Propelling equine research in Basse-Normandie to world class status is the goal of the "Equine Network" competitive cluster. It has set the same objective for education, an area where only technical training courses have been available, until now. The cluster authorities are committed to developing management courses. In 2006, a professional degree in 'equine business management' focused on small stud farm management was set up. However, since October 2008 , a master's course on Equine Science and Management, certified by the Conference of Graduate Schools, is now available. "This is a first, not only because there has never been a master's course on this topic but also because the cluster wanted a certified education program, conducted in partnership with ENESAD (Burgundy), Caen Basse-Normandie University, and the University of Kentucky (USA)," explained Frédéric Chauvel, Director of the 'Equine Network' Center.
The course, which is much like an MBA according to Frédéric Chauvel, is mainly for people holding management or supervisory positions, project managers, product developers, or any position of authority within the equine network. For instance, in a class of 15 students, 5 will become executives in France, 5 other French students will become executives abroad (the 5 remaining students are foreigners with a background in French culture). Although the students enrolled in the master course have to speak French, half of the classes are given in English. "We would like to keep French for part of the course so that local and regional businesses will take an interest," explained the Director of the competitive cluster.
