AGRIBUS 7059 - Experiences and Insights in Agri-food Systems

North Terrace Campus - Trimester 1 - 2022

AGRIBUS 7059 is an elective course in the Faculty of Professions and is targeted to students who want to gain practical experience with leading agribusiness firms in South Australia. Students will be introduced to some key principles around understanding value chains & industry networks, focusing on end consumers & market requirements, innovation, business to business collaboration & competition and an overview of the South Australian food industry. On the field trips to a variety of local agribusiness firms, senior company managers will present on their business strategy, challenges and opportunities, before allowing interactive discussion and questions from the students. This course is designed to give students a competitive edge by not just explaining the background theory but by exposing them to the practicalities of running a successful agribusiness firm in today's global marketplace.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code AGRIBUS 7059
    Course Experiences and Insights in Agri-food Systems
    Coordinating Unit Centre for Global Food & Resources
    Term Trimester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Week-long intensive
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Assumed Knowledge Recommended to take in the second half of your program. Basic business principles assumed, but not necessary
    Quota 20 due to bus logistical constraints.
    Assessment Assignments, presentation, engagement
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Craig Johns

    Name: Mr Craig Johns
    Role: Course Coordinator
    Location: Level 6, Nexus 10
    Telephone: 8313 6765
    Email: craig.johns@adelaide.edu.au

    Name: Mr Theo Simos
    Role: Lecturer
    Location: Level 6, Nexus 10
    Telephone: 83139135
    Email: theo.simos@adelaide.edu.au
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    On the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

    1. Identify and interpret the nature of business challenges and opportunities.
    2. Communicate research findings in a professionally relevant manner (written and oral).
    3. Differentiate the characteristics of different business strategies and the variability associated with agribusiness value chains.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1,3

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1,2,3

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    2

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1, 2, 3

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1, 2, 3

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    2

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1, 2, 3
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Reading list:

    * Fearne A. 2009, Sustainable Food and Wine Value Chains (final report), Government of South Australia, Adelaide. http://www.thinkers.sa.gov.au/thinkers/fearne/report.aspx

    * McKinsey Report, Compete to Prosper: Improving Australia’s global competitiveness

    * Protected Cropping – Overview of the Australian protected Cropping Industry, Agribusiness Summit

    * Scorecard Paper – Measuring the Value of the Food Industry – A Revenue Approach as applied to SA

    * Foodmap freshlogic – An analysis of the Australian food supply chain

    * Foodmap – A comparative analysis of the Australian food distribution channels

    * Students will need to research each of the companies we are visiting by reviewing their company websites and social media
    strategies including facebook and twitter.

    * Students are also expected to read widely including agribusiness and general business journals, Australian government, industry association websites as well as recent newspapers to get background on Australian agribusiness.

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The course will involve a structured lecture format on day 1 to introduce themes and explain the structure of the week. The following 3 days will be spent in the field visiting and interacting with local agribusiness firms. The final day will include small group presentations and an introduction to the written assignment.

    In addition to the formal contact time, students will need to allocate non-contact time for a range of activities which may include, but are not limited to; suggested readings, assessment tasks, note taking, revision, research and informal discussions with other students.

    Active participation by all students in discussions, asking questions and debating issues and ideas will be a vital part of the learning experience of all students. This course has been designed to encourage and facilitate students not only learning from their readings and the lecturer but also from each other and the businesses visited.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Students in this course are expected to attend all classes throughout the intensive week long course and to do the background
    reading and assignment tasks. Overall, student should expect to devote a minimum of 40 contact hours and 120 non-contact hours to study in this course.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Day Activity Lecture Notes and Topics Learning Outcomes
    1 Lecture Course overview. Introduction to the principles of understanding value chains & industry networks, focusing on end consumers & market requirements, innovation, business to business collaboration & competition and an overview of the South Australian food industry. 1
    2,3,4 Field visits Agribusiness tours, company presentations on their business strategy, challenges and opportunities before allowing intereactive discussion and questions from the students. 1, 2
    5 Lecture Summarise and interpret the experience and insights gained in the field through group presentations. Introduction of written assignment. 1
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Due Length Weighting Learning Outcome
    Active participation Individual ongoing N/A 10% 1-3
    Group presentations Collaborative Friday session 30% 1-3
    Written assignment Individual CBO Friday, 3 weeks
    after group
    presentations
    2000 words or less 60% 1-3
    Total 100%
    Assessment Detail
    Details of specific assessment criteria will be provided and discussed in class.

    Active participation
    The active participation will be assessed across the 5 day intensive course with particular attention on the field days to gauge the interaction and understanding of the students during group discussions and question time.

    It is expected that all students will:

    1. ask thoughtful and informed questions

    2. share their own knowledge and experiences with other students through discussion and debate

    3. listen attentively and respectfully to others when they speak

    4. use appropriate and respectful language when speaking to others

    Participation will not be assessed on quantity other than to the extent that everyone is expected to contribute to discussions on a daily basis. Rather evidence of reflection, readings, interpretation, evaluation and analysis will be valued.

    Group presentation
    The group presentations will be assessed on the collaborative effort of the group. Specifically groups will be assessed on whether the group worked effectively in collaboration, the content of the presentation and how it is professionally communicated
    back to the class.

    Written assignment
    The written assignment will be a take-home individual assessment designed to gauge how well students have understood the concepts presented and interpreted the information from the agribusinesses involved.

    The written assignment will be in the form of a report based on observations during the field trip, comparing theory and practice, and may draw on students’ relevant experience.
    Submission
    Assignments must be submitted in:

    1. Softcopy through Turnitin on MyUni

    Your assignment MUST include the GF assignment cover sheet which can be downloaded from MyUni under “Assignments”. Each page must be numbered with your student ID and name.

    All assignments must be presented professionally with clear headings, appropriate referencing and using one and a half spacing.

    Extensions will only be granted if requests are received in writing to the course coordinator at least 24 hours before the final due date unless they are requested on medical or compassionate grounds and are supported by appropriate documents.

    Please contact the course coordinator, preferably by email, at any time to make an appointment for assistance or guidance in relation to course work, assignments or any concerns that may arise. Assignments will normally be returned two weeks after they have been submitted.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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