Additional qualification biodynamic agriculture

Combining knowledge with practice and experience
The cooperation between the University of Kassel and the Landbauschule Dottenfelderhof e.V. enables students on the bachelor's degree course in organic farming to gain a special in-depth knowledge of biodynamic agriculture.

By taking part in the annual course, which has been training gardeners and farmers to become "state-approved specialists in biodynamic agriculture" since 2009, students from Witzenhausen can complete the one-year specialist training course as part of their studies and gain this additional qualification.

Study year at the practical farm
The Dottenfelderhof is a very good combination of practical experience and study location. The students on the one-year course are fully integrated into the farm and can experience the practical side of things up close every day.

A school in the middle of the farm

• 200 ha of classroom space
• Experienced teachers from practice and research
• Everyday farm practice in direct contact with the practitioners on the farm
• Differentiated, systematic study of the scientific principles and intellectual background of biodynamic agriculture

General conditions

• The one-year specialist training can be completed from the fourth semester of the Bachelor's degree (or with at least 72 credits).
• As part of the specialist training, 1380 teaching units are carried out in the classroom, 220 teaching units on the farm and 300 hours on the student's own annual work on the farm or in downstream areas such as breeding, field and pot trials, processing and marketing. In the annual work placement, the maximum of 25 participants work independently on a topic of their choice with a written assignment.
• The professional internship including report, the project and the Bachelor's thesis can be combined in the specialist training.
• Upon successful completion, students receive the Bachelor's certificate from the University of Kassel and the specialist certificate from the Landbauschule Dottenfelderhof e.V. independently of each other.
• By combining the two courses, the degree course is half a year longer in total. However, compared to the two courses individually, half a year's training time can be saved.

Costs per month

• 350 € for full board on the farm
• 150 € for accommodation on the farm
• 200 € school fees

The costs of the twelve-month course are borne by the students themselves. The School of Agriculture can provide financial support in the form of grants or loans in individual cases.

Start
The annual course starts every year on the first weekend in September. Exact dates can be found on the website of the Landbauschule Dottenfelderhof e.V.

For the University of Kassel-Witzenhausen
Dr. Jürgen Fritz and
Dr. Daniel Kusche
Department of Organic Agriculture and Plant Production
Nordbahnhofstraße 1a
37213 Witzenhausen
Tel.: + 49 (0) 5542 - 981610
j.fritz@uni-kassel.de


For the Landbauschule Dottenfelderhof e.V.
Martin von Mackensen and
Rocio Lanthier
Dottenfelderhof 1
61118 Bad Vilbel
Tel.: +49 (0) 6101 - 529618
lbs@dottenfelderhof.de