Joint Master's Degree Programme
University of Perugia – Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences (DSA3)
University for Foreigners of Perugia – Department of Italian Language, Literature and Arts in the World (LiLAIM)
This joint Master's degree, promoted by the Università per Stranieri di Perugia and the Università degli Studi di Perugia, in Management and Italian Food Culture, aims to provide academic training for professionals and managers in the fields of sustainable food and wine tourism, Italian agri-food export, and the management of territorial and cultural resources connected to food.
To achieve this goal, the study programme offers a balanced integration of technical subjects (through courses in economics and business, law, mathematics, and statistics) and humanities subjects (with courses dedicated to developing communication skills for specialist lexicons in markets and finance, as well as to fostering intercultural competences within the complex relationship between food and society).
The programme also includes internships, work placements, and educational visits at institutions, businesses, and organizations active in the agri-food supply chain, which are strongly interconnected with the cultural and environmental resources of the regions (import-export of typical agri-food products; organisation of cultural and food and wine events; tourist services; design and implementation of eco-sustainable tourism packages; digital marketing; enhancement and management of green infrastructure, etc.).
The degree course is structured into two curricula to better meet the requirements of the job market.
- The first curriculum (Food and Wine and Cultural Tourism) is designed to prepare graduates for professional roles in the organisation and coordination of cultural tourism, in connection with the food and wine sector, with a strong emphasis on the Made in Italy segments.
- The second curriculum (Agri-Food Markets) focuses on the organisational and management aspects of agri-food import-export, with particular attention to the promotion and international diffusion of local products.
Course Information
The educational and cultural programme, which is aligned with European and Italian strategies for the economic and cultural development of Italian agri-food products, offers a pathway that will enable graduates to:
- acquire specialised knowledge to analyse, design, and use information systems and governance decision-making processes for agri-food production, with a particular focus on Made in Italy products;
- develop advanced cultural and professional training, grounded in knowledge of economics, business management, and social sciences;
- gain education that enables them to analyse, manage, and design decision-making processes within companies, institutions, or organisations active in the agri-food production sector, sustainable food and wine tourism, and cultural offerings related to food production and consumption;
- be able to communicate fluently, both in written and spoken form, in at least one European Union language other than Italian, including discipline-specific terminology.
Career Opportunities
The programme aims to train professionals with essential skills for roles in the development of agri-food organisations and production systems, national and international food marketing, the cultural, tourism and gastronomic promotion of Italian food and its associated culture, as well as the planning of activities and events to foster the growth of the Italian agri-food economy, particularly in an international context.
The academic and professional profile integrates the economic and cultural dimensions typical of agri-food systems with those related to the ecological transition required of these sectors. This integration enables graduates to acquire a solid body of knowledge, effectively preparing them to drive the transformation of production systems, consumption, utilisation activities, and commercial relationships towards innovative and sustainable models.
The programme is designed to train agri-food managers—a professional profile currently lacking but highly needed, as highlighted by stakeholders consulted, and therefore with strong employability prospects. Graduates will possess advanced competences for working in international contexts—including the development of markets for traditional agri-food products—and for building collaborations with professionals in the agricultural and agri-industrial sectors.
A major strength of the degree programme is the network surrounding the two partner universities, which enables the creation of collaborative synergies supporting the Made in Italy brand at both production and commercial levels, nationally and internationally, also with the backing of key institutional players from Italy operating on a global scale.
Graduates holding a three-year degree in the following fields, or an equivalent qualification obtained abroad and recognized as suitable, are eligible to apply for the Master's Degree in Management and Italian Food Culture (MaCI):
L-6 Geography
L-10 Humanities
L-15 Tourism Science;
L-18 Business Administration;
L-20 Communication Science;
L-24 Psychological Sciences and Techniques;
L-26 Agri-food Sciences and Technologies;
L-33 Economics;
L-37 Social Sciences for Cooperation, Development, and Peace;
L-40 Sociology;
L-Gastr Gastronomic Sciences;
A dedicated committee will assess whether applicants meet the curricular requirements and possess adequate academic preparation.
For information on the study plan and enrollment, please refer to the University of Perugia website, the administrative headquarters of the programme.
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