New degrees to tackle climate change
New degrees aimed at equipping graduates with the skills to meet climate change goals are being introduced by Scotland’s Rural College.
Sustainable Land Use: Food and Bioresources, Agricultural Technology and Wildlife and Conservation Management are three new degrees being added to the courses offered at SRUC’s Barony campus in Dumfries and Galloway from September 2020.
Sustainable Land Use will examine how land use practices can help tackle today’s critical challenges of climate change, biodiversity and food security.
Students will learn about sustainable agricultural systems that can provide a growing population with food, bioproducts and bioenergy, while helping to combat climate change, enhance biodiversity, and minimise pollution.
The first year of the degree will be taught together with an HNC in Bioscience, providing an access route for students with CC at Higher level, or equivalent.
The Agricultural Technology degree will cover a range of subjects including engineering and mechanisation; electronics, computing and control systems; soils and crops; livestock husbandry and management.
Wildlife and Conservation Management will look at current techniques in the management of wildlife, habitats and recreation. Students will take a range of modules which cover the theory and practical application of subjects such as wildlife conservation, ecology, field skills, outdoor access and land management.
The three new degrees will replace existing courses being taught at SRUC and are subject to revalidation in December.
Students will also be able to enrol in degree courses in Applied Animal Science and Rural Business Management; HND courses in Agriculture and Applied Bioscience; an HND in Rural Business Management; and a National Certificate in Horse Care.
Professor Nick Sparks, Dean of SRUC’s South and West Faculty, said: “We are delighted to announce the expansion of our degree course offer at Barony, together with a wider range of HN and NC courses.
“It is an important part of our £35 million plans for the South and West Faculty – which include major investment in our Barony campus, as well as SRUC’s move towards becoming a rural enterprise university.”
Last year, SRUC become one of only two higher education institutions in Scotland to offer a degree in Veterinary Nursing. The BSc was also the first degree course of any kind at Barony.
Further courses planned for 2021 include a degree in Agriculture, Advanced Certificate in Horse Care and National Certificate in Horticulture.
More information about the courses offered check out our open days at Barony.
Posted by SRUC on 19/09/2019
