate: Family Name of the applicant: First name of the applicant: Please give your advice on the following items: 1. Academic performance of the applicant (Study results, ranking of the students in their previous studies)

2. Research capacity, potential and skills of the applicant (Dissertation or research papers, possible research experience, critical attitude, analytical skills)

IMRD Ghent University - Faculty of Bioscience Engineering - Department of Agricultural imrd@ugent.be

3. Background and motivation of the applicant for graduate study in rural development (His/her knowledge of rural development, experience with rural development, motivation for graduate study in rural development ) 4. Language skills of the applicant Indicate the level of his/her linguistic abilities 4 = Mother tongue * 3 = Very good knowledge * 2 = Good knowledge * 1 = Limited knowledge English Francais Espanol Deutsch Understanding Speaking Reading Writing 5. Please mention strong and weak points of the applicant: Strong: Weak: Nederlands

IMRD Ghent University - Faculty of Bioscience Engineering - Department of Agricultural imrd@ugent.be

6. Please describe why you think the applicant is or is not a suitable candidate for the IMRD:

Please do not forget to include your short CV (max. 1 page):

Date:

Signature:

IMRD Ghent University - Faculty of Bioscience Engineering - Department of Agricultural imrd@ugent.be