Full Time Business Management in the Global Food Industry MBA

The increasing globalisation in the food industry has highlighted the need for managers with an international perspective of major agricultural and food markets. Sourcing and supply in the food sector is becoming increasingly competitive and complex.
Career paths are open to managers who can operate confidently in the multinational setting and who have a corporate vision wider than purely domestic markets.
This Business Management in the Global Food Industry MBA has been developed to create the calibre of manager required to fill vital roles in this complex and dynamic global industry. The programme welcomes students worldwide to share cultural and managerial experience. The ideal student will have a good honours degree or equivalent and normally at least two years of work experience.
The Business Management in the Global Food Industry MBA is a practical qualification, heavily industry oriented, with a solid academic underpinning. It caters for students who expect to reach senior manager positions in the food and agribusiness sector where international trade is a major component.
The Business Management in the Global Food Industry MBA can be studied part-time over two, three, or four years. Participants choose the pattern, in consultation with the Programme Manager, which suits them best.
The taught part of the programme comprises eight modules. Five of these are core modules normally delivered jointly with the other Masters students studying business management.
Three focus modules: food chain, international business and team project, combine to complete the taught programme.

What is the learning style?
Each module has a core of formal lectures, complemented by seminars, workshops and co-operative work. Case study and group project work play a significant role in the teaching approach. The seven taught modules run over two terms from October to March. The eighth module, the team project, will be carried out during the first six weeks of the summer term. The dissertation will also commence during the summer term and will be submitted by May 1st the following year.

Assessment
Students are assessed using a combination of coursework and examinations, the seven modules being assessed by March each year. The team project is assessed on the presentation and report made by students to the company concerned. The dissertation is marked by the supervisor and second marker as well as being approved by the external examiner.

Entry requirements
The normal minimum entry requirement will be a BSc Honours degree at upper second level, or an HND award with a Distinction profile, plus a minimum of two years' post-graduation work experience with managerial responsibilities. Mature candidates with significant relevant work experience and lower academic qualifications may also be considered for entry, following personal interview with the Programme Manager. Students with other qualifications, including overseas awards, are advised to contact Admissions to discuss the suitability of their award for entry to their preferred programme of study.
All students are required to hold a recognised English Language qualification of at least GCSE grade C or an equivalent standard.
For students whose first language is not English, the College will accept International English Language Test (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.5 average with no element below 5.5
Candidates with alternative English language qualifications are advised to contact Admissions to ascertain the appropriateness of their qualification.

Core Modules
Business Strategy - Enables the student to analyse the strategic capability of an organisation, appraise the internal and external factors influencing its performance and to develop and implement strategic plans.
Approaches to Personal and Organisational Change - Advances participants' understanding of theinter connection of personal (individual) and organisational dimensions of change. The module prepares organisational practitioners for stepping into the realities of change in organisational life in ways that help to improve situations.
Marketing, Planning and Strategy - Aims to develop the knowledge and ability to apply marketing principles, ranging from consumer behaviour to marketing strategies, to the farming, food, wine and equine industries.
Economics and Policy - Provides the necessary background economic theory for business decision-making in the farming, food, horticultural and equine industries.
Financial Management - Enables students to identify problems in the financial management of a business and appraise solutions to them.

Focus Modules
Food Chain - An overview of the current issues faced by food chain players from farmer to the consumer. This includes presentations and case studies from outside speakers who operate at a senior level within local, national and multinational institutions and companies. These managers explain how to address the issues in successfully managing a business in this dynamic sector.
International Business - Provides an understanding of the main theories and issues, such as culture and tradition, impacting on international business in the food industry.
Team Project - Students work in small teams to solve a 'live' problem normally provided by a company. This is aimed at deepening, applying and integrating expertise and skills acquired during the programme. Past projects include 'Sourcing Organic Fruit from Spain, USA and Italy for the UK market', 'The UK Market for Pepper', 'Developing a new Baby Food in the UK', 'Market for Spanish Olive Oil in Beijing', and 'Strategy for Marketing High Quality Red Portuguese Wine in the UK', and have been carried out in many countries in the world.
Dissertation - A dissertation based on independent research by each student, focused on an approved topic. Students are expected to present a dissertation proposal for approval in May of each year (normally to a group of staff) and to have agreed on a supervisor.
The dissertation should be a minimum of 15,000 words and a maximum of 25,000 words.