AGRICULTURE AND RURAL STUDIES BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Technology and BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Technology with Professional Studies Foundation Degree in Agriculture and Rural Studies (full-time and part-time) HE2014
Agriculture and Rural Studies INDUSTRY INSIGHTS In Northern Ireland, farming and its related service and processing sectors, provide over 50,000 jobs and produce a gross output of 1.2 billion per year. There are many complex issues facing the agricultural industry, including global competitiveness, cross compliance and the CAP review. It is important that those considering a career in the industry are capable of adopting and embracing new technologies, policies and marketing opportunities. There are rewarding employment opportunities for students who have completed recognised qualifications within the landbased sector. Employers are continually seeking graduates with a sound grasp of new developments and a proven ability to manage commercial businesses and enterprises. At Greenmount Campus, our agriculture programmes have repeatedly received the endorsement of the industry. Career profile: Kathryn McCormick Coming from a beef and arable farm it was always my intention to pursue a career within the agricultural industry. I chose the BSc Agricultural Technology programme because of its applied nature and the broad spectrum of subjects that it covered. Following graduation I got a job with WD Meats, Coleraine. Since I commenced working with the company, I have had the opportunity to work in several areas including procurement, slaughtering and boning. This has helped me get to know the full operation of the company and has given me a further insight into the beef industry. Today my main role within the company is as a Farm Auditor, ensuring livestock is procured from farms with the highest of welfare and husbandry standards to meet customer demands. CAFRE Qualified The knowledge and skills gained from the BSc Agricultural Technology degree programme are now directly applied in my career. My years at Greenmount and Queens University were practical, applied, interesting, challenging and very enjoyable and have set me in good stead for my future ahead. 40 41
Agriculture and Rural Studies AGRICULTURE AND LAND-BASED CAREER PROSPECTS Students enter the industry at different levels depending on their qualifications and experience. Our graduates now hold many senior positions in the agricultural and land-based industries. For more information on career choices visit: www.career-descriptions.co.uk or www.environmentjob.co.uk or our website: www.cafre.ac.uk Sales/Marketing representatives Employment opportunities exist in a wide variety of industries ranging from animal feed companies to agrochemical and fertilizer companies. Graduates need to have a good understanding of their customers needs and the products they are selling. Service industries such as insurance companies or machinery dealerships occasionally employ people with agricultural backgrounds to provide a better service to their farming clients. This sector seeks graduates with good initiative and well developed interpersonal skills. Teachers/Lecturers Graduates may find interesting and rewarding careers in this area. College lecturers normally require Degree level qualifications, a good technical knowledge of farming and the environment, and the ability to interpret data and communicate information to their audience. Consultants/Technical advisers Graduates employed in this sector require a sound technical background so that they can help farmers identify and deal with technical problems and advise on the options for the development of farm businesses. Good communication skills, an entrepreneurial, innovative outlook and the ability to advise individuals and companies on the impact of proposed actions are very important in this job area. Researchers Continuous research is vital if any industry is to progress and this applies very much to the agriculture sector. Interesting and rewarding careers exist in this area for those who enjoy scientific investigation, research design and implementation, or who have an aptitude for statistical research and forecasting based on industry trends. Journalists Agricultural journalism is a rewarding career for anyone wishing to combine their knowledge of agriculture and current affairs with writing skills in producing articles for newspapers and journals. Being an agricultural journalist is all about meeting deadlines and looking at new and different ways to cover a story. Farm liaison representatives Food processing companies employ farm liaison representatives to strengthen links with the farmers who supply the raw materials. They must have a sound technical knowledge of the relevant agricultural enterprise, an understanding of the processing operation and good negotiation and communication skills. Farm liaison representatives may be involved in marketing, identifying and selecting new suppliers and updating existing producers on changing technical requirements. Farmers/Farm managers Some graduates return to farming either as owners or managers. Successful farmers need to be technically and practically competent and be able to make sound business decisions in a changing environment. They also need to appreciate consumers requirements for safe, wholesome, high quality food produced in an environmentally-friendly manner. Environmental officers Environmental officers work for government, local councils and non-government organisations and may specialise in a specific environmental area such as biodiversity, countryside access or waste management. They need to understand a range of issues and be able to work with a variety of people and organisations. Property managers Property managers typically manage estates and recreational facilities. Their work involves the daily management of staff and environmental resources, facilitating visiting groups and the provision of interpretative materials. Rural development officers/advisers Rural development officers/advisers support the work of local rural groups. Their role is varied and involves interacting and working with people on a group and individual basis. Project planning and management and the identification and sourcing of suitable support funding or assistance are key elements of the job. Wardens/Rangers Countryside wardens and rangers are employed to manage country parks, nature reserves and other designated sites. Duties include visitor management, conducting surveys and audits and managing the property infrastructure. 42 43
Agriculture and Rural Studies Our Agriculture facilities Greenmount Farms These farms are the focus for the educational activities at the campus. They provide an excellent practical learning resource for students undertaking Higher Education programmes in Agriculture and Rural Studies. The Campus Farm comprises the Dairy Development Centre (169 hectares), the Beef and Sheep Development Centre (127 hectares) and the Hill Farm Development Centre (890 hectares). CAFRE Trail Manor House Machinery and Buildings Centre Walled Garden The Farm These three Centres provide a unique resource for students to learn by doing. At Greenmount Campus, vocational elements are integrated into the courses to allow students to put into practice what they have learned in the lecture theatre. The learning by doing concept is based on giving students responsibility to take real management decisions for selected enterprises within campus units and farms. Where possible, students perform all the duties involved in managing an enterprise, assess performance and implement management changes to help improve overall performance. Greenmount now operates five student learning projects within its Higher Education programmes: LEARN BY DOING Get CAFRE Qualified CREAM Students manage this unique project which comprises 30 high genetic merit dairy cows. Students undertake the full range of practical activities associated with a dairy herd, including milking, feeding and calving. They also analyse the performance of the herd and contribute to management decisions. UPLANDS Students on this project have responsibility for 1,000 ewes and 100 suckler cows on the Hill Farm, which is managed in an environmentally positive and sustainable manner. Students analyse farm financial performance and contribute to future management and policy decisions. RED MEAT Students on the Red Meat project work along with CAFRE Beef and Sheep technologists in the management of the suckler cow, beef and sheep enterprises at the Beef and Sheep Development Centre. A major focus at this Centre is production from grass. Students are involved with practical work on the unit, analysing physical and financial performance information, and assisting with management decisions. CROPS Resource Centre Each year the College grows approximately 50 hectares of arable crops. While cereals and potatoes are the main crops, energy crops, such as industrial oilseed rape and willow are also grown. Students practice many of the arable skills such as cultivating, planting, disease identification and harvesting as well as electronic field scanning and yield mapping. NATURE Students on the rural studies pathway of the Foundation Degree in Agriculture and Rural Studies course undertake practical work and management in a range of environmental facilities associated with the campus. Much of this * * * * Our student lodges project is focused at the Hill Farm Development Centre, which is managed in an environmentally positive and sustainable manner and included within a Special Protection Area (SPA) designation. CAFRE Trail at Greenmount The Trail was established in 1979 to provide students and the general public with a better understanding and appreciation of farming and wildlife matters. It is used as an educational resource Beef and Sheep Development Centre is this way for over 8,000 visitors per year. The RSPB and Ulster Wildlife Trust in partnership with CAFRE provide field teaching, offering visitors the opportunity to investigate a variety of farmland habitats and wildlife. 44 45
BSc (Hons) Fact file How to apply: UCAS course code: D470 (4 year), D473 (3 year) Course duration: 3 or 4 years including work placement Course location: Greenmount Campus (Years 1 and 2) and Queen s University (Final year) Course Manager: George Moffett Telephone: 028 9442 6633 Email: george.moffett@dardni.gov.uk Visit: www.qub.ac.uk/ado BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Technology (3 years) BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Technology with Professional Studies (4 years) This course is jointly provided by Queen s University, Belfast and CAFRE. The first and second years of the programme are spent at Greenmount Campus, followed by a period of work placement, with the final year based at Queen s University, Belfast (QUB). Course content Year 1 - Animal husbandry - Animal science - Crop husbandry - Enterprise technology - Information technology and core skills - Introduction to farm business management - Mechanisation and farm buildings - Plant science Year 2 - Agriculture and the environment - Alternative land use and diversification - Crop production - Enterprise management - Farm business management - Farming and environmental management - Grassland management - Livestock production 1 - Livestock production 2 - Supply chain management and marketing - Work placement (3 year option) Year 3 - Professional Studies work placement option Year 3/4 - Advances in crop and animal science and technology - Business innovation and entrepreneurship - Farm animal health and welfare - Global issues in agriculture - Policies for environmental sustainability - Professional Studies (4 year option) - Project Entry requirements Three A2 Level Grade Bs or higher including a science subject, preferably Biology or Chemistry or their equivalent are required. If Biology or Chemistry is not one of the A-Level subjects then GCSE Double Award Science or Chemistry at Grade C is required. Candidates will also be expected to have a good GCSE profile, including passes at Grade C, or better, in English Language and Mathematics. The Admissions and Access Service at Queen s University, Belfast are responsible for the entry requirements to this course; for further details please visit www.qub.ac.uk/ado Course overview The teaching programme has been developed in consultation with employers, industry representatives and academics to offer students a combined curriculum of formal instruction and practical experience, aimed at enhancing their employability. This Honours Degree is available in two pathways; the threeyear course incorporates a four-month work placement, whilst the four-year Professional Studies option allows students to take a one-year work placement. The aim of the course is to develop professional, technical, management, interpersonal and problem solving skills to prepare graduates for successful careers in the agriculture and ancillary industries. The partnership arrangement between CAFRE and Queen s University, Belfast capitalises on the strengths of both institutions to provide a course which is academically challenging but is strongly focused on the application of business, economic and scientific principles. Practical experience Applicants are normally required to have at least three months relevant practical farming experience. Bursaries A number of bursaries each worth 1000 are available to students studying on Higher Education courses at CAFRE (see page 31). Students will be eligible to apply for bursaries when they are registered on the course. Placement Students spend four months (3 year programme) or one year (4 year programme) on work placement. Students are responsible for arranging their own work placements in conjunction with QUB Work Placement Advisers. Progression opportunities and career destinations Graduates may have the opportunity to progress onto appropriate postgraduate studies or research. Agricultural graduates are employed in a range of managerial posts in government services, agricultural banking, consultancy, research, education and training, ancillary industry or farm management. The course is designed to provide students with the flexibility to adapt to a changing job market and each year a number of graduates obtain employment outside the sector. Robert Patterson I chose to do the Degree in Agriculture Technology as agriculture is a passion of mine and I felt that the degree offered excellent job prospects both on a local scale and further abroad. I am really enjoying the course. The topics being covered are relevant and interest me which is an immense help when it comes to learning. Everything being taught is related back to agriculture on a practical level. For my work placement I hope to go into the genetics side of farming, as I have a keen interest in this area of work from running a pedigree herd at home. For this I hope to either go to America or New Zealand. Beyond this course I would hope to get a job locally in Northern Ireland in the agricultural sector, and preferably in the genetics business. I would also hope to still be able to manage the family farm at home. 46 47
Foundation Degree (FdSc) Fact file How to apply: Full-time: UCAS course code: 004D Part-time: Direct to CAFRE Course duration: Full-time: 3 years including work placement Part-time: up to 4 years Course location: Greenmount Campus Course Manager: George Moffett Telephone: 028 9442 6633 Email: george.moffett@dardni.gov.uk this course is validated by: Foundation Degree (FdSc) in Agriculture and Rural Studies This course, validated by the University of Ulster, aims to help students develop the production, management and marketing skills required to work in the agricultural industry. The course also provides a route into the conservation and land management sectors for those with an agricultural background. Course content The course has two pathways; Agriculture and Rural and Countryside Management. Students undertake core and optional subjects depending on the pathway followed. Modules totalling 240 credit points are required to obtain a Foundation Degree. Year 1 (120 credits) - Animal science - Arable crop science - Countryside management - Enterprise management - Environmental studies - Estate management - Grass systems - Introduction to business management - Livestock husbandary, health and welfare - Principles of mechanisation - Rural development Year 2 (60 credits) - Work placement - Distance learning modules Human resource management Introduction to organic production Research methods Year 3 (60 credits) - Environmental management - Farm buildings and mechanisation - Farm business management - Improving business opportunities - Non-ruminant production systems - Ruminant production systems - Sustainable enterprise management Entry requirements Students should normally have: - at least 140 UCAS tariff points at A2 Level (including a Science subject)* - at least two A2 Level passes; - four appropriate GCSEs or equivalent, including English and Mathematics at Grade C or above. *A-Level Chemistry or Biology are preferred but Geography and Technology are acceptable if a Grade C or higher has been achieved in Double Award Science at GCSE level. Students entering with a BTEC qualification should normally have achieved a Merit overall and at least one Distinction achieved in a final year subject. Enhanced entry criteria may be applied subject to demand for this course. For other qualifications, please refer to the table on page 35 or consult the UCAS website www.ucas.com/students/ ucas_tariff/tarifftables Course overview The course has been developed to meet industry needs with a particular emphasis on developing initiative and the flexibility to adapt to different employment situations. Successful students will be well prepared for employment in production agriculture as well as in conservation and land management. This course is available to study full or part-time. Practical experience Applicants for the Agriculture pathway are normally required to have at least three months relevant practical farming experience. Placement Students will normally be required to complete a one year placement in industry. The full-time course has been structured to complete in late January, allowing graduates to enter the workforce at this point, prior to the main growing season, giving graduates an employment advantage. Part-time students must also complete a placement but may be eligible to apply for accredited prior learning (APL). Bursaries A number of bursaries each worth 1000 are available to fulltime students studying on Higher Education courses at CAFRE (see page 31). Students will be eligible to apply for bursaries when they are registered on the course. Progression opportunities and career destinations Students who meet the necessary requirements may have the opportunity to progress onto the second year of Honours Degree programmes including Environmental Science at the University of Ulster and the BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Technology course run in partnership with Queen s University, Belfast. Alternatively students may apply for entry onto other Honours Degree courses at CAFRE or other universities. There are career opportunities in farming and enterprise management as well as marketing, sales, contracting and consultancy. The College maintains close links with farmers and industry and this provides students with an excellent opportunity to develop contacts with potential employers. Amy Bell I have always had a keen interest in working with animals and working on a farm. I do not come from a farming background, but have gained experience and furthered my interest in the agricultural sector by working on two local dairy farms during school holidays and at weekends. I have also been horse riding since I have been six years old and now own two horses. I chose to do the Foundation Degree in Agriculture and Rural studies at Greenmount due to my farming interests and have an ambition to continue on in the agricultural business sector to become a dairy nutritionist. - Crop production systems 48 49