Students interested in pursuing a career in the rural sector can opt for a range of courses at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) which will equip them with the skills they need across the industry.
From Modern Apprenticeships to degree level and beyond, these include courses in Agriculture, Sustainable Food Production and Land Use, Agricultural Technology, Environmental Management and Rural Business Management.
For those who prefer flora and fauna to farm animals, there are courses in Wildlife and Conservation Management, or Environmental Management amongst others, while those with a passion for pets can choose from Animal Care, Veterinary Nursing or Horse Care courses.
More information about the courses on offer will be available during a virtual open week being held in May. Events can be viewed live – where prospective students can ask questions of staff and students – or can be viewed later at a time that suits.
Students who are unclear about their career path can book on to as many sessions as they like. In addition to subject-specific events, there is an admissions overview and individual campus events where students can have a virtual tour and learn about student support and student life.
Learning on the hoof, students Niall McCallum, Colin Birnie and Alastair MacLean get down to some foot trimming lessons
The Agriculture and Poultry Production courses at SRUC are not just about farming or farm management, they also consider the wider agri-food industry, with the focus on production agriculture as well as related issues such as environmental and countryside protection and animal welfare.
Accounting for more than 10% of employment, the agri-food industry is an integration of agriculture with other sectors of the food chain, such as processing, distribution and retailing.
At NC level, agriculture students will develop both independent learning skills and team working skills which will provide a strong foundation for future study and/or employment in the industry, while at degree level, they will learn about the entire food chain from plough to plate, along with the skills they need for senior management positions within the agriculture industry.
Students who prefer working with machines to animals can study Land-based Engineering, which offers a mix of theory and practical skills and the option of becoming an agricultural engineer or working in a forestry environment.
For those interested in changing the way we use our limited land resources and protecting the environment, the Sustainable Food Production and Land Use course aims to solve the global challenges we face today in feeding a growing population. This applied biology degree looks at how land use practices can help to tackle today’s critical challenges of climate change, biodiversity and food security.
In 10 years, the agricultural industry will be unrecognisable from today and SRUC is meeting the technology challenge by providing graduates skilled at implementing and innovating technology in the agricultural industry.
Veterinary nursing is an increasingly popular course - these students are at Craibstone
The degree in Agricultural Technology looks at how we can apply new technologies to improve our use of energy, reduce our waste of energy and concentrate energy back into high-density forms such as electricity and heat. Students will also learn workplace skills such as IT, problem solving, data handling and communication.
Wildlife and Conservation Management courses are offered at HNC, HND and degree level, and are aimed at those who care about wildlife and the environment and want to protect it so that everyone may enjoy it, while the Environmental Management course gives students a grounding in the theory and practice of environmental management, and a sound understanding of managing and minimising environmental impacts.
For horse lovers, Horse Care and Equine Studies courses offer students the chance to progress to a career as a riding instructor, groom or stud assistant, among others. Courses are offered at Aberdeen, Barony and Oatridge, which is also home to the Scottish National Equestrian Centre.
If you are interested in becoming a veterinary nurse, SRUC has a 100% success rate in its Higher Education Veterinary Nursing graduates and Level 3 Diploma students securing employment by the end of their studies.
Different courses are offered at SRUC’s six campuses across the country, from Craibstone in Aberdeen to Barony in Dumfries and Galloway, and Riverside in Ayr to King’s Buildings in Edinburgh, with Elmwood in Cupar, Fife, Oatridge, in West Lothian, and Glasgow Botanic Gardens, in between.
All courses are designed to allow students to progress to the next level or to gain a professional development award.
As well as studying full-time, some courses are taught via distance learning, allowing students to continue working while gaining a qualification. These include courses in Agricultural Professional Practice, Animal Nutrition, Applied Poultry Science and Ecological Surveying.
If you are an HNC/HND or degree student, you should apply now for SAAS funding at: www.saas.gov.uk. Scottish students with funding questions, can email registryfunding@sruc.ac.uk or phone the Education Office on 0131 535 4049. If you are coming from the rest of the UK (not Scotland) then please contact ruk@sruc.ac.uk with any questions about loans and funding.
* For more information about courses available at SRUC and the Open Days in May, visit: www.sruc.ack.uk/opendays
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