The world of careers within the farming sector has been opened as a new scheme launched by Harper Adams University aims to help young people pursue their path even with little or no prior experience.
The Access to Agriculture programme will give candidates an opportunity to expand their skills and experience during their first year of study.
Applicants are normally expected to complete at least 10 weeks of work experience on commercial farms before they can commence one of our agriculture courses.
Guy Smith, Vice-President of the NFU, who visited the university yesterday, welcomed the move: "It's really important that we make it as easy as possible for youngsters from outside our industry to get a foothold on the ladder into it. It's encouraging to see one of agriculture's most foremost centres of education and excellence thinking imaginatively about how this can be achieved."
Work on commercial farms
Laura Harper, Head of Admissions, outlined the plans: "Work experience helps prepare applicants for their studies and the industry placement that agriculture students undertake during their degree course. When coupled with the placement it also gives students a head start for future employment, in which the University has an outstanding track record.
"However, we understand that it can be challenging to meet this requirement for those from non-farming backgrounds who do not have access to family or friends with farms or to the kind of contacts who can help them to secure work experience.
"For BSc applicants identified as being in this position, subject to eligibility checks, we will be delaying by one year the work experience deadline (normally the August before they start at university) to allow them to take advantage of a variety of activities and experiences available on and around the university campus."
Further details of activities that will count towards the Access work experience programme will be announced in the coming months, but are likely include elements of the Land-Based and Farm Skills Programmes offered to university students, which lead to certification in tractor driving, tele-handling, pesticide application and animal handling, alongside work on the university farm including milking and lambing duties.
Students will be assigned a dedicated tutor to assist them in accessing the University’s farm and employer contacts to help them satisfy the full requirements of the programme.
