Fondazione Ernesto Illy and illycaffè Inaugurate the 12th Academic Year of the Ernesto Illy Master's Degree in Coffee Science and Economics

TRIESTE, Italy, Jan. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 12^th Academic Year of the Ernesto Illy First-level Inter-University Master's Degree in Coffee Science and Economics was inaugurated. The program is targeted at young men and women with undergraduate degrees in economics, engineering and agrarian science, and provides comprehensive training on coffee culture from plant to cup, on the social value of coffee consumption, and on the culture of coffee-producing countries.

This year, twenty students are enrolled in the master's program. They come from sixteen different countries: Brazil, Colombia, China, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Rwanda, the United States, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The courses, which will take place in a hybrid format – remote learning initially, followed by in-person classes starting in May – will conclude in December 2023, when students will defend their theses.

In addition to Fondazione Ernesto Illy, the master's degrees supporting partners include the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) in Trieste, the Trieste AREA Science Park, and illycaffè.

Once again, as it has every year since the first Master's in 2010, Fondazione Friuli will fund a scholarship, a meaningful way to encourage local youths from the provinces of Udine and Pordenone, while Fondazione Ernesto Illy will provide 9 full and 5 partial scholarships.

The master's program is directed by a team comprising Andrea Tracogna of the University of Trieste, Pietro Romano of the University of Udine, and Furio Suggi Liverani of illycaffè and Fondazione Ernesto Illy.

The Ernesto Illy Master's Degree in Coffee Science and Economics, the only one of its kind in the world, confirms Trieste's standing a global hub of coffee culture. The programme's 59 docents come from the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, illycaffè and the University of Coffee, the International Coffee Organization, Copenhagen University, Cirad, Unipd, Northen Colorado University, Coffeelab India, Demus, Drexel University, RD2 Vision, Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, VUNA Origin Consulting, MIB Trieste School of Management, Quin, and the Kedge Business School.

By the end of the programme, 249 people from 25 different countries will have earned a Master's Degree in Coffee Science and Economics.

illycaffè is an Italian family-owned company, founded in Trieste in 1933. Its mission has always been to offer the best coffee to the world. Illycaffè produces a unique 100% Arabica blend, combining 9 of the best varieties in the world, selected by illycaffè: every day 8 million cups of illy coffee are served in over 140 countries around the globe, in the cafés, restaurants and hotels, in single-brand cafés and shops, at home and in the office. As a result of its innovations, illycaffè contributes to the coffee technology progress at global level. In 1991, the "Premio Ernesto Illy de qualidade sustentavel do cafè para espresso" was launched in Brazil for quality espresso coffee. Illycaffè has contributed to the sharing of the know-how, paying growers a premium price for the best quality selected by illycaffè. Since 2016, with the "Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award", the company has celebrated coffee growers all over the world that, according to illy, have produced the best sustainable coffee. Since 2013, the company has been in the list of the World Most Ethical Companies. In 2019, it enhanced its commitment to pursue a sustainable business model integrating the interest of people with the environment, adopting the status of Società Benefit (Benefit Company) and adding this commitment into its own bylaws. In 2021, illycaffè was the first Italian company in the coffee sector to obtain the international certification as B Corp as a result of its commitment to comply with the highest standards of social and environmental performance. The company also founded the University of Coffee, which has the objective of sharing culture at all levels, offering a comprehensive and practical training to growers, baristas and coffee lovers. Everything that is "made in illy" is about beauty and art, the founding principles of the brand, starting from its logo, designed by artist James Rosenquist, up to illy Art Collection cups, decorated by over 120 international artists. In 2021, the company had 1305 employees and a turnover of about €500 million. There are 205 illy single-brand shops in over 40 countries all over the world. In 2021, Rhone Capital became a minority shareholder of illycaffè with the aim of contributing to the company's international growth plans.

SOURCE illycaffè