SOLAR ENERGY INTEGRATION IN EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL HIGHER EDUCATION

Solar Integration Levels BA MS PhD 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 Low Medium 13 6 2 5 1 None (0) Low (1) Med (2) High (3) 170 Agriculture & Environmental Sciences 70.4% Energy & Engineering 29.6% 27 20 Agricultural faculties are pioneering solar integration in higher education curricula. Integration remains incipient: 70% at "Low" level with minimal solar content. Postgraduate advancement: Master's programs show increasing specialization toward dedicated solar courses. Critical gap identified: Complete absence of "High" level programs represents a strategic opportunity for agrivoltaic curriculum development. Methodological contribution: This evaluation framework can be replicated for other geographical contexts and renewable energy technologies. The RES-SIAS project strengthens Colombian and Chilean higher education institutions' capacity to train professionals for a modern, sustainable, and gender-inclusive agricultural sector. This study analyzes how European universities integrate solar energy technologies into agricultural programs to develop adaptable strategies for Latin American contexts. No explicit mention of “solar energy,” “photovoltaic,” or “solar thermal” in the curriculum, subjects, or projects. Other renewable energies may appear, but without direct reference to solar. There is at least one subject (compulsory or optional) on “renewable energies” or equivalent. Solar or photovoltaic energy is mentioned in the syllabus as a partial topic. There is a specific course on solar photovoltaic energy (in the title and/or content of the module).Or there is explicit documentation of the integration of solar energy in agroindustrial/agricultural projects, with direct mention in the syllabus. Course dedicated exclusively to agrivoltaics or equivalent, where solar-agro integration is the central theme.The course must be compulsory within the program. SOLAR ENERGY INTEGRATION IN EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL HIGHER EDUCATION A Comprehensive Analysis of Academic Programs Bridging Photovoltaics and Agriculture Agricultural faculties lead solar integration as a productive tool, while engineering approaches it as a technical component. Focus Shift for EU PVSEC: From general renewable energy to solar photovoltaic integration. Classification Criteria: Evidence Requirements: Textual verification in official syllabi and mandatory course status. Programs Evaluated Solar Integration Confirmed European Universities Bachelor's: Predominantly "Low" level (13 programs) with basic renewable energy exposure including solar topics. Master's: Higher specialization with 6 "Medium" level programs featuring dedicated photovoltaic courses or agrosolar project integration. PhD: Limited representation with 1 program showing research lines in renewables with solar dissertation focus. 🎯 RES-SIAS Project Objective 🔬 Refined Methodology 📊 Key Findings 🌍 Disciplinary Distribution 📈 Academic Level Trends 🎯 Strategic Conclusions J.S. Eastman³,A.M. Barrena², H. Grewe¹, L.E. Tobón³, J.L. Villa⁴, C. Meza¹, L. Hernández² ¹HS Anhalt, Germany | ²U. Valladolid, Spain | ³U. Javeriana de Cali, Colombia | ⁴U. Tecnológica de Bolívar, Colombia https://ressias.net