M. Jatib et al. / The International Food and Agribusiness Management Review Vol 5 Iss 3 2003
joint-venture between the Economy and Administration Departments of the FEA-
USP, Sao Paulo and Ribeirao Preto. The University of Sao Paulo’s Dean was
initiated on June 17th 1990 and its objective is to promote Brazilian Agribusiness
studies. PENSA methodology is based on systemic food and agribusiness analysis,
focalising especially in chain and networks among all sectors (inputs, production,
industry and distribution). With a mix of teachers from Brazil and other countries,
researchers, experts and professionals, PENSA courses try to identify with the
necessities of companies, cooperatives and institutions.
IAMA Argentina predicted that a shortage of human resources in the area of food
and agribusiness would eventually constrain competitiveness within the agrifood
sector10. The joint efforts of all those engaged in the development of the FAP
enabled meeting the primary goal of the Executive Management Postgraduate
Course in Food and Agribusinessfor professionals and practitioners, namely, to
focus on skills and knowledge to do business.
Consequently, the FAP, in collaboration with senior managers of important
agroindustrial firms, designed the Executive Management Postgraduate Course in
Food and Agribusiness. Given the level of academic excellence of the Master's
Course, the Postgraduate Course in Food and Agribusiness was able to focus more
on practical issues and is essentially tailored to the needs of those who bear the
responsibility of a business and wish to consolidate their career. Companies and
their personnel now have the opportunity of accessing a syllabus that incorporates
the most relevant topics in the sector and the insight of expert professors from other
international agribusiness schools willing to share their knowledge and experience
of the agribusiness world at international workshops and seminars.
2. Objectives
The main objective of this paper is to show how the School of Agronomy of the
University of Buenos Aires (FAUBA) responded to the demand of the agribusiness
sector -private as well as public- by creating the Postgraduate Courses. A response
that intends to satisfy the needs of firms, professionals, entrepreneurs and farmers
involved in the agrifood system.
This paper likewise confirms that not every postgraduate course offered locally has
attained the same level of recognition and that the profile of professionals and
practitioners attending such courses varies by venue.
3. Procedures
The main purpose of the Executive Management Postgraduate Course in Food and
Agribusiness is to train entrepreneurs, professionals and public officials in Food and
Agribusiness. The training strategy employed combines the theoretical and