Land Based Industries

Progress South Central's Land Based Industries Forum, which includes representatives from the University of Reading, a number of FE Colleges and the Royal Horticultural Society.    

Partners we are currently working with

• Abingdon & Witney College

• Aylesbury College

• Berkshire College of Agriculture

• Capel Manor College (via West London Lifelong Learning Network)

• Guildford College

• Kent & Medway LLN

• Lantra

• North East Surrey College of Technology

• Oxford Brookes University

• Royal Horticultural Society

• Sparsholt College

• University of Reading

Sample of subjects covered

• Animal Care

• Horticulture

• Countryside and Environment

• Equine Studies

• Floristry

• Sports Turf

• Animal Science

• Arboriculture

• Conservation Management

• Garden Design and Business

Flagship Projects

• The first Residential Progression Summer School to be run at the University of Reading for Level 3 Further Education students from 30 June to 3 July 2009
• Progression Mapping of Foundation Degree provision in Animal Science and Equine Studies, with a view to signing Progression Agreements through Levels 3 and 4, into foundation degrees and Honours degrees
• A research opportunity for high achieving Level 3 FE students to work with academics and research staff at the University of Reading on 13th to 15th May 2009
• An Open Day on Tuesday 30th June 2009 to showcase the research, expertise and CPD opportunities at the University of Reading, aimed at FE staff
• Development of study skills materials to support the progression of learners into higher education

Potential areas for development over the next two years:

• Development of online tools and resources to aid students in the Land Based Industries in bridging the gap between school/college and university.
• A training network for college staff working in the sector across the LLN
• Cross fertilisation of teaching between the lead University and partner colleges, the aim being that University students will experience some teaching in a college setting and vice versa
• Exploration of the potential for a regional and national centre for leadership and management for the sector
• Evaluation of the potential for an "industrial" or professional higher degree programme, working with employers and college staff

The University of Reading Research Skills School

By Laura Heeney, Student Ambassador and Becky Morgan, Research Officer, The University of Reading

The University of Reading's School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, hosted the first Research Skills School this May, strengthening the link with BCA first developed via VETNET. For three days, 6 high achieving students studying for a National Diploma in Animal Management at BCA were invited to take part. The Research Skills School was run by Dr Jennie Litten-Brown and Becky Morgan in the Animal Science Research Group with the assistance of student ambassadors Laura Heeney and Lauren Heard.  

On the first day, the students visited the Centre for Dairy Research and were introduced to some of the research currently being carried out by the Animal Science Research Group, of which Jennie and Becky are a part. They were also given the opportunity to carry out an experiment to determine the starch content of different feeds. This allowed them to gain some hands on experimental experience as well as discovering some of the problems and issues associated with investigative work.

The following day was spent carrying out animal behaviour studies at Cotswold Wildlife Park with the students choosing to study meerkats, a tree shrew and leaf cutter ants. Each group came up with a question that they wanted to investigate and then recorded the data needed. They analysed the data and produced posters to present their results. This task allowed them to carry out a short research project from start to finish.

On the final day, the students presented their work as a poster to members of the Animal Science Research Group. The event concluded with Professor Richard Ellis (Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences),  awarding prizes for the best poster and best over-all project, voted for by the Animal Science Research Group staff. Feedback from students was very positive and it is planned that an extended version of the event will run again next year.

The event was funded by Progress South Central LLN whom VETNET is collaborating with on progression agreements for animal and equine subject areas and it is hoped the links between the LLNs will be of real benefit to students in these areas.