The Ernesto Illy Master’s course in the Economics and Science of Coffee kicks off

The Ernesto Illy Foundation’s Master’s course in the Economics and Science of Coffee has reached its 14th edition; it is held in collaboration with illycaffè, the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, SISSA and Area Science Park. This Master’s course is addressed to young graduates in economics, engineering and agricultural sciences; it offers comprehensive training on the biological, agronomic, technological and economic aspects of coffee, from the plant to the final product. There are 25 students in this edition, coming from 18 countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua and Tanzania.

The educational programme includes over 430 hours of lessons, supported by 60 professors. The classes are taught in a blended-learning format. They will begin remotely, and starting in May 2025, they will continue face-to-face, concluding with project work on one of the subjects covered during the course. Again this year, the Friuli Foundation and the CRTrieste Foundation will financially support the Master’s course, with 16 students who will receive scholarships from the Ernesto Illy Foundation: 10 with a full contribution and 6 with a partial contribution.

Since its first edition, the Master’s course has involved over 272 students from more than 30 countries, with the aim of training professionals specialised in the coffee sector, capable of adopting an ethical and sustainable approach.