*MBA Agribusiness

Fragility in our Food Systems

Unfortunately, COVID is not the only threat that our food systems are facing. In addition to the commercial and economic systems that have been so shaken by this pandemic, there's another layer of ecological systems supporting our food production .

Underpinning the production of every banana and lentil there are soil-enriching microbes, pollinating insects and water-filtering plants, each of which are threatened by climate change. Unlike COVID, the threats posed by climate change are not new. There have been repeated warnings that our food production systems are unsustainable. If we wait until climate impacts become more severe and widespread it may be too late to avoid descending into another global crisis.

Regenerative Food Systems

Regenerative food systems explore how interrelated thinking, practices and interventions might reform and contribute to future economic, environmental and societal benefits.

A regenerative food system is a complex adaptive system evolving through time that has to be analysed as a whole and is formed by various actors, from farmers to service industries, economists and policy makers. It necessitates the need for knowledge interconnections and knowledge production between academic and societal actors. It also makes clear the fundamental need to work with nature and to operate within planetary boundaries.

From day one, students will be learning and applying professional skills through carefully selected interrelated modules that are framed by principles of sustainability and circular economics. Students will gain real-world experience through industry projects, field trips, case studies, lecture events and contact with business experts.

Note:
Summer period is Dissertation only.
180 credits are required for the named award.

Admissions to this course are subject to the normal policies and procedures for postgraduate students at Writtle University College .

Candidates from the United Kingdom higher education sector will normally hold a first honours degree at 2.2 or above in a related subject (such as agriculture, horticulture, environmental sciences). Prospective students with a first honours degree in another discipline but with significant work experience in horticulture, agriculture or related areas will also be considered for entrance on the masters' programme.

Applications from international students will be considered in line with Writtle University College's Admission Policy. International students will be expected to have achieved the equivalent of the minimum entry for UK students; qualifications and experience will be review by the Admissions Officer and assessed using UK NARIC criteria. Applications from European students will be guided by the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Those international students whose first language is not English will be expected to have achieved a qualification in English as a Foreign Language or its equivalent in line with current Writtle University College postgraduate admissions policy.

Consideration will be given to applicants outside the stipulated guidelines if they are able to demonstrate significant relevant industrial experience.

This MBA is for those seeking a career in sustainable transformative food systems that are defined by principles for environmental sustainability, human well-being and circular economics embedded in policy and practice. This interdisciplinary course is designed to appeal to career changers as well as mature applicants looking to apply their current experience and expertise to specific issues in agri-food systems .

Businesses are seeking employees capable of evaluating risks and threats in business, and able to design and implement innovative, resilient and sustainable solutions to secure effective and efficient business enterprises in a changing world. With the food production sector being the UK's largest industrial category, the appeal from across this area for a course that marries theory to reality and allows it to be put into practice should appeal to many.

At Writtle University College we pride ourselves on producing graduates capable of applying sophisticated concepts and interdisciplinary theory to a wide range of practical situations to derive resilient solutions to problems .

Communicating, sharing and transferring knowledge are essential attributes and skills for future professional practitioners and Writtle shapes its teaching and learning programmes to ensure such skills are developed in graduates.

Delivery

Delivery of knowledge is through a combination of lectures, videos, practical, formative and summative coursework, tutor and student led tutorials, case studies and group work, including seminars and presentations and guest lectures from leading edge practitioners at senior level within a global context.

Assessment

Assessment will be both formative and Summative.

Formative assessment will include:

• Exchange of work between individuals and groups;
• Material presented in class, where clarity of argument, theoretical bases and evidence of depth of thought is supported with references to theory, and currency of thought;
• Feedback in class situations on topics of current interest, and from textual material and research papers and articles; and
• Evidence of the breadth of research may include internet sources where appropriate to the curriculum topics covered.
• A consultancy exercise which encourages group debate and argument, fosters originality of thought and develops sound decision-making;

Summative assessment will include:

• Management reports which critically assess strategic issues and make clear recommendations for successful implementation;
• Individual and group presentations which coherently and concisely present analysis of strategic issues;
• Exams – a mix of closed and open book.
• A research proposal which allows students to evaluate and apply research philosophies and methodologies;
• Evidence of critical reflection in the Capstone Project.

Additionally, cognitive skills are assessed via a variety of written and oral assessments, both group and individual in nature. The wide ranging methodological analyses and extensive use of case study material/real life examples, throughout the course provide many opportunities for students to develop and exercise deductive, inductive and other cognitive skills.

Harness your leadership and make a lasting mark on the future of your sector

The beauty of studying the MBA in Regenerative Food Sytems is that it provides skills that can be applied in all sectors .

An understanding of business, the environment, marketing, finance, etc. is vital to gain insights into how the world works, why it is like it is and what future scenarios might emerge.

The MBA in Regenerative Food Sytems has been designed to nurture your leadership skills and make you a better decision maker. Thus, the expected potential roles and destinations are varied – from the classic Writtle destinations - such as managers in the land-based sector, to blue chip global players, start-ups, SMEs, consulting and NGOs and the third sector. The skills that will be provided will find a welcome home in all industrial sectors. There is a growing demand for people with understanding of environmental, social and governance (ESG) themes in a wide range of areas from finance to the public sector.