Emmanuel Ahoa – Business Analyst

At WUR, I studied Management, Economics and Consumer Studies (MME) with a focus on supply chain management and information technology. In addition, I took business science courses such as business economics and financial management in agriculture. I decided to study this programme at WUR because I was looking for a university that provides an engaging environment for critical thinking and where diverse professional background and experiences converge to shape young careers. I was also looking for a university that will provide me with the training and experience that do not have expiration for my career. WUR offered me the avenue for realizing these goals and encouraged me to always be innovative which I am currently putting it into practice in my current job as a Business Analyst at Mprise Agriware (a leading hortibusiness software provider based in the Netherlands). In particular, I studied Advanced Supply Chain Management and Information Systems for Managers and Engineers (presently known as Engineering and Management of Information Systems). In these courses, I had the opportunity to acquire practical and analytical skills to solve business problems to support people and processes, which is my primary responsibility in my current role at Mprise Agriware. 

I have the idea to make a dent in the field of business-IT to support sustainable and responsible food systems. Therefore, going forward, my goal is to continue with what I am doing now but extend more the connection with society to increase the impact on thousands of people and processes.

The classroom activities with teachers and my peers were always a pleasure, and an avenue to know more. However, the internship course as part of the MME programme provided me with the opportunity to experience and put into practice the knowledge and skills I have acquired through my studies. I did my internship at Royal Flora Holland, which is a cooperative of and for growers. The cool thing about my internship is that the goal of my assignment (which is to develop an innovative business model for an integrated shipment information platform) made it possible for me to collaborate with top supply chain and logistics professionals from KLM Cargo and Schiphol Cargo. I really enjoyed this experience because I learnt a lot and had the chance to directly experience how these big organizations manage their complex logistics processes. In addition to the internship experience, I had an amazing enjoyment when I was appointed to serve as a student leader (Public Relations Officer) for the United Community of African Students (UCAS) branch at WUR. I represented the African students in many platforms in the Netherlands and contributed to organizing many events such as the popular WUR One World Week. 

The peaceful and green nature of Wageningen made my stay unforgettable. Of course, it is always hard to get adapted to different cultures but the international and diverse environment in Wageningen provided the quality of life I envisioned before coming to the Netherlands. In addition, the modern facilities at WUR (I had always dreamt about such) and the fact that almost all the individual courses have objectives that are clear and measurable ensured quality education. I really enjoyed this part of the education programme because it helps students to assess the alignment of the course with their career goals. Especially if you are the type, like me, who wants to look before leaping then such initiative gives you a clear picture of what to expect. One major thing that I did not expect during my study at WUR was how easy it was to approach your teachers with limited or even no barrier.

I like the idea that the MME programme has been split into five clear and independent programmes. This will provide sharp focus and continue to increase clarity and choice. Because it will give students the opportunity to quickly, align their career goals with the programmes from the onset to make the right choices. Sustainability is at the core of what I do currently at Mprise Agriware. Together with other colleagues at Mprise Agriware, we constantly work on practical and innovative ways to support people and processes with software solutions to contribute to sustainable agri-food supply chains and optimize production. I am able to contribute to such pathway to a sustainable world because my MME study provided me with the knowledge and skills to find sustainable answers and develop innovative solutions to address complex issues for society. 

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