Study program Agribusiness Management, MSc, accreditation

Table ii.1: Study program “Agribusiness Management” (MSc), re/accreditation

Name of study program	Agribusiness Management
Qualification level according to NQF (BA, MA, PhD, doctoral program, university course, certificate or professional diploma)
	MSc
Academic degree and degree diploma in full and abbreviated form	Scientific Master in Agribusiness Management –            MSc in Agribusiness Management
Field of study according to Erasmus Subject  Area Codes (ESAC)	01.2
Academic program profile	Agribusiness
Minimum duration of the study	2 years (4 semesters)
Form of study (regular, without dismissal, distance study, etc.)	Regular
Number of ECTS	120 ECTS or 60 ECTS/Year
Modules / Courses (short overview)	1.1 Economics of the agricultural and food industry (O) 1.2 Integrated rural management (O) 1.3 Methodology of scientific research (O) 1.4. Econometrics (O) 1.5.1 Entrepreneurship (E) 1.5.2 Agroecology and environmental protection (E) 2.1 Sustainable farm management (O) 2.2 Agribusiness quality management (O) 2.3 Agribusiness marketing (O) 2.4 International business and innovation (O) 2.5.1 ICT in agriculture (E) 2.5.2 Financial law (E) 3.1 Agricultural and food policy analysis (O) 3.2 Strategic management (O) 3.3 Agrifood value chain analysis (O) 3.4 Business risk management (O) 3.5.1 Marketing management (E) 3.5.2 Financial analysis (E) 4.1 Internship (O) 4.2 Master thesis (O)
Number of study places	30
Study direction / program leader	Prof. Asoc. Dr. Sadik Maloku Prof. Asoc. Dr. Kushtrim Braha
Permanent academic staff (scientific / artistic) (Number of personnel by categories)	Seventeen (17) full-time teaching staff: 6 Prof. Asoc., 5 Prof. Ass., 1 Ass. Dr. and 5 Ass. PhD(c) Prof. Asoc. Dr. Kushtrim Braha Prof. Asoc. Dr. Sadik Maloku Prof. Asoc. Dr. Isuf Lushi Prof. Asoc. Dr. Albana Milaimi Prof. Asoc. Dr. Florije Govori Prof. Asoc. Dr. Arsim Susuri Prof. Ass. Dr. Nol Krasniqi Prof. Ass. Dr. Anera Musliu Prof. Ass. Dr. Kushtrim Gashi Prof. Ass. Dr. Festim Tafolli Prof. Ass. Dr. Adelina Rakaj Ass. Dr. Arbër Beshiri Ass. PhD(c). Liridon Buqaj Ass. PhD(c). Simeana Beshi Ass. PhD(c). Leonora Sopaj Hoxha Ass. PhD(c). Vesel Usaj Ass. PhD(c). Isuf Qabrati   Eight (8) part-time teaching staff: 4 Prof. Dr., 1 Prof. Ass., 1 Dr., 1 PhD(c) and 1 Msc. Prof. Dr. Engjëll Skreli Prof. Dr. Ilir Kapaj Prof. Dr. Drini Imami Prof. Dr. Ekrem Gjokaj Prof. Ass. Dr. Gentjan Çera Dr. Kujtim Hameli PhD(c). Altina Kamberaj MSc. Fatjona Parallangaj
Study fee	150 euro per semester

Table 1.4.2: Content of the master study program “Agribusiness management”

Year I
Semester I
No.	O/E	Subjects	ECTS	Hours/ weeks	Lecturer	Hours/ weeks	Assistant
				L		E
1.1	O	Economics of the agricultural and food industry	7	3	Nol Krasniqi	2	Vesel Usaj
1.2	O	Integrated rural management (taught in English)	6	3	Ekrem Gjokaj	2	Fatjona Parallangaj
1.3	O	Methodology of scientific research	6	3	Kushtrim Braha	2	Liridon Buqaj
1.4	O	Econometrics	6	3	Anera Musliu	2	Altina Kamberaj
1.5.1	E	Entrepreneurship	5	2	Kushtrim Gashi	1	Leonora Sopaj Hoxha
1.5.2	E	Agroecology and environmental protection	5	2	Albana Milaimi	1	Liridon Buqaj
1.5.3	FE	Free elective course	5	2	TBA	1	TBA
Σ			30
Semester II
No.	O/E	Subjects	ECTS	Hours/ weeks	Lecturer	Hours/ weeks	Assistant
				L		E
2.1	O	Sustainable farm management	7	3	Sadik Maloku	2	Fatjona Parallangaj
2.2	O	Agribusiness quality management	6	3	Ilir Kapaj	2	Vesel Usaj
2.3	O	Agribusiness marketing	6	3	Isuf Lushi	2	Kujtim Hameli
2.4	O	International business and innovation (taught in English)	6	3	Kushtrim Braha	2	Leonora Sopaj Hoxha
2.5.1	E	ICT in agriculture	5	2	Arsim Susuri	1	Arbër Beshiri
2.5.2	E	Financial law	5	2	Adelina Rakaj	1	Simeana Beshi
2.5.3	FE	Free elective course	5	2	TBA	1	TBA
Σ			30
Year II
Semester III
No.	O/E	Subjects	ECTS	Hours/ weeks	Lecturer	Hours/ weeks	Assistant
				L		E
3.1	O	Analysis of agricultural and food policy	7	3	Engjëll Skreli	2	Fatjona Parallangaj
3.2	O	Strategic management	6	3	Kushtrim Gashi	2	Kujtim Hameli
3.3	O	Agri-food value chain analysis (taught in English)	6	3	Drini Imami	2	Festim Tafolli
3.4	O	Business risk management	6	3	Gentjan Çera	2	Vesel Usaj
3.5.1	E	Marketing management	5	2	Festim Tafolli	1	Leonora Sopaj Hoxha
3.5.2	E	Financial analysis	5	2	Florije Govori	1	Vesel Usaj
2.5.3	FE	Free elective course	5	2	TBA	1	TBA
Σ			30
Semester IV
No.	O/E	Subjects	ECTS	Hours/ weeks L	Lecturer	Hours/ weeks E	Assistant
4.1	O	Internship	5	3	Nol Krasniqi
4.2	O	Master thesis	25
Σ			30

Study program profile and macro environment analysis

The study program “Agribusiness management” is an advanced study program of the master cycle, designed for students who are interested in contemporary agribusiness management. The study program contains clear, measurable, practical and achievable objectives of student qualification. This program aims to provide students with the opportunity to build, develop and implement advanced agribusiness management practices in competitive local and international environment. The design of the study program and the content of the courses/subjects orient this program towards a master of advanced multi-dimensional and functional management format.

Upon completion of studies, students of this study program will be able to get employed or self-employed, based on the competencies and skills acquired in this study program. They will develop in-depth theoretical and practical skills and competencies, which will be supported by structured methodological application and generic skills. Students of this program will be able to contribute to the community through the provision of expertise and professional consulting in the agribusiness sector.

The study program has an interdisciplinary character and contains a well-structured logical flow of the disciplines of the agribusiness sector management by fulfilling the expected qualifications objectives. This study program is in full compliance with the Kosovo National Qualifications Framework [A4.1] and the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area [A4.2] by combining and harmonizing the theoretical part of the courses (lectures) with the practical part (exercises). The courses of the program are combined in such a way to accurately meet the specified objectives of the study program, through the implementation of quality and innovative teaching and learning.

The study program of the master cycle “Agribusiness management” is in full compliance with the National Qualifications Framework and the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area, based on the facts that:

• Study program at the master level contains 120 ECTS,
• Study program is based on the bachelor level program (“Agribusiness”), offering originality for career development through advanced studies and which are oriented in the research and application context,
• Students have the opportunity for further development of skills and competencies for solving practical problems in the agribusiness sector,
• Students have the opportunity to develop skills and competencies for problem solving in situations of imperfect information and respecting social and ethical responsibility,
• Students develop their presentation skills through working on course projects and seminars, so that after graduation they are able to communicate their research findings professionally to specialized and non-specialized audiences,
• Study program enables students to be more independent during the learning process and thus prepare for the third cycle of studies that requires full autonomy,
• Courses of the study program are arranged in a logical flow so as to help students develop general as well as specific skills.

In this study program can be enrolled students who have completed bachelor studies in the fields of agribusiness, economics, rural development, agronomy, law (business law and financial law) and other fields related to the agribusiness, and have accumulated at least 180 ECTS. University students who prove that have completed the bachelor level of studies. with an average grade of 8 (eight) or higher, gain the right to enrol directly in master studies. Students with a grade average below 8 (eight) take the entrance exam. Enrolled students must meet the minimum English language proficiency requirements demonstrated by common tests such as TOEFL, IELTS or an internal test (the internal test is organized in collaboration with the Department of English Language at the University level).

 

Comparability with international study programs

The study program of the master cycle “Agribusiness management” is comparable to the master study programs in the field of agribusiness of the University of Hohenheim (Agribusiness, MSc.), Szent István University (Rural Development and Agribusiness, MSc.), Agricultural University of Tirana (Administration of Agribusiness Enterprises, MSc.) and Audencia Business School (Food and Agribusiness Management, MSc.). The following table (Table 1.4.1) presents the comparability of the master study program “Agribusiness management” with international study programs.

 

Table 1.4.1: Comparability with international study programs

	University “Ukshin Hoti” Prizren	University  #1	University  #2
University	University “Ukshin Hoti” Prizren	University of Hohenheim (Stuttgart, Germany)	a) Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Gödöllő, Hungary)
			b) Agricultural University of Tirana (Tirana, Albania)
			c) Audencia Business School (Nantes, France)
Faculty /          Study program	Agribusiness management (MSc.)	Faculty of Agricultural Science & Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences / Agribusiness (MSc.)	a) Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences / Rural Development and Agribusiness (MSc.)
			b) Faculty of Economics and Agribusiness / Administration of Agribusiness Enterprises (MSc.)
			c) Business School / Food and Agribusiness Management (MSc.)
% of comparability		75%	25%

Note: Study programs of European Universities with which the program “Agribusiness management” is comparable (University # 1 means the University with which the study programs have comparability 75% and Universities # 2 means the Universities with which the study program is comparable 25%)

 

1.1.  Mission, objectives and administration

Since 2021, when the study program “Agribusiness management” was for the first time accredited, it has followed the market demands, strategic objectives of the University Strategic Plan and FLES Strategic Plan, the Education Strategy of the Republic of Kosovo, and the European higher education trends.

The mission of the study program “Agribusiness management”, as mentioned in the above section, is in full compliance with the mission of the University Strategic Plan 2020-2024 [A1.1] and the FLES Strategic Plan 2020-2024 [A1.2]. The mission is also aligned with the Education Strategy in Kosovo 2022-2026 [A1.3], the Action Plan of the Education Strategy 2022-2026 [A1.4], and the trends of the Bologna Process and the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ESG 2015) [A1.5] in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).

Teaching process of the study program “Agribusiness management” is organized following the Regulation on determining the criteria for master studies [A1.6]. The study program offers postgraduate qualifications in the field of agribusiness management. It is dedicated to students who have completed undergraduate studies in the field of agribusiness and similar fields of this economic sector.

The mission of the study program aims at fulfilling the three main pillars of studies: quality education, scientific research and contribution to the community. Consequently, the mission of the study program “Agribusiness management” is defined as follows:

“The mission of the study program aims to provide a high-quality education combined with the development of research skills, in the function of continuous professional and scientific development of students to successfully manage companies in the agribusiness sector at national and international level. Graduates of this study program will foster professional and research skills and competencies to meet market demand and contribute to the improvement of community welfare.”

This study program aims to provide a balanced educational program that challenges our students to be effective learners and leaders. Therefore, the content of the study program provides students with an up-to-date knowledge to identify and solve business problems in the agribusiness sector, both in national and international context. For such a purpose, study program offers general courses in the field of agro-food industry, integrated rural development, farm management, international business and innovation, quality management in agribusiness, application of ICT in agriculture, implementation of econometric models, analysis of agricultural and food policies, food supply chain management. Moreover, study program provides specialized knowledge through the provision of elective courses, and finally it offers professional applied experience with internship in domestic and international companies. Lastly, students of the study program conclude studies by developing research skills through writing the master thesis.

An important goal of this study program is to increase the level of research in the field of agribusiness. Students develop and acquire analytical skills along with creative, innovative and communication skills to solve various agribusiness problems. Students develop research skills not only through the courses offered in the content of this study program but also through collaboration with professors in various research projects. For this purpose, the collaboration with the University Centre for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer (CRIKT) [A1.7] offers an opportunity to advance research work and cooperation between professors and students, as well as between the FLES professors and international professors.

Simultaneously, this study program provides contribution to accomplish the wider societal goals. Study program provides a top-tier educational curriculum that equips students with practical knowledge tailored to meet the demands of the Kosovo and international labor market. This is achieved through the cultivation of essential research skills that empower agribusinesses, their employees, and the broader community to effectively identify and address their challenges. To ensure the program remains responsive to market needs, an FLES Industrial Advisory Board (IAB), has been established to guide curriculum development based on labor market demand. Furthermore, the study program includes the implementation of study visits, offering students the opportunity to gain firsthand insights into various aspects of management, governance, finance, and more within local and international businesses. To facilitate these visits, agreements have been signed with key players in the business community, as shown in the List of agreements with business community partners.

The vision of this study program is based on the fulfilment of several objectives. Among others:

• Become a leader in providing high-quality education for the preparation of professionally well-educated staff in the agribusiness sector at the national and international context,
• Become a leader in the scientific research in the field of agribusiness and rural development at the national and international context,
• Become competitive actor in providing advisory and professional services at the regional and international context.

The objectives of the study program “Agribusiness management” are designed as follows:

• To provide students with a deep and comprehensive understanding of agribusiness management concepts, practices, and principles, covering areas such as agriculture, farm management, economics, marketing, finance, and supply chain management.
• To equip students with advanced research skills, enabling them to conduct in-depth analyses and contribute to the development of innovative solutions within the agribusiness sector.
• To develop students’ professional competencies, preparing them to excel in managerial roles and decision-making positions within agribusiness companies and organizations.
• To foster adaptability and flexibility in students, allowing them to respond effectively to the dynamic challenges and changes in the agribusiness industry.
• To align the curriculum with current market trends and industry demands, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to meet the market needs of the agribusiness sector.
• To instill ethical and sustainable practices in agribusiness management, encouraging responsible and environmentally conscious decision-making.
• To enhance students’ problem-solving abilities, enabling them to identify and address issues and challenges faced by agribusinesses.
• To provide students with a global perspective on agribusiness management, preparing them for international markets and collaborations.
• To foster entrepreneurial and leadership capabilities, allowing graduates to take on influential roles in the agribusiness sector.
• To promote the understanding that agribusiness can play a role in improving community welfare, with a focus on social responsibility.

Learning outcomes of the students graduating this study program are:

1. Understand and interpret key trends impacting the development of agribusiness industry at the local and global environment;

1. Analyze pervasive elements of risk and uncertainty impacting agribusiness enterprises and industry segments, and identify the risks that impact specific agribusiness enterprise types;
2. Lead sustainable investment projects at the farm level and implement research projects;
3. Manage the agri-food supply chain;
4. Design and implement models of the quality management systems in the agribusiness sector;
5. Comprehend the role of the advanced technology and implementation of the ICT in agricultural production;
6. Develop entrepreneurial and leadership initiative in a complex legal and financial environment of the agribusiness industry;
7. Develop agribusiness expansion strategies to international markets and apply innovation strategies, using critical thinking methods;
8. Plan and implement pricing marketing strategies and investment financing policies;
9. Analyze and interpret comprehensive integrated rural development policies;
10. Organize and apply qualitative and quantitative scientific research methods, including the design and application of econometric models pertaining to agribusiness development;
11. Develop and present market research findings with clarity and adhere to high professional standards when addressing specialized audiences.