TRIESTE, Italy – Kick-off for the 13th edition of the Master ‘s degree in Coffee Economics and Science – Ernesto Illy, which involves 24 students from 18 different nationalities: Brazil, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Mozambique, Panama, Rwanda, United States, Tanzania, Togo and Vietnam.
The Master ‘s course aims to offer specific academic-professional training on the biological, agronomic, technological and financial aspects that start with the coffee plant reaching the final product.
Based on a constant multi-disciplinary approach, the Master’s degree has as its unifying element the pursuit of quality and ethics in all phases of the production process and product marketing, explicitly drawing inspiration from the ethical values and scientific and managerial approach of Ernesto Illy, acknowledging his cultural heritage and bearing his name with an dedication to his ideals.
Alongside the Fondazione Ernesto Illy, which has been involved in the front line of the educational project since 2011, the company illycaffè, together with the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, SISSA (Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati di Trieste) and the Area Science Park of Trieste.
Since the first edition, the Master’s in Coffee Economics and Science -Ernesto Illy has involved more than 200 students from more than 30 countries around the world, contributing to the creation of professional figures specialised in coffee and interested in applying an ethical and sustainable approach that distinguishes the illycaffè model, protecting, promoting and supporting the development of an excellent and sustainable product.
The teaching programme includes more than 400 hours of lectures, which will be held in a hybrid format: they will begin remotely, continuing in May 2024 with in-person lessons and concluding with a project work related to one of the subjects developed during the master’s programme.
The graduation ceremony is scheduled for February 2025. Also confirmed for this edition is the provision of a scholarship by Fondazione Friuli, while 17 students have benefited from the financial support that the Fondazione Ernesto Illy offers every year: 10 students from the full contribution and 7 from the partial one, for a total of 17 young people of 14 different nationalities.
The financial support covers all or 50% of the university tuition fees as well as housing costs for all students during their residential period, all teaching materials and, for some of them, even travel expenses from their home countries.
Furthermore, the Fondazione Ernesto Illy plays an important role in covering any deficit generated between the revenue from tuition fees received by the Administering University and the costs incurred by illycaffè and the Administering University for the management and organisation of the Master’s course.
The direction of the Master is collegial and is composed of Giorgio Valentinuz of the University of Trieste, Marco Zancani of the University of Udine and Furio Suggi Liverani of the Fondazione Ernesto Illy.
The director of the Fondazione Ernesto Illy, Furio Suggi Liverani, stated: “Our ongoing commitment to promoting an ethical and sustainable approach in the coffee sector is crucial for the future of this industry. We are honoured to collaborate with students from around the world in the pursuit of quality and ethics in coffee production and marketing.”
