PgC / PgD / MSc International Agri-Business and Food Chain Management

The course

The international agri-business and food chain management programme provides participants with an advanced understanding of the global challenges and opportunities as well as principles and practices of modern international agri-business management. It develops professionals in industries in the agri-food sector. These include agricultural supply industries, agricultural trade industries, agricultural cooperatives, agricultural consultancy companies, industry associations, government agencies and other allied organisations.

Working in the international agri-business environment encompasses a wide variety of functions, including finance, human resources, customer services, logistics, marketing, cross-cultural exporting and importing, and purchasing. The course develops the student’s knowledge of agricultural systems, finance and human resource management and provides a detailed insight into marketing and the industries supporting agricultural production, processing, transportation and supply chain strategy. Students apply key concepts to the formulation of effective international business strategies. Case studies are frequently used to allow students to focus on sectors where they have a particular interest.

Who is it for?

Students enrolling onto this programme will either:

• have a technical background in an agribusiness discipline and have taken or aspire to take a management position, hence want to develop their business management skills and to have a greater appreciation of the global perspective, or
• have a non-agribusiness discipline and have entered or will pursue a career in agribusiness industries or government or non-government organisations supporting or advising the rural economy and agricultural trade, hence need to develop an in depth understanding of the industry in the global context and to advance their managerial skills.

How will it benefit me?

By focusing on a variety of management and decision issues relevant to agri-food sector in an ever changing international environment, the international agri-business and food chain management programme enables current and future managers to develop and broaden their expertise, build critical skills and enhance their career prospects in the agri-business sector.

Career options are broad, spanning a range of roles within the agri-business sector; include marketing, general management, finance, policy and consultancy in private, public and non-government organisations nationally and internationally.

Careers

Graduates will be well qualified for a wide range of careers from making decisions about the daily operations of a small business to the complex issues of a multi-national company. You will become familiar with the business, regulatory and economic practices of domestic markets but also equipped to adapt to the diversity of social and cultural environments world-wide.

Career choice can span the whole food supply chain, from agricultural merchants and cooperatives to farm supply companies and jobs with food manufacturers, distributors, retailers and traders. Careers can be obtained in export companies, international manufacturing, logistics, government agencies and organisations involved in promoting international trade, foreign direct investment and economic development, financing of exports and imports, sales and marketing. Graduates also go on to set up their own food, farm or rurally based enterprises.

Students should have an honours degree (minimum lower second class) or A good FdSc/HND pass in a relevant subject area together with related industrial or professional experience of at least two years; In addition, the suitability of candidates for particular programmes may be assessed by interview, considering reports from referees and by evaluating previous experience.