Ernesto Illy Foundation Master Degree
December 9, 2009
ERNESTO ILLY FOUNDATION JOINS WITH LEADING ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS TO OFFER FIRST MASTERS DEGREE IN COFFEE ECONOMICS & SCIENCE
Trieste, Italy-based curriculum set to launch in September
TRIESTE, ITALY – Leaders in education, research, industry and philanthropy have joined to create a first-of-its-kind, accredited, postgraduate-level coffee education program. Expected to open to students in September, The International Masters Course in the Economics and Science of Coffee will offer a comprehensive 60-credit program in every facet of coffee, toward creating a next generation of industry leaders in coffee and agribusiness.
The program, years in planning, is a collaboration among University of Trieste; the University of Udine; the Ernesto Illy Foundation; the Università del Caffè; the Trieste International School of Advanced Studies (Sissa); the Cluster in Molecular Biomedicine; and the Trieste Coffee Cluster. Courses will be held in English, and are open to university graduates in Economics, Engineering, Sciences, Agronomy and related disciplines from all over the world.
The Ernesto Illy Foundation is funding the initiative, to honor and extend the late Dr. Illy’s cultural and scientific legacies in coffee cultivation, production and corporate management. “This important project embodies my father’s commitment to the highest ethics, his curiosity about the world, his industry, and passion to always produce higher quality,” said Andrea Illy, CEO of illycaffè.
“We want to instill in our young leaders the basis in science, the tools to pursue smart innovation and the respect for the people and places that cultivate our product that are essential to our industry’s future,” said Illy.
The curriculum covers the entire coffee production chain from three standpoints: economic & managerial, biological & agronomic and technological, unified by the pursuit of optimal quality in all stages of production and marketing, from the farm to the cup.
As part of its support, the Ernesto Illy Foundation will offer a limited number of fellowships to graduate-level students from coffee producing countries like Brazil and India, providing opportunities for advancement for high-potential talent from emerging and developing nations. Foundation partners including the University of San Paulo, Brazil, and the Coffee Board of India, will collaborate in course development and student recruitment.
About illycaffé
Based in Trieste, Italy, illycaffé produces and markets a unique blend of espresso coffee under a single brand leader in quality. Over 6 million cups of illy espresso coffee are enjoyed every day. illy is sold in over 140 countries around the world and is available in more than 50,000 of the best restaurants and coffee bars. espressamente illy, the chain of franchised Italian-style coffee bars is now present in 40 countries and comprises more than 230 outlets. With the aim of spreading the coffee culture, illy has founded the University of Coffee, the centre of excellence offering theoretical and practical training on every aspect of coffee for coffee growers, coffee bars staff and enthusiasts. On a global level illycaffè employs around 780 people and has a consolidated turnover of €280 million. (2008 results)
illy buys green coffee directly from the growers of the highest quality Arabica through partnerships based on the mutual creation of value. The Trieste-based company fosters long-term collaborations with the world's best coffee growers - in Brazil, Central America, India and Africa - providing know-how and technology and offering above-market prices.
For additional information:
www.illy.com
illycaffè. Anna Adriani/ Christine Pascolo; Tel. +39 040 3890111
