Management, Economics and Consumer Studies (MME) / MSc

Profile

The focus of the MSc programme Management, Economics and Consumer Studies is on the managerial, economic, environmental and social aspects of the production and consumption of food and other agricultural products 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 focus on 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 have become increasingly important.

C. Economics , Environment and Governance
This specialization focuses on economics and governance of the agri-food chain 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 analyse these issues, macro- and micro-economic theories are applied, as well as theories from related disciplines such as law, public administration, and sociology.

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 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.

All students in this MSc programme have the possibility to follow a part of the MSc programme at one of our partner universities, if you are selected. We have European Master Programmes with the universities of: Bonn, Cremona , Munich and Warsaw. It is also possible to participate in one of the other European or (North) American exchange programmes. Students of the specializations A, B or C who want to prepare for a career in scientific research can opt for a special track of the programme. This track puts additional emphasis on research competencies and disciplinary knowledge. Contact the study adviser for more information.
Students with an interest in entrepreneurship/intrapreneurship may follow the Master (MSc) Track Entrepreneurship (see Study Handbook). Contact the study adviser for the programme-specific requirements.

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of the programme graduates are expected to be able to:
- apply advanced theories on the functioning and organization of, and interactions within (inter-)national agri-food chains and the environment they operate in with a special focus on management, economics or consumer science;
- reflect on research on the agri-food chain from a management, economics and consumer science perspective within a beta-gamma (life sciences) context;
- appraise the outcome of selected policies regarding sustainable agri-food chains;
- depending on the selected specialization (A to D):
A. judge the usefulness of different management theories and practices to optimize processes in the global (agri-food) business;
B. assess changing attitudes, perceptions and preferences of consumers to optimize global (food) chains;
C. evaluate applied economic theories to optimize environmental, agricultural and international policies;
D. review processes in the life sciences industry from a technical-managerial perspective.
- develop a research design in the field of agri-food chains and critically reflect on the phases of a scientific research or design process;
- analyse advanced and complex concepts, approaches and methods and reflect upon scientific literature, with special reference to agri-food chains;
- carry out research in the field of agri-food chains by using suitable methods & techniques to collect and interpret data;
- apply advanced socio-economic analytical measurements, mathematical and statistical methods;
- respond to social, scientific and ethical issues that are encountered in work or study on agri-food chains through (scientific) publications or debate;
- cooperate as a specialist in a interdisciplinary, international team to solve issues that affect agri-food chains;
- communicate research outcomes, methods and underpinning rationale to specialist and non-specialist audiences using oral presentations, (scientific )publications, workshops, reports, and posters;
- design and plan own learning processes based on continuous reflection upon personal knowledge, skills, attitudes and performance to stimulate lifelong learning.

Specializations

- Management Studies;
- Consumer Studies;
- Economics, Environment and Governance;
- Management, Innovation and Life Sciences.

Programme Director

Ir E.P. Kroese
Phone: 0317-(4)82198
Email: edwin.kroese@wur.nl

Study Adviser(s)

- 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
- Ir S. Sterrenburg
Phone: : 0317- (4)82958
Email: sietse.sterrenburg@wur.nl

Programme Committee

Chair: Prof. dr S.W.F. Omta
Secretary: Ir E.P. Kroese

Internet

http://www.wageningenuniversity.nl/mme

Study Association

Mercurius Wageningen, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen
Internet http://www.mercuriuswageningen.nl