AGRIBUSINESS, B. A.
The most important details
Duration: 7 semesters full-time
Location: Kleve
Qualification: Bachelor of Arts, B.A.
Course Start: Annually in the winter term
Language: English
Practical Course: 3 month up to the beginning of the 4th semester (longer practical experience on an agricultural or horticultural business is recommended
Internship/ semester abroad: in the 6th semester
Bachelor thesis: in the second half of the 7th semester
Agribusiness at Rhine-Waal University
In the economic course of Agribusiness, the competence for economic evaluation and control of value chains in agricultural and horticultural products will be taught. Both economical know-how and management competence will be taught and sociological aspects of the Agribusiness will be assessed. Beyond that, further subjects and modules impart a fundamental understanding of the processes in agricultural and horticultural as part of the supply chain of agrarian goods. Changing dietary habits and demands on products and process quality, also due to the globally rising demand for agrarian goods, with simultaneous shortage of resources, is central in the subject of Agribusiness. Traceability of the goods and risk management along the value chain are also important topics for the future.
Structure of the course
The Agribusiness course is strongly characterised by the combination of economics and sociological subjects, combined with technical-scientific content from the agriculture and horticulture. With numerous contacts to enterprises and institutions in the agricultural sector, both nationally and abroad, an application oriented course with a high measure of practical input is realised. Apart from the teaching of technical content and the creation and development of methodical abilities, social competences of each individual are strengthened.
Self-organized learning is a key competence for the 21st Century, and an integral component of a higher education, and is encouraged from the beginning of the course. The imparting of professionally qualified skills and abilities and the promotion of personal competences occurs here to a largely in an integrated and specialized way. Thereby different forms of learning are implemented, such as lectures, seminars, practical courses, exercises and project work, in order to obtain both classical instructional content (e.g. management economics, marketing, logistics, agricultural and horticultural production) and modern topics of the Agribusiness (e.g. power production, quality management, analysis of value chains) and to integrate the various subjects taught. Due to the global aspect and relevance of Agribusiness, the course is held completely in English.
Co-operative courses
Study while you work? That is possible with us. In the part-time course you study at the University 2 days a week for the first 4 semesters. On the other 3 days you will work. The regular lecture program of the first two semesters is completed in 4 semesters. Starting from the 5th semester the number of activities at the University are reduced and self-studying becomes more important
Vocational fields and qualifications
The Agribusiness is one of the most important economical sectors in Germany. In particular in North Rhine-Westphalia, and with an emphasis on the Lower Rhine region, Agribusiness being a green industry, exhibits very good prospects for the future. The close contact of the university to enterprises and institutions in the field of Agribusiness not only makes the course very practical relevant, but also opens contact for the students to potential future employers. Broad technical training with flexible individual profile formation and the international orientation of the course open various career opportunities to the graduates. Learning technical English and improving the communication skills in the foreign language are core competencies for a future career in Agribusiness.
Possible employers are:
- Consulting companies and service providers to Agribusiness
- Nutrition and food industry
- Agribusiness processing companies
- Trading, marketing and sales
- Manufacturers of animal feeds, fertilizers, plant protection substances and seeds
- Machine and plant engineers within the Agribusiness sector
- Banks and other financial service providers
- Federations, authorities and international organizations in the agrarian and environmental sectors
Studying Agribusiness offers the graduate career possibilities in a promising industry with various fields of work. The Bachelor enables a candidate to study at national and international universities for a Master’s degree.
Conditions for entrance
Have we aroused your interest? The following conditions for entrance entitle you to begin a course with us:
- Higher educational entrance qualification or advanced technical college certification
- An equivalently recognised educational background
- University entrance without university graduation: these applicants will have vocational qualifications
- Required especially for the course “Agribusiness”:
- Sufficient knowledge of English
- 12 weeks basic practical course (at least 8 weeks before beginning the course)
Application deadlines and application procedures
Applications are received on-line here.
Application deadline for the winter semester is 15 July of that year. After this date enquiries regarding possible free places on the course can be made to the Student Service Centre.
Any questions? We will be pleased to help and give you advice!
