Postgraduate course in cannabis: Barcelona, a pioneer in Spain
Barcelona became the first Spanish city to offer a postgraduate course dedicated to cannabis. The Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) ran the first edition of the postgraduate course in Cannabis Production and Transformation Technologies from November 2022 to March 2023.
A project that shows how Barcelona continues to back the growth of this industry, not only by allowing cannabis associations like ours to exist, but also after hosting Europe's first cannabis hub in 2021.
Is there higher academic training focused on marijuana?
In fact, the postgraduate course in cannabis has been developed jointly by the UPC and CannabisHub, with the aim of offering a valuable tool to people who want to specialise in cannabis research and industrial-scale production.
The cannabis market, for both recreational and medicinal use, is going through a phase of strong expansion: it is estimated that by 2026 the sector could reach 25 billion euros.
This translates into thousands of jobs to be created worldwide, especially in terms of cultivation techniques, scientific research and sales channels.
Professions such as “cannabis cultivation and export director” or “cannabis sector marketing director” are some of the career paths the Barcelona cannabis postgraduate course focused on.
What is the cost of the postgraduate course in Cannabis at the UPC in Barcelona?
The course cost €4,300 and was delivered via a blended learning format: classes took place on Fridays from 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm and on Saturdays from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm. The postgraduate course comprised 160 teaching hours and was worth 25 ECTS credits. – Information taken from the UPC website.
What subjects are taken in the Cannabis postgraduate course in Barcelona?
As mentioned above, the subjects cover a range of topics: “Agricultural Production Technology”, but also “Marketing, Digital Transformation and Innovation in the Cannabis Industry” or “Quality Management Systems and Analysis”, with a comprehensive approach to the legal cannabis market.
Joan Simó, biologist, doctor in agri-food engineering and academic director of the postgraduate course in cannabis states that "The idea is to be able to offer students tools and give them a very technological vision of the trends in the sector".
"The idea is to be able to offer students tools and give them a very technological vision of the trends in the sector". - Joan Simó.
What is the academic objective of the postgraduate course in Cannabis at the UPC in Barcelona?
The intention is that the graduates will be trained by some of the best professionals in the sector and by leading specialists. And so that they have a realistic and forward-looking vision of what this plant allows at different levels of use".
Barcelona confirms its place as one of the most progressive European cities when it comes to cannabis, and not only from the point of view of consumption.
The entrepreneurial mindset that has always set the Catalan capital apart made possible the creation of a postgraduate course that offers specific training to everyone who wants to work in the world of cannabis.
What do you think? We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
You may also be interested in
- The High Class: Barcelona's cannabis club
- Spannabis Barcelona: The Centre for Cannabis Culture
- In which countries is cannabis legal?
Want to get to know us? Discover The High Class, our weed club in Barcelona, see how to get to the club and contact us to request your invitation. Access for members aged 21 and over only.
