Scotland's Rural College announces multi-million pound transformation plan

Proposals include a new £35m facility as part of SRUC's transformation into Scotland’s new rural university
Proposals include a new £35m facility as part of SRUC's transformation into Scotland’s new rural university

Proposals to build a new £35m facility for Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) has been announced in its new transformation plan.

The plan also will see SRUC move to a faculty-based model, with three new faculties located across Scotland.

The North of Scotland will be the location for the Faculty of Agri-Food & Business, Central Scotland for the Faculty of Rural Science & Policy, and South and West for the Faculty of Pasture-based Agriculture, Forestry and Biorefining.

Following an extensive review, which began in early 2017, this model was identified as the best structure to deliver tangible benefits at a local and national level.

The most notable development is the potential £35m investment into SRUC’s Barony campus in Dumfries & Galloway, which is the site for the new South & West Faculty.

The creation of this new facility has received business-case approval from the Scottish Funding Council.

'Major step'

The investment strategy also includes a phased withdrawal over four years from SRUC campuses at Riverside in Ayr and Crichton in Dumfries & Galloway.

Professor Wayne Powell, Chief Executive and Principal of SRUC said the investment is the "first major step" in the college's transformational plan.

“The three faculties will enable us to bring skills and sectors together, and to strategically deliver an integrated, sustainable model for growth,” Prof Powell said.

“The transformation programme will be delivered in close consultation with our people, partners and other stakeholders. Importantly, as we are implementing these plans over several years, our current students will be unaffected.”