The college group has launched a horticulture course that focuses on the future of sustainable food production to put its students at the forefront of the industry.
WCG has launched its new BSc Hons Agri-Tech degree course which will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the contemporary horticultural industries. The course will be delivered under the Warwickshire College and University Centre (WCUC) banner from Pershore College’s Agri-Tech Research Centre, which combines state-of-the-art equipment, a laboratory, teaching facilities and a STEM Centre, with the first cohort of students set to begin in September. Students will learn about using technology to grow a wide range of crops, including the use of digital, mechanical, and biometrical technological innovations, to develop the skills to become a leader of change in the sustainable food production environment. The BSc builds on the existing Agri-Tech Foundation Degree, and students enrolled are excited to have the opportunity to progress onto the new course.
Last year, the college group became the first in the UK to be granted bachelor degree awarding powers by the Office for Students, alongside the Foundation degree awarding powers already in place. The BSc Hons Agri-Tech course is one of the flagship courses being launched due to the new degree awarding powers and associated university centre.
John-Paul Bromley, Agri-Tech subject leader at WCG, said: “As the industry evolves, it is important that those entering the field have a knowledge of advanced machinery, monitoring technologies, and genetics, to reflect the automation of tasks now taking place. Rather than focusing on traditional methods of growing, our BSc course will enable students to be part of this revolution which utilises innovative, hi-tech methods, putting them at the forefront of the industry. It’s a growing market which is only going to expand further. We are seeing a number of big growers move into the area who will need staff with expertise in contemporary horticulture, and our students will be in the best possible position to step into these roles. It is a very exciting time for the industry, and we are extremely pleased to be launching our BSc in response to the developments within the sector.”
The introduction of the course is supported by Angus Soft Fruits. David Griffiths, research director at Angus Soft Fruits, said: “The global agricultural sector is going through an enormous amount of change as we look at new methods of sustainable food production to achieve net zero targets. It is important that students have an in-depth knowledge of this, so WCG’s new BSc course will have an extremely positive impact on providing skilled workers to the industry.”