MSc (AgInnovation: Agricultural Innovation and Entrepreneurship)

The Masters in AgInnovation is a one-year programme that provides students with the concepts needed to develop technological solutions to the problems confronting Irish agriculture and the food sector. The course combines MIT’s "Disciplined Entrepreneurship" curriculum with concepts from design thinking and customer discovery. An important feature of the course is that students learn to work with a variety of groups to understand needs and opportunities. The course highlights both business analysis as well as communication skills so that the programme’s graduates are well-equipped to either launch their own enterprise or manage innovation projects within a larger organization. Funded by HEA through its Springboard programme AgInnovate is delivered as a mix of on-line lectures and monthly sessions on campus.The aim of this course is to teach people how to:Identify areas for innovation specifically within the agri-domainLaunch innovation-driven enterprises or create new business units within an existing companyParticular consideration is given to helping participants address:Identifying opportunities through design thinking and opportunity recognitionDeveloping concepts and validating markets;Other difficulties related to getting new products to markets.Our focus is on developing students critical thinking, curiosity and utilising a range of tools that will help manage the innovation process. You do not need to bring an idea to the course as we will help you identify opportunities ripe for Innovation. We foster a learn by doing atmosphere with experiential learning at the heart of this MSc.Career OpportunitiesEmployment in the agricultureforestryfishing sector in the Western (and broader BMW) region makes up 8% of regional employment (CSO, 2017). This has, for a number of years, exceeded that of the rest of the state which has about 5% in the sector. Agriculture, particularly in the West of Ireland, represents a significant proportion of Irish industry and exports (nationally, the sector is worth €13.54 billion according to Teagasc). This sector will benefit from the development of more innovation-driven, sustainable and scalable agri-enterprises.We aim to create the job creators of the future both as new venture creators and innovators within organisations. Key words in Job titles that graduates would develop skills in are:FounderInnovation managerHead of InnovationBusiness managerNew product developmentDesign thinkingSales

Applicants should hold an undergraduate degree, first or second class honours in any discipline, along with three years of relevant industrial experience; or an Ordinary or 3rd class honours undergraduate degree, along with five years of relevant industrial experience; or a recognised professional qualification and five years of relevant industrial experience. Candidates who do not meet the minimum entry criteria may be interviewed to ascertain their suitability for the programme.