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Agribusiness Management

 
Name of study program: Agribusiness
Level of qualification according to KKK (abbreviations BA, B. Sc, MA, PhD) B. Sc. (Bachelor of Science)
Academic grade and diploma title (in full and with abbreviations) Agribusiness (B.Sc. Agribusiness)
The study area according to Erasmus Subject Area Codes (ESAC) 01.2
Profile of the academic programme (specialisation) Life Sciences (Agribusiness Management)
Minimum period of study 3 years
Form of studies (full time, part time, distance learning etc.) Full time
Numbers of ECTS (total and per year) 180 ECTS
Modules Mathematics Plant Production Economics Rural Sociology English Language I Principle of Marketing Animal Production Agricultural Economy Basics of Statistics English Language II Accounting Business Statistics Business Rights Introduction to Finance Horticulture Farm Management Marketing of agricultural products Agribusiness management Financial Management Business Communication Elective modules: International Business Public Administration Organic production Agritourism Management Rural Development Viticulture and Enology Agribusiness projects Advanced Agribusiness Logistics Post harvesting Technology Prices and Markets of Agricultural Products Business Informatics Plant protection Processing Technology of vegetable products in Agriculture Production in Greenhouses Aromatic and medicinal plant and their management EU Common Agricultural Policy Consumer Behaviour Human Recourse Management Professional Practice B.Sc. Thesis
Number of students to be enrolled 50
Working group Dr. Isuf Lushi Dr. Ilir Kapaj
The permanent academic staff (according to the academic grade) 8 - Assistant professors (Prof. Ass. Dr.)
*Study fee will be set according to the MASHT directives!
 
First Year
First Semester Hours / week
Nr. O/E Subject teaching L U ECTS Lecturer
1. O Mathematics 3 2 7
2. O Plant Production 3 2 7
3. O Economics 3 2 7
4. O Rural Sociology 2 2 5
5. O English Language I 2 2 4
30
Second Semester Hours / week
Nr. O/E Subject teaching L U ECTS Lecturer
1. O Principle of Marketing 2 2 6
2. O Animal Production 3 2 7
3. O Agricultural Economy 3 2 6
4 O Basics of Statistics 2 2 7
5. O English Language II 2 2 4
30
Second Year
Third Semester
Nr. O/E Subject teaching L U ECTS Lecturer
1. O Accounting 3 2 7
2. O Business Statistics 2 2 6
3. O Business Rights 2 2 5
4. O Introduction to Finance 2 2 6
5. O Horticulture 3 2 7
30
Semestri IV
Nr. O/E Subject teaching L U ECTS Lecturer
1. O Farm Management 2 2 6
2. O Marketing of agricultural products 2 2 6
3. O Agribusiness management 3 2 6
4. O Financial Management 2 2 6
5. O Business Communication 2 2 6
Third Year
Fifth semester
Nr. O/E Elective modules: L U ECTS Lecturer
1. Z International Business 2 2 6
1. Z Public Administration 2 2 6
1. Z Organic production 2 2 6
2. Z Agritourism Management 2 2 6
2. Z Rural Development 2 2 6
2. Z Viticulture and Enology 2 2 6
3. Z Agribusiness projects 2 2 6
3. Z Advanced Agribusiness Logistics 2 2 6
3. Z Post harvesting Technology 2 2 6
4. Z Prices and Markets of Agricultural Products 2 2 6
4. Z Informatikë biznesi 2 2 6
4. Z Plant protection 2 6
5. Z Processing Technology of vegetable products in Agriculture 2 2 6
5. Z Production in Greenhouses 2 2 6
5. Z Aromatic and medicinal plant and their management 2 2 6
6. Z EU Common Agricultural Policy 2 2 6
6. Z Consumer Behaviour 2 2 6
6. Z Human Recourse Management 2 2 6
O Professional Practice 12
O B.Sc. Thesis 12

Agribusiness industry in Kosovo is growing very rapidly and with significant contribution in the Kosovo economy. Agriculture sectors such as livestock and food industry are priority in the development of our country. According to statistics by KTA (Kosovo Tax Administration), it shows that in Prizren region 200 agribusiness enterprises (food production) run their activity. This number is expected to grow in the future, despite the effects of the global crisis and decreasing demand in Kosovo.

Any form of business (in all of the food chain), in rural areas or not, that brings economic and social benefits for local residents and which enables the interaction between production resources and the population’s needs for food, can be defined as Agribusiness enterprise. These enterprises are diverse and can include all companies that find themselves in the system of agribusiness; industries providing inputs for agricultural farms, agricultural farms, and industries processing agricultural products, industry that market these products and all stakeholders (businesses) that make it possible to move the product to the final consumer. Agribusiness enterprises are guided by experience, are developed especially in areas that are relatively populous and focus more on areas that have significant agricultural production activity (the case of Prizren and surrounding municipalities) Just finding out an immediate need for Agribusiness management specialists, University of Prizren (UPz) undertook the initiative of opening a new study program in Agribusiness. Graduates of this program, which is oriented mainly by the agribusiness economy and its direction, will be the future leaders of the increasingly growing agribusiness industry in the Prizren region.

Considering the above, but not only, the goal of the opening of the new course of first cycle studiesBachelor, in “Agribusiness” profile, is for students to obtain sufficient knowledge and be able to contribute as part of the rural community to the good use of productive opportunities and the management of Agribusiness, which beyond short term are beneficial to themselves as well as for families in rural areas. An Agribusiness system that works well provides direct and indirect benefits to all stakeholders involved, including farm families.

Following the first Bachelor cycle in “Agribusiness” profile, will give them a better opportunity to find themselves involved in entrepreneurship and management of agribusiness activities. Requirements for this study profile will be increasing, because in general, Agribusiness is the basis of economic development prospects in developing countries such as the case of Kosovo.

UPz so far has had an Agribusiness study profile within the Faculty of Economics, where students of the Business Administration department in the third year had the opportunity to select two profiles, one of them has been Agribusiness. But given the needs of labor market for genuine Agribusiness specialists, UPz find it necessary opening a new study direction such as Agribusiness. We need to make it clear that in our university space lacks such an authentic course of studies, while international experience, but also countries that have an economic status comparable to that of Kosovo (case of Albania), shows that such study profiles are very much present and highly required.

For this reason, during the drafting of the study curriculum we have been consulting with many universities programs abroad that have similar study areas, such as the University Brno, Czech Republic; University of Nitra, Slovakia and Agricultural University of Tirana, Faculty of Economics and Agribusiness. Ukshin Hoti University has the necessary basis for drafting and implementation of this curriculum; because the advantage of leading, developing and proposing for accreditation this curriculum, is based on the indisputable need that agribusiness system in the region of Prizren and also in Kosovo has for young specialists in this field.

Supposed/possible student’s employment after completing the studies

Graduate students at the first studies level in the “Agribusiness” program, have the necessary qualifications to work in a number of areas such as:

Management of enterprises that provide inputs to agricultural farms Companies/businesses involved in the provision of seeds, fertilizers, agricultural machinery. These companies require specialists who have managerial, marketing, finance and accounting knowledge, as well as basic knowledge in terms of crop and animal production, knowledge that we pretend our graduate students in Agribusiness to possess and be able to apply.

Management of market oriented agricultural/livestock farms Many oriented market farms (selling over 50 % of their production in value) are interested for specialists/managers who are knowledgeable in the areas of agriculture and livestock production, management and marketing of their products. They are also concerned about the competencies and skills in finance and accounting of their farms.

Management of agricultural products processing enterprises Many agricultural products processing and food production companies have an immediate need for agribusiness specialists/managers, such as those specialized in vegetable processing, meat processing, milk processing, fruit and grapes processing. Students graduating in this study direction can serve in the company as general managers, marketing directors, sales agents, financial specialists as well as accountants.

Various governmental agencies Graduate students in “Agribusiness” are capable and worthy of respect (in terms of knowledge gained) to work in governmental institutions (eg relevant ministries dealing with agriculture or economic development in general or other agencies which focus on rural development in general and the development of the agribusiness sector in particular). Institutions and public agencies need specialists with knowledge in agribusiness management, marketing or finance of agribusiness enterprises. Other basic knowledge in the field of crop production, animal and horticultural completes the future specialists we aim to prepare with this new diploma.

Microfinance and banking system Based on the fact that graduates in Agribusiness also gain knowledge about microfinance agencies and banking system, they may very well find themselves as employees in these institutions. Particularly is worth mentioning the great possibility that these specialists will have to be employed in microfinance agencies that can or will operate in Kosovo in support of the development agricultural sector in general and agribusiness in particular. They can be employed in these institutions as well as credit analysts or managers of different levels.

Policy-making level Graduates in Agribusiness can continue their career, and being engaged at the policy-making level of agricultural development in Kosovo. With the knowledge gained during their studies they can be competent to be active participants in this process. This would mean membership of the working groups for the drafting of the relevant ministries of agriculture or employees in other departments with direct or indirect link with policy-making.

Other public or private institutions There are many career development opportunities for graduate students in the field of agribusiness. Students can work for insurance companies and especially those that include in their portfolio and agriculture insurance. They can develop their careers as private entrepreneurs in agribusiness, can be self-employed as agribusiness consultants and assist entrepreneurs and agribusinesses with business-plans and also with management or marketing consulting. They can also be employed as specialists for various government bodies and NGOs dealing with rural and agricultural development issues, and in more particular with agribusiness development.

Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Environment

Study program: Agribusiness

ECTS for the proposed study program: 180

The study program of European universities comparable with “Agribusiness” study program in the Faculty of Life Sciences and Environment (University # 1 means the University with which programs of study are in compliance 75 % and University # 2 means the Universities of Whom are similar)

Ukshin Hoti University, Prizren University #1 Universities #2
University Ukshin Hoti University Mendel University in Brno (Czech Republic) aAgricultural University of Nitra (Slovakia)
bAgricultural University of Tiranës (Albania)
cRhine-Vaal University of Life Sciences
Faculty Faculty of Life Sciences and Environment Faculty of Agronomy Mendel University in Brno aFaculty of Economics and Management
bFaculty of Economy and Agribusiness
cFaculty of Life Science
Study program name Agribusiness Agribusiness aEconomy and Management of Agribusiness sector
bAgribusiness Management
cAgribusiness
Comparability % 75% 25%

1.4 Orientation of the study program according to the guiding principles of the institution

The curriculum of Agribusiness management studies is in accordance with the rules and criteria of studies according to the Bologna system and for two academic years they also have elective courses, while the distribution of ECTS is done according to the weight of the course. The number of credits is 60 credits per year of study, which means 30 credits per semester. This means that Bachelor studies in this field have a total of 180 credits. Students can choose the elective courses according to the special list provided within this curriculum (elective course table) and their number is determined by filling in the number of credits for the designated semester. The first cycle study programs are realized with 180 European credits (ECTS) (hereinafter: credits) and their normal duration is 3 academic years.

To prepare specialists with in-depth theoretical and professional training, well-oriented in the fields of agribusiness, to know the managerial aspects and the regulatory framework of the Agribusiness sector. It is a field of study (within the Faculty of Life Sciences) not yet elaborated by us so far and according to our observations it turns out that graduates in this study program will be quite in demand in the labor market.

The program of study of the first cycle Bachelor in “Agribusiness”, is to benefit and support the needs and requirements for a further diversification of degrees offered by UPz, for the benefit of students admitted to this faculty.

Graduates of this study program will be able to respond quite well to the needs of the country, especially in rural areas and the Agribusiness system for the efficiency of natural resources. Taking the necessary form in the field of Agribusiness management, they (graduates) will be promoters and a very good potential for the benefit of organizing new businesses in the Agribusiness sector and efficient management of this sector, but not only; sustainable development of rural areas; as well as the orientation of the development of agricultural enterprises towards their well-functioning.

The aim is also to enable students to continue their studies in the second cycle program – Master.

Academic Degree title and diploma title in full and abbreviated form

The studies in this program are of BA level (3 years), with a total of 6 semesters of 30 ECTS each, a total of 180 ECTS.

Upon successful completion of studies, the candidate receives the title: Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness.