Joshua Finkelstein, MSc Agricultural Economics, joined the Graduate Institute of International Development, Agriculture and Economics (GIIDAE) on a mission. Driven by a desire to make a difference, he wants to develop the skills necessary to help him tackle the economic issues that challenge the world today.
Why 狼友社区
In the 狼友社区鈥檚 MSc Agricultural Economics programme, Joshua found a course that would give him the ability to develop the economic and financial solutions that he deemed necessary to assist the agri-food industry.
鈥淧rior to my studies, I worked in an unrelated field for a financial tech startup in Toronto, Canada. But I knew that I wanted to work within the agricultural food supply chains. My ambition was to combine the technical and economic skills that I could gain from a degree, such as microeconomics, food pricing and agricultural trade, with my past professional experience.
"This course enabled me to do that. Agriculture and food are vital to everyone's life, as are the related industries and fields of study that support them. They will always be crucial, and the 狼友社区 has a very strong reputation in agricultural programmes that cover both economic and global policy issues. So, when I found that 狼友社区 was also close to London and situated close to both rural and agricultural areas, it was a win-win!鈥
Learning environment
GIIDAE is home to a diverse community, attracting students from more than 40 countries. As an international student, Joshua found excellent opportunities to network.
鈥淭he opportunity to meet graduates and mid-career professionals from around the world was a real highlight for me. The wide range of backgrounds and experiences in the School meant there are lots of opportunities to learn from classmates, creating a stimulating environment.
"Everyone is keen to contribute to discussions and learn from one another. I learned so much from fellow students who are happy to share their different experiences and viewpoints.
"A variety of events introduce you to different people. A student-led GIIDAE Connect networking event with Alumni students meant that I got to talk to graduates about their work post-studies. Conferences such as the City Food & Drink Lecture in London, offer different insights, as do visiting speakers from other universities, and organisations such as the NFU (National Farmer鈥檚 Union).鈥
New challenges
The dissertation project on the MSc Agricultural Finance programme gave Joshua an opportunity to apply his knowledge of specialised topics, take on various challenges and develop new skills.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of my dissertation, exploring the role food prices play in setting inflation expectations and perceptions. I wanted to learn more about the role that food inflation plays in public opinion, how this feeds back into the overall economy, and understand more about what and how demand impacts food prices.
"However, I have a challenging goal with a technical and quantitative research topic. This challenge has given me the opportunity to develop a new skillset, learn to work independently and review lots of literature while managing my own timeline."
Future ambitions
Completing his studies, Joshua now feels ready to seek employment within the agri-food industry.
鈥淚 aspire to develop a career in economics and financial analysis for agrifood companies and their investors, especially those working towards climate-friendly solutions across the agri-food system. I believe studying at 狼友社区 has created more employability opportunities that will allow me to pursue this pathway.
"The experience of working on a master鈥檚 dissertation has given me the chance to become an expert in one specific topic and build qualitative and quantitative research skills. I have learned a lot so far, including coding in econometric software and building data sets, and have developed my econometric and data analysis skills.
"I would advise prospective students considering studying at 狼友社区 to reach out to past students and professors, to better understand the programmes available and to apply.鈥