European Food and Agribusiness MBA

Unique to this European Food and Agribusiness MBA is the outstanding opportunity to learn in and experience both the UK (RAC) and The Netherlands (Van Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences).
Food production is the world's biggest business. The complexity of international trade in food and related agricultural products is enormous and increasing all the time. Managers with the highest levels of business skills are needed.
Career paths are open to managers who can offer transnational skills, who can operate in a multinational setting and who have a corporate vision wider than purely domestic markets. The European Food and Agribusiness MBA programme is specifically tailored to produce the high calibre of managerial talent that this vital industrial sector requires. It gives an opportunity to combine the breadth of traditional MBA studies with specific vocational training for the European food and agribusiness sector.


Programme structure
The programme is offered to full-time students and is delivered in four parts.
The taught element of the programme is shared between Van Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences (LUAS) (now part of Wageningen University, Netherlands) (August to December) and the School of Business, Royal Agricultural College (January to March).
There are eight taught modules of which six are full modules and two half modules (core subjects). The full core modules are taught in both teaching centres, with each centre teaching one half module in addition.
Details of the modules taught at each
centre are:

PART ONE
LUPE: Van Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences

• Marketing (full module)
• Business Economics (full module)
• Financial Management (full module)
• Business Strategy (full module)
• Personal and Organisational Change (full module)
• Operations Management and Logistics (full module)
• Research Methods (half module)
  

PART TWO
Royal Agricultural College

• Marketing (full module)
• Business Economics (full module)
• Financial Management (full module)
• Business Strategy (full module)
• Personal and Organisational Change (full module)
• Operations Management and Logistics (full module)
• Food Chain (half module)

PART THREE
Team Project (April-May)
Students work in groups to solve a real 'live' problem for a company or sector participant. The group formulate and research the problem and write and present their report.

PART FOUR
Dissertation
The dissertation is undertaken after the team project although students will be encouraged to consider their topic and plan the dissertation as early as possible.


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, together with visits to and from operating companies. The taught modules take eight months (August to March); the team project six weeks (April to May) and the dissertation not more than 11 months (June to May).


Assessment
Each module is assessed at the end of its individual study programme by a mixture of coursework and examination. Each full module has two pieces of assessment, one at Van Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences (LUAS), and the other at the Royal Agricultural College. The team project is assessed by group presentations and report (although individual input to the team performance is also assessed). Successful completion of these three elements provide enough credits for the award of a postgraduate diploma. On successful completion of the dissertation, students will be awarded the MBA degree.


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
Food chain - Analyses managing/decision making and efficiency through the food chain and includes speakers from many key companies.

Financial Management - Covers the key areas of financial management, management accounting and corporate finance.

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 - Students study the way in which companies approach marketing, including analysis of market structures, organisations, strategies and consumers.

Business Strategy - Looks at how corporations work, from setting objectives to implementing growth/decline strategies.

Business Economics - Classic micro and macroeconomics, market dynamics and structures and the common agricultural policy (CAP) of the EU (European Union).

Operations Management and Logistics - Considers warehousing systems, stock and production control, logistics and operations management.

Research Methods - Firstly, the fundamental quantitative and qualitative techniques relevant to business, including descriptive statistics and basic forecasting principles, are presented and developed. Secondly, these techniques are critically evaluated. Thirdly, the applicability and limitations of these techniques in solving problems in a business context, are illustrated.