Industry demand drives new agribusiness degree

Tuesday, 17 January 2017

Some of Australia’s largest agribusinesses have joined with the University of Adelaide to design a new, business-focused Master of Agribusiness program, to cultivate the industry’s next generation of leaders.

Building on the University's reputation for excellence in agriculture, food and business education, the new master's degree will service one of Australia's most important industry sectors, valued at more than $430 billion annually.

"This is a key industry for our nation, employing an estimated 1.4 million Australians. Agribusinesses are currently seeking thousands of graduates to fill demand for agricultural roles – for every graduate there’s an estimated six positions available," says Professor Wendy Umberger, Director of the Centre for Global Food and Resources at the University of Adelaide.

"Our new Master of Agribusiness will enable students to develop the skills necessary for agribusiness leadership, management decision making, policy analysis and problem solving, all within an increasingly complex, ever-changing global marketplace.

"Critically, this program has been developed in consultation and close collaboration with leaders in the agribusiness sector. This ensures our program is not only practical and relevant to today's industry needs, it will also foster critical thinking among graduates, which will be invaluable for the industry's future," Professor Umberger says.

The Chairman of the University's Agricultural Advisory Board, John Crosby, Director of Ag-Management Pty Ltd, says: "From the industry’s perspective, until now there has been no university program in agribusiness that has provided the elite level of education required for our future leaders.

"The new master's degree at the University of Adelaide requires a high standard for entry and is targeted at those who will truly lead agribusiness in Australia for the decades to come, from key positions of management.

"We have high expectations for this program – it will be to Australian agribusiness what Harvard currently is to world business management. That is, it's the right place to go if you want to be recognised as a leader in the field," Mr Crosby says.

The University of Adelaide's new Master of Agribusiness and a Graduate Diploma of Agribusiness are now open for applications.

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