Scottish Agricultural College

Even though numbers of students taking agricultural courses have fallen by 8% over the past five or six years, the Scottish Agricultural College reckons it has now stabilised that figure and they are now increasing.

Agricultural programme leader Bill Dingwall says that of a typical group of 70 graduates, 20 will gain a BSc honours degree, 25 a BSc degree, 20 an HND and five an HNC.

“The overwhelming majority of our students – 80% or more – come from a family farm or have a father who is a farm manager in Scotland,” he says.

Most SAC students eventually end up back home farming. But Mr Dingwall estimates that a quarter of those students travel in the first two years after graduating, principally to New Zealand or Australia.

Half work in farm management before returning home to work after five to 10 years.

In an attempt to secure the right type of graduate to meet the industry’s requirements, SAC has started a placement and training programme within its own advisory and consultancy service.

“Students are able to spend a summer placement in an advisory office prior to their final honours year and on graduating they have the choice of starting a two-year graduate trainee position to become a full-time consultant.”