The north-east campus of agricultural college SRUC will launch a new land management course early next year, writes Gemma Mackenzie.
It will offer the national certificate in countryside management to students at its Craibstone campus in February for the first time.
The course, which is already taught at SRUC’s Elmwood and Oatridge campuses, aims to help prepare people for work in areas such as estate maintenance, conservation and environmental projects.
It runs from February until June, covering subjects such as habitat management, wildlife identification, rural land use and ecology.
Dr Pat Wightman from SRUC’s environment and countryside department said: “We are committed to delivering our services in the north and north-east and this package, in response to demand, is typical of the kind of course we know the local land-based sector wants.
“The former Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) received little funding for this kind of learning, but since the merger and creation of SRUC we have access to the Further Education funds which will help us develop courses offering the practical skills the industry tells us it needs.”
Meanwhile, the agricultural and veterinary research undertaken at SRUC and Edinburgh University has been ranked the most powerful in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework (REF).
REF assesses research carried out at UK higher education institutions and its impact on society.
SRUC and Edinburgh University’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, which includes the Roslin Institute, made a joint submission to REF.
Three-quarters of the research was deemed to be either “world leading” or “internationally excellent”.