M. Jatib et al. / The International Food and Agribusiness Management Review Vol 5 Iss 3 2003
development of their particular business activities. Special attention will be given to
the study of the major agrifood chains in the region, quality management in
agrifood firms, food safety, networking with suppliers, partnered projects and
managing agrifood firms.
The distance learning Executive Management Postgraduate Course in Food and
Agribusiness was created towards the end of 2000 in response to a specific training
need voiced by individuals who could not afford travelling to the nearest venue.
Participants of the distance learning courses generally live more than 600 km away
or live in other South American countries.
There are practically no farmers participating in the distance learning courses.
Most students are professionals working in related activities who wish to expand
their knowledge with a view to improving agribusiness in the firms where they
provide consulting services. There is a marked absence both of farmers and of
government employees. Further, neither the monographs presented nor the exams
passed are up to standard. Of the 100 students registered, only two obtained their
degree, and thirty are still training. The rest simply dropped out at some point
despite having paid for part or the entire course.
The current edition of the distance learning Executive Management Postgraduate
Course in Food and Agribusiness is considering the incorporation of the portal
www.elprincipe.com as a strategic partner in order to retain and attract new
students. This portal specialises in virtual learning in other academic fields and is
widely known in several countries of South America. The aim is to help the
Executive Management Postgraduate Course in Food and Agribusiness become a
key part of training in this field in Latin America.
The Executive Management Quality-Oriented Postgraduate Course in Food and
Agribusiness was received with great enthusiasm the first year. 50% of the
participants belonged to the public sector and the other 50% came from the private
sector. At the beginning of the second year, the distribution changed significantly
and only 20% of the attendees belonged to the private sector. Under the
circumstances, the third edition of the Quality-Oriented Management Postgraduate
Course will not take place in 2003. This paper concludes that there is little
awareness of the significance of agrifood security and quality issues within the
Argentine private sector. Professionals are reluctant to train in that area at a time
when the demand for that specialisation has paradoxically fallen, probably due to
the 2002 economic and political crisis.
Consequently, the face-to-face Executive Management Postgraduate Course in Food
and Agribusiness is only held in the FAUBA venue. There is still strong demand
among students for this Course and only one Postgraduate Course offered. In view
of the shortage of Postgraduate courses in the interior of the country and the high
demand for this Postgraduate Course voiced by entrepreneurs, professionals and
farmers who live more than 250 km away from the FAUBA venue, a new monthly