About the study
- Programme title: Executive MBA in Agribusiness (MBA-AB), Postgraduate specialisation
- Home institution: University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, (AFZ)
- Programme structure: 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS)
Background
The basis for designing an Agribusiness Management postgraduate study program at the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb (AFZ) can be summarised as follows:
- For more than forty years, experts in the field of Agrieconomics have been successfully educated;
- There are emerging knowledge requirements in the areas of management, finance and marketing for agribusiness experts in Croatian and foreign markets;
- Existing resources and ongoing international development projects will enable the establishment of an international program in the English language and in accordance with the adoption of the Bologna Process in the area of Croatian higher education.
Now, and in the future, the need for experts such as those who will be trained in this programme exist within agribusiness companies (from the production of agricultural inputs, to the production of high-priced foodstuffs: so called food chain), within agricultural cooperatives, state institutions (government administration, advisory service), and within local government and self-government. It is especially the case regarding companies and institutions that operate in the international market.
Past and current experineces
Education in the field of agricultural economics has been an enviable tradition at the Faculty of Agriculture, and the first generations of students were enrolled in 1963. Prior to the introduction of the new Bologna Declaration scheme, the Faculty previously had one graduate and one postgraduate curriculum in agricultural economics (“diploma engineer” and “master of science”). Furthermore, a number of doctoral theses related to management, marketing, sociology and similar topics of research were defended in the last few decades.
Since 2005, with the acceptance of the Bologna Declaration, the Faculty offers undergraduate study program Agricultural Economics, graduate study program Agribusiness and Rural Development, and postgraduate doctoral study program Agricultural economics.
The establishment of this study expands the program of education in the field of business management in agribusiness and graduates in related fields allowing for continued education for the acquisition of professional, specialist knowledge.
With a tradition of almost 50 years, the faculty has achieved skilled, valuable staff and physical resources, backed by a strong support from foreign partners and participation of colleagues from the Faculty of Economics. This in turn guarantees that the Faculty of Agriculture can successfully carry out this postgraduate specialisation in agribusiness management.
Testimonials
The MBA training provided me new knowledge and new perspective on agribusiness. It was hard to incorporate MBA activities into daily schedule, but manageable and it was interesting to work with people from different areas of professional interest. I’ve benefited attending the lectures of professors coming from different cultures and using different approaches and methods.
As a regional manager and agronomist I find extremely important to provide a quality education to colleagues in Agribusiness sector. This training is a unique course in the field of agribusiness in Croatia. Case studies, business plans and other situations that we acquired are very real and applicable on “day to day” basis. Acquaintances I made during the course expanded my experiences in other business sectors and until today we kept contact as friends or colleagues.
