Key Benefits
This scholarship masters programme combines overseas industry placements, intensive professional and career development, and in-class modules delivered by the world’s best food industry educators from business schools including Harvard, IMD, NYU Stern and UCD Smurfit School.
- Professional & Career Development - Through a combination of your participation in academic modules and overseas learning assignment activities over the 18 months you will enhance your professional and career development in the Irish Food, Drink and Horticulture industry exponentially. Extensive training in the areas of: Consumer Insights, Sustainability Brand Marketing, Digital Innovation and Leadership
- Scholarship Bursary - A monthly scholarship bursary to assist with your living expenses in your given market. Bursary amounts vary depending on the respective markets and are reviewed biannually.
- Masters Degree - An internationally recognised level 9 accredited MSc degree in International Marketing Practice from Ireland's leading business school UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.
- International Experience - You will be placed overseas in a Bord Bia affiliated office to complete your 2-3 client learning assignment briefs for Irish-owned companies with a view to introduce and grow it's presence in that respective market. You will immerse yourself into the local food industry community and be working on projects with people from various cultures, backgrounds and experiences. You will get extensive overseas experience in the areas of sales, brand & digital marketing, consumer insights, entrepreneurship and leadership.
- Fully-funded Masters - This Masters programme is fully-funded by Bord Bia. No academic fees incurred by participants.
- Member of Bord Bia Talent Academy Alumni Network - Once you join the programme you will be part of the Bord Bia Talent Academy Alumni Network. e.g. access to network of job opportunities, alumni events, guest speakers, mentorship.
- Student Assistance Programme (SAP) - Your health and wellbeing is extremely important to us at UCD-Bord Bia Talent Academy. You will have access to various supports e.g. 24/7 counselling, digital gym and recipes through the online SAP application
- Laptop - A complimentary laptop will be provided to you at the start of the programme for you to use during your academic and learning assignment activities which you will keep post-programme.
- Personal Accident & Travel Insurance - Whilst overseas in your respective learning assignment placement, you will be covered by our preferred insurance provider under their travel and personal accident policy. Note that this is not health insurance cover. We would advise you to keep existing health insurance if you already have it.
- Flights - Your flights from Ireland to your assigned market at the end of induction period will be covered. Also the return flights for block-release lectures in UCD from your assigned market will be covered. For those not currently resident in Ireland, you will have to pay for your flight to Ireland to commence the programme.
- Accommodation - During the programme induction and block-release lectures in UCD Smurfit, accommodation will be provided the nights before each scheduled activity for those not residing in a commutable distance to UCD Smurfit (Fri/Sat not included and at discretion of UCD Smurfit). For those not currently resident in Ireland, accommodation will be covered on weekends where required. Full policy will be shared in advance of programme commencement.
- Expenses - While in your assigned market, some out of pocket travel incurred costs can be expensed. The expense policy will be shared with you during induction.
Programme Structure
Classroom-based taught modules and skills training and development take place in UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School during a number of block release visits back to Dublin.
Employment prospects from these programmes are outstanding with numerous companies regularly recruiting directly from the programmes, including Kerry, Glanbia, Ornua, Green Isle, Kepak, Synergy, BFree, Unilever, Bord Bia, Carlow Brewing, Cuisine Royale, Glenstal, Good Fish Co, Virginia Health Foods, Nestle, Danone, William Grant & Sons, Heinekin, Teelings Whiskey, Keoghs Crisps, Dawn Farm Foods, Dairygold, among others.
Develop relations with Sector Managers/Overseas office manager/TMS/Other Bord Bia and UCD employees in order to:
- Undertake in-market learning assignments and activities to deliver on Bord Bia’s strategic imperatives.
- Attend pre-agreed trade events and seminars in search of information or leads which will enhance the successful delivery of learning assignments.
- Attend meetings and organise itineraries relevant to projects.
- Participate in reviews and planning during each learning assignment.
- Submit progress reports/recommendations during the course of learning assignments.
- Develop and maintain updated sector overviews.
- Facilitate buyer contact on behalf of clients and other companies.
- Develop and capitalise on business and promotional opportunities for clients and other Irish food manufacturers.
- Deliver insight to clients, through market research and other activities, on the dynamics of the market, market entry planning and consumer issues affecting export markets.
- Understand/appreciate strategic plans and sectoral strategies through close collaboration with Bord Bia sector managers and trade marketing specialists.
- Undertake market research for clients.
- Work on increasing the export business of clients through various sales/business development activities.
- Maintain and document project management progress.
- Create specific assignment/ project plans.
- Delivery of client assignments to an exceptional standard.
- Share market intelligence and exchange ideas of mutual benefit.
- Broaden and deepen insight into food industry clients.
- Ensure consistency of message in assignments and other work.
- Collaborate with Bord Bia Information Services (Library) and other Bord Bia resources, for value-adding to client assignments.
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