Training of landscape gardening specialists in the french higher education system

Abstract

The paper deals the issue of training future specialists in gardening and park management in higher education institutions in France. It is established that the training of these specialists is carried out in institutions of various types, which are integrated into the general system of educational institutions. The main features of training of future specialists in landscape gardening in French higher education institutions are determined: constant development of an extensive and differentiated system of educational institutions; practical and constant interconnection and mutual influence between all levels of education, including professional development; autonomy of educational institutions within the framework of national, regional and local educational programmes; innovation in the educational process and professionalisation of future specialists. Higher education in France is aimed at shaping a new vision of the nation and the worldview of young people: innovation and scientific research; environmental protection and agro-ecological development of national territories; highly professional, multidisciplinary and demanded young specialists in the labour market; integration of scientific and educational achievements into the development of local territories; use of regional potential by combining the efforts of scientific, educational and industrial institutions to develop the country's bioeconomy. Higher agricultural education in France provides training, education of engineers, specialists in landscape architecture and design, specialised personnel, teachers, scientists and veterinarians in 26 higher education institutions: 19 institutions are public and 7 are private. To date, new types of educational institutions have been established and are successfully operating in France, providing multi-level and multi-functional professional training of agricultural engineers that optimally meet the interests of the individual and the staffing needs of enterprises and territorial communities. This helps to increase the competitiveness of their graduates, expand their career opportunities, and ensure stability in their professional activities. As a rule, these are professionals of a polyvalent nature who speak two foreign languages. The trend of improving and expanding the short cycle of professional higher education, as well as alternative (non-formal) agricultural education, which is represented by: apprenticeship (formation par apprentissage); continuing education (formation continue); distance education (formation ouverte et à distance); alternative system of assessment (certification) of professional experience (la Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience, VAE), is quite effective for agricultural education in France.