Management, Economics and Consumer Studies (MME) / MSc
Introduction
For Specialization A-D
The focus of the MSc programme Management, Economics and Consumer Studies programme is on the managerial, economic, environmental and sociological aspects of the production and consumption of food within households and businesses in a sustainable and dynamic environment. Students have to select one of the four specializations at the start of the programme:
A. Management Studies
This specialization deals with management in agri-businesses. The management topics studied include strategy, innovation, logistics, management accounting, financial analysis, and market research. The main focus is on the agri-food chain, which includes agriculture, the raw materials industry, processing industry, financial institutes, and wholesalers and retailers. Students can also choose to specialize in the facility management processes of a large company or public organization.
B. Consumer Studies
This specialization is concerned with the consumer and the household. The agri-food chain has become increasingly more consumer-oriented. Producers of food now have to take into consideration the wishes of the consumer in their production process. This includes not only the quality of food, but also food ethics and the environmental aspects of food production. In this respect, lifestyles and trends appear to have become increasingly important. Many aspects, such as income, the housing situation, prospects and the environment, determine the well being of the household.
C. Economics, Environment, and Policy
This specialization focuses on economic, environmental, and policy analysis, and is concerned with issues relating to economic development, the agricultural sector and rural areas within the European Union and within developing countries, environmental economics, natural resource management and environmental quality, and international trade. To analyze these issues, macro- and micro-economic theories are applied, as well as theories from related disciplines such as law, sociology, and public administration.
D. Management, innovation, and Life Sciences (MLS).
The specialization MLS is intended to bridge the gap between the world of management, innovation and entrepreneurship on the one hand and the world of science and technology on the other. The focus of this specialization is on the interaction of technical and managerial knowledge in the agri-business. This specialization can only be followed by technical BSc students from different disciplines, such as plant and animal sciences, food sciences and technology. Themes can be done in fields such as management of innovation, innovation in decision support and economics and innovation in operations management. The main disciplines are Business Economics, Information Technology, Logistics, Management, and Marketing.
E. Health and Society
The specialization Public Health and Society focuses on the interaction between lifestyle and the social and physical environment, and their influence on individual and population health. The central theme in the specialization is 'making healthy choices the easy choices'. The aim of the specialization is to study behavioural, social and environmental aspects of health, illness and quality of life, as well as the consequences of the health status for both the individual and society. This includes acquiring an understanding of causes of health and illness, and of opportunities for the improvement of individual and population health. Special attention is paid to the integrated role of care and prevention in health protection, disease prevention and health promotion, and to the design, implementation and evaluation of health promotion programmes. The specialization is based in social sciences, with a focus on sociology, communication sciences and health promotion, and added with relevant insights from public administration and economics. Moreover, it contains aspects from the life sciences domain.
Within Public Health and Society two tracks can be followed: health care and health promotion. While health care focuses on the development of a critical, analytical attitude and aims to develop an understanding of the interrelationships between health, care and society, health promotion requires a shift in emphasis from disease focused messages about risk, to a more ecological approach taking into account social, environmental, and cultural contexts in which people live, work, recreate and play.
The specialization prepares students for professions such as researchers, health promoters, health policy advisors or managers of health-oriented organisations.
European Double Degree programmes
Students in this MSc programme have the possibility to join one of our European Master programmes.
There are several options which offer the possibility of graduating at two universities ('double degree') and are meant for students from specializations A, B and C:
- To gain a double degree within the regular MME programme, students can choose between the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Cremona (Italy), Universität Bonn (Germany) or one of the FESIA universities which are spread over France
- The European Consumer Affairs programme is a special developed double degree programme offered by the Wageningen University, Aarhus University (Denmark) and Technische Universität München (Germany). Students will analyze consumers in their economical, social and ecological environments. (www.eureca-online.eu)
For more information about these double degree programmes, please contact the Programme Director Ir. E.P. Kroese.
Research Master Variant
Students who want to prepare for a career in scientific research can opt for the Research Master Variant of the programme. This variant focuses extra on research competencies and disciplinary knowledge. It can be done within the specializations Management Studies, Consumer Studies and Economics, Environment and Policy. The differences between the Regular programme and the Research Master Variant are described in the programme. Students need a positive study advice and assessment to be admitted to the Research Master Variant.
Learning Outcomes
For Specialization A-D
After successful completion of this MSc programma graduates are expected to be able to:
- critically reflect upon concepts, principles, theories and
* methods of the management studies domain, particularly related to the agri-chain and its environment. (Specialization A. Management studies);
* methods of the consumer studies domain, particularly related to the agri-chain and its environment. (Specialization B. Consumer studies);
* modelling approaches in the domain of agricultural economics and rural policy; development economics; spatial and regional economics; environmental policy; environmental economics and natural resources; and/or environmental policy.
(Specialization C. Economics, Environment & Policy);
* methods of the management and life sciences domain from an integrated Beta-Gamma perspective (Specialization D. Management of Life Sciences);
- critically reflect upon their own (research) activities and that of peers, and be able to contribute to the improvement of their activities, in the field of management, economics and/or consumer studies;
- independently select and apply the most appropriate research techniques for a particular research situation in the field of management, economics, and/or consumer studies;
- independently define, structure, formulate, conduct, and reflect (upon) research in economic; sociological; managerial; and/or environmental aspects of the agri-chain and its environment;
- explain the outcomes of his research in order to inform and convince fellow researchers, organizations, consumers and/or the general public;
- assess which concepts, principles, theories and methods;
* of the management studies domain are the most appropriate for application on a complex research topic related to the agri-chain, its environment and its actors. (Specialization A. Management studies);
* of the consumer studies domain are the most appropriate for application on a complex research topic related to the agri-chain, its environment and its actors (Specialization B. Consumer studies);
* of the economics, policy & governance domain are the most appropriate for application on a complex research topic related to the agri-chain, its environment and its actors (Specialization C. Economics, Environment & Policy);
* of the management and life sciences domain are the most appropriate for application on a complex research topic related to the agri-chain, its environment and its actors, from an integrated Beta-Gamma perspective (Specialization D.
Management of Life Sciences);
- integrate knowledge, concepts and approaches from various disciplines, within the context of the agri-chain and its environment;
- work effectively in a multidisciplinary team, including the ability to assume various team roles (e.g. project manager, secretary, controller, etc.);
- work within a beta-gamma context and is able to contribute to an integration between beta and gamma processes (during research activities) within the agri-chain and the life sciences environment;
- analyze the international and social context of his field of study, and can account for this context in his research activities;
For Specialization E
After successful completion of this MSc programme graduates are expected to be able to:
- evaluate concepts, theories and themes of sociology, social psychology, communication to current issues in public health, focusing on health care and prevention, including the interaction between health, lifestyle and the social and physical environment and their effects at various levels (micro, meso and macro), appraise their usefulness and indicate the need for new theoretical development;
- assess challenges and opportunities for effective governance of public health while applying economic, management and policy-oriented concepts;
- interpret social, physical and environmental determinants of health and explain how these determinants interact;
- critically analyse complex public health issues;
- construct and apply appropriate research methods and techniques to collect data for and analyse data of literature and empirical research in the area of health and society;
- independently define health issues, translate research outcomes into advice, and evaluate policies and programmes for health promotion in various fields of practice and at various levels and can suggest new and more effective solutions;
- independently assess needs and opportunities for different interventions in the field of public health, can design, organise and manage them and can mobilize and collaborate with participants in various settings and fields of practice;
- judge ethical issues in the field of public health, and can integrate ethical responsibility in his/her professional practice;
- compare the multiple interpretations and applications of public health across time and place;
- co-operate in a multidisciplinary team to perform project-based work;
- communicate clearly on the results of projects and research and their rational underpinnings with a diversity of publics;
- reflect upon personal knowledge, skills, attitudes and functioning, both individually and in discussions with others, and design and plan their own learning path.
Specializations
- Management Studies;
- Consumer Studies;
- Economics, Environment and Policy;
- Management, Innovation and Life Sciences;
- Public Health and Society.
Programme Director
For Specialization A-D
Ir E.P. Kroese
Phone: 0317-(4)82198
Email: edwin.kroese@wur.nl
For Specialization E
Ir G.C. van Nieuwenhoven
Phone: 0317-(4)82500
Email: gerry.vannieuwenhoven@wur.nl
Study Adviser(s)
For Specialization A-D
- Ir R.M. Boven-van der Spoel
Phone: 0317-(4)82673
Email: gineke.boven@wur.nl
-Ir J. de Jong
Phone: 0317-(4)84633
Email: jamila.dejong@wur.nl
- Ir E.P. Kroese
Phone: 0317-(4)82198
Email: edwin.kroese@wur.nl
For Specialization E
Ir G.C. van Nieuwenhoven
Phone: 0317-(4)82500
Email: gerry.vannieuwenhoven@wur.nl
Programme Committee
For Specialization A-D
Chair: Prof. dr S.W.F. Omta
Secretary: Ir E.P. Kroese
For Specialization E
Chair: Dr ir L. Vaandrager
Secretary: Ir G.C. van Nieuwenhoven
Internet
For all specializations
http://www.mme.wur.nl
Special for specialization E:
http://www.mhs.wur.nl
Study Association
Mercurius Wageningen, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen
Internet http://www.mercuriuswageningen.nl