Academic Departments

Departments under the Directorate of Departments are organised by sector of expertise. For our lecturers, these are excellent places to observe developments in their sector and note educational innovations to be implemented.

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8 departments for 114 lecturers (43 of whom are R&D engineers, associate professors and professors).

Agronomy and ecology

Fields of expertise: Agriculture and plant production are nowadays facing many challenges (climate change, erosion of biodiversity, scarcity of resources, food transition, etc.) that question current production systems and make it urgent to take a turn towards an agroecological transition. In this context, the Agronomy and Ecology department takes part in various ESA training programs (professional degree, Bachelor’s degree, Engineering degree, Master’s degree) in the fields of agronomy, plant production and ecology. Our mission is to train future agricultural professionals that will be able to contribute actively to agroecological and environmental transitions. Our objectives are to reconcile agricultural production and environmental protection and to promote ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. The Agronomy and Ecology department is composed of 23 members (10 lecturers and 13 associate professors) with varied and complementary expertise. The staff deploys a teaching method that gives a large part to field experience and interaction with professionals and local socio-economic actors (farmers, technical and research institutes, chambers of agriculture, agricultural cooperatives, seed producers, associations, communities, etc). Diagnosis is one of the approaches taught and put forward in the Agronomy and Ecology department. This method is applied at different scales (plot, farm, landscape) and is adapted to different objects (plant, crop, ecosystem). The Agronomy and Ecology department support as much as possible a systemic and cross-disciplinary vision in order to address current issues. The associate professors of the Agronomy and Ecology department back up their teaching activities to their research work conducted within one of the two research units: – USC ESA/INRA– Legume, Plant Ecophysiology and Agro-ecology Research Unit – BAGAP mixed research unit : Landscape & Ecology Contact Contact another member of the team

Cultures, languages and communication

The “Cultures, Languages and Communication Department” (CLC) brings together lecturers, with qualifications in literature, linguistics, history, language sciences, human and social sciences, political science, information and communication sciences, business communication, foreign languages and cultures (English, German, Spanish, Italian and French as a foreign language), didactics of languages and theatre practice. This fifty strong team is highly complementary and is active in the following fields. Fields of expertise:
  • Language learning (general and technical language): English, Spanish, German, Italian, French as a foreign language.
  • Creation of induction sessions for international audiences
  • Multimedia educational content and tools for self-study
  • Oral communication – Training in public speaking
  • Written communication (academic writing, journalistic writing, scientific popularization writing…)
  • Professional animation techniques (conducting meetings, team management, conflict management, negotiation, etc.)
  • Intercultural communication and management
  • Information and documentation skills
  • Analysis and problem-solving methodology
  • Controversy training
  • History, History of art
  • Implementation of cultural activities for students
  • Training sessions for staff (intercultural training, English, etc).
 Interventions:
  • Interventions at all levels from vocational BTS diploma to “Ingénieur”/Master level in different formats: initial, continuous and distance learning
  • Staff training
  • Promotion of  cultural activities at ESA

Collaborations, partnerships, networks:

  • The Department is a member of > UPLEGESS (Union des Professeurs de Langues des Grandes Ecoles – Union for language teachers of the Grandes Ecoles) > RANACLES (Rassemblement National des Centres de Langues de l’Enseignement Supérieur – National Gathering of the Language Centers of Higher Education)> APLESAV(Association des Professeurs de Langues de l’Enseignement Supérieur Agronomique et Vétérinaire – Association of Language Lecturers in Higher Agronomic and Veterinary Education)
  • Collaboration with other higher education establishments in Angers (UCO, ESEO, ESSCA, Institut Agro, Ircom, ISTOM, ESAIP…)
  • Partnership with local language training structures
  • Partnership agreement with the “English-language Library” in Angers
  • Partnership agreement with the national drama center “NTA-Le Quai” and with local theater companies
  • Collaboration with the City of Angers for cultural events
Contact:

Sociology, economy and management

Fields of expertise: The department offers a mix of disciplines that enables students to better understand the economic and social context, as well as the managerial skills essential for developing the organisations in which they operate. The main areas of expertise represented in this department are agricultural sociology, agro-industrial economics and international economics, and major international issues related to agriculture. The department also has expertise in the running of a company or organisation in the agricultural sector, relating to disciplines necessary for running a business or consulting: management, strategy, entrepreneurship, financial management, management control, agricultural management, marketing, communication, distribution, purchasing, sales, risk management, audit and advice, and law. Interventions: This department trains students in the economic, social and commercial sciences as applied to agriculture, the environment, agribusiness, the territories and the running of agricultural organisations. Going beyond the strict framework of ‘sciences and techniques for engineers or senior technicians’, it provides students with the knowledge and tools to analyse the economy, society and the contemporary world, thereby enabling them to take decisions and act within agricultural sector organisations, taking into account economic, social and environmental demands. The educational approach focuses on fieldwork and the analytical tools and instruments for taking action within territories and globalised markets. Links with research structures: 6 lecturer-researchers contribute to the work of LARESS (Unité de Recherche en Sciences Sociales – Social science research unit). Contact Contact another member of the team

Environment, plant and quality of life

Fields of expertise:

The Department of Environment, Plant and Quality of Life (EVCV) has nineteen permanent lecturers involved in several study programs at ESA (Associate-degrees, Bachelors and Master of Science in Engineering), whether full-time, distance learning or apprenticeship. This department also benefits from the expertise of numerous external contributors and relies on a large network of professionals. Here are the 3 main topics of our expertise:

  • Specialized crop production (vegetable and fruit growing, ornamental horticulture, etc.). Our expertise focuses on the development of production itineraries, resource management and the knowledge of the industry and territory. Landscaping and the sustainable city, in professions ranging from design to site implementation with a particular focus on resource management (eco-design, water management) and biodiversity (ecological management of green spaces). The environment: the impact of activities on ecosystems (environmental impacts), agricultural, food and energy transitions.

The expertise shared and developed within this department therefore serves:

  • greater sustainability of specialised crop production and its relocation around cities (urban and peri-urban agriculture) issues related to the adaptation of urban and peri-urban areas to climate change, greater attention to the impact of human activities on the environment.
Links with our research units: With regard to the issues mentioned, the EVCV department is linked BAGAP, LARESS and LEVA.   Contact Contact another member of the team

Animal husbandry

Interventions: The Department ensures the basic and applied training of students (Engineers and Professional Degree) with companies of the animal sector. It also works in companies, higher education, consultancy and technical studies. Links with our research units: All the team of the Livestock research unit is part of the Animal Husbandry Department. Contact Contact another member of the team

Food, Technology and Bioresource Sciences

Fields of expertise: Agri-food science and techniques, training executives (senior technicians, engineers, masters) exercising their skills in R & D, quality technical management and production management in agri-food. The team is multidisciplinary and has a wide range of expertise. Interventions: BTS, Engineer study programmes, Professional Degrees, Bachelor, Master International Food Identity, Continuous training and education. Links with our research units: The lecturer-researchers and research engineers are part of the GRAPPE research unit (USC ESA/INRA – Groupe de Recherche en Agroalimentaire sur les Produits et les Procédés – Food-processing research group for Products and Processes) at ESA; They participate in research on the physiochemical, biochemical and sensory characterisation of fresh apples and grapes and the influence of technological processing processes on certain sensory and nutritional markers. Some of them are equally involved in study-consultancy structures for companies on innovation support projects. Contact Contact another member of the team

Basic Sciences and Methods

Fields of expertise: The educational mission of our department is to provide students with the concepts and methods necessary for experimenting, analysing data and solving complex problems and train them in computer science and digital technology. The Basic Sciences and Methods Department also provides methodological support to ESA research laboratories on aspects of sampling, data processing and modelling. The Basic Sciences and Methods Department meets the needs of companies in computer-aided decision-making and, more particularly, in methods for analysing situations and decision making. All stages of processing digital information are covered:
  • Development of databases (collection, organisation and storage of company data);
  • Implementation of suitable analytical methods (data mining, reporting, etc.)
  • Data modelling
This department is involved in several study programmes at ESA : Bac pro, BTS, Professional Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, and Engineering. Links with our research units:
  • Two lecturer-researchers contribute to the work of GRAPPE (USC ESA/INRA – Groupe de Recherche en Agroalimentaire sur les Produits et les Procédés – Food-processing research group for Products and Processes)
  • One lecturer-researcher contributes to the work of LEVA (USC ESA/INRA – Unité de Research Légumineuses, Ecophysiologie Végétale, Agroécologie – Legume, Plant Ecophysiology and Agro-ecology research unit).
Contact Contact another member of the team

Viticulture and oenology

Fields of expertise: Our expert team of lecturers and associate professors in viticulture, oenology, environment and marketing allows us to address a broad range of subjects dealing with:
  • The adaptation of the wine sector to the climate change,
  • The production of terroir-driven wines,
  • The assessment and reduction of the environmental impacts of grape and wine production.
  • The understanding of wine consumers and creation of sustainable brands for wine business.
  • The sensorial, chemical and physical characterisation of grapes and wines
The team works in close interaction with economists, sociologists, and ecologists, to include these various dimensions in the assessment of viticultural practices, and in the study of wine sector collective organisations. The members are involved in several study programs: BTS, Bachelor, Ingeneer, Master Vintage, Summer program. The department has a strong network of university  partners and wine companies in Europe and around the world and some members of the department are experts within:
  • The OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine) (SUSTAIN and Education groups of experts)
  • The International Viticulture & Enology Society IVES
  • The Oenoviti international community
  • The National Scientific Council of the Wine Industry in France
  • The National Institute of Origin and Quality INAO (Approvals and Controls Board, Scientific commission)
Links with our research units: The associate professors of this department are researchers in the USC GRAPPE (ESA INRAE) research unit (Food products, processes and environment).   Contact Contact another member of the team