BSc in Agricultural Technology with Professional Studies Queen's University Belfast

The agricultural industry is undergoing an unprecedented period of change. Traditional reliance on production is being challenged through changes in government policy at local, national, European and global levels, as well as changes in consumer demand.

Agricultural production now requires an understanding of these demands and other concerns regarding food quality and safety and the environmental impact of production methods in the short, medium and long term.

The Agricultural Technology degree programmes enable graduates to gain an understanding of:

• Crop and animal production systems for the sustainability of the agricultural industry, including the underpinning scientific, economic and business principles and the applicability of recent developments
• The impact of global, EU and regional policy on the agricultural industry
• Assessing agri-environment interactions and devising environmental management strategies
• Managing agriculture as a business
• A professional approach to the work environment, study and life-long learning
• Devising, managing and evaluating project work

Additionally, the Agricultural Technology with Professional Studies Programme enables graduates to gain an understanding of the application of their degree to the workplace and career management planning.

Agricultural Technology With Professional Studies Degree Highlights

World Class Facilities

• A unique feature of this degree is the opportunity for students to take responsibility for the operation and management of a College farm enterprise, allowing immediate practical application of knowledge.

Student Experience

• Students taking this four-year degree are required to complete a minimum 46-week work placement period as an integral component of their degree. Past students have gained work placement with organisations such as the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Countryside Services, Dale Farm, Fane Valley, John Thompson and Sons, Monaghan Mushrooms, Moy Park, and Millridge Ltd and Tamar Farming Co. (both in New Zealand).

Course Structure

Introduction

The degree has been developed in consultation with employers, industry and academics, to offer students a combined curriculum of formal education and practical experience, which is designed to enhance employability and graduate skills.

The BSc in Agricultural Technology with Professional Studies is provided jointly by the School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (Greenmount Campus, Antrim). Stages 1 and 2 are delivered mainly at Greenmount Campus, where students are involved in the work and management of specific agricultural enterprises. Students spend their third year on placement and Stage 3 is delivered mainly at Queen's University Belfast.

Stage 1

• Applied Animal Science
• Applied Crop Science
• Enterprise Technology
• Introduction to Business and Research Methods
• Mechanisation and Farm Buildings

Stage 2

• Agri-food Business Marketing and Management
• Crop Production Systems
• Livestock Production and Management
• Sustainable Agriculture

Stage 3

• Advances in Crop and Animal Science, and Technology
• Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Farm Animal Health and Welfare
• Global Issues in Agriculture
• Policies for Environmental Sustainability
• Project Work

Year Out

Students will spend a minimum of 46 weeks in a work placement during which they will carry out some project type work. Students will begin preparations for the placement in the first semester of stage 2 and the placement will be assessed within the module, Professional Studies, BIO3303. Any students who are unable to secure a work placement will be transferred to the BSc Agricultural Technology Programme.

Learning and Teaching

On the BSc in Agricultural Technology with Professional studies programme, aim to deliver a high quality learning environment by providing a range of learning experiences. This programme is provided jointly with the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). The partnership arrangement between CAFRE and Queen’s capitalises on the strengths of both institutions to provide a course that is academically challenging but also focused on the application of science, business and economic principles. Stages 1 and 2 are mainly delivered at the CAFRE Greenmount Campus and Stage 3 is mainly delivered at Queen’s in Belfast. The Greenmount Estate Farm is a major resource used to deliver this programme. The campus “farm” comprises the Farm Development Centre (200 hectares) and the Livestock Development Centre (1,100 hectares).

Complementary Qualifications

At Stages 1 and 2 students have the opportunity to take a range of complementary qualifications that enhance employability e.g. PA series of spraying courses, Health and Safety, ECDL, Artificial Insemination, First Aid, Telehandler driving.

Studying a degree in Agricultural Technology with Professional studies provides a wide range of graduate opportunities for students interested in the agricultural, agri-environmental and related industries.

The majority of our graduates will seek careers in the agricultural, agri-environment or agri-food sectors, in roles including; marketing/sales, production and management, technical advice, and research and development in commercial companies.

Employment after the Course

The degree has been developed in consultation with employers, industry and academics, to offer students a combined curriculum of formal education and practical experience, which is designed to enhance employability and graduate skills.

Employment Links

This programme was developed after extensive consultation with government bodies, major farming organisations, the food processing sector, farmers and conservation organisations, and the curriculum reflects these consultations. This close industry involvement has continued. The initial years of this programme were overviewed by an industry group representing LANTRA, AFBI, DARD and the UFU.

Industry representatives play a significant role in the operation of student learning projects where they use their expertise to guide students running major college enterprises.

In addition, major employers such as Dunbia, Moy Park and Thompsons have contributed competitive bursaries to support students on the programme.

Students organise an industry symposium as part of final year, providing opportunities to engage with key stakeholders within the local industry.

Placement Employers:

The work placement is compulsory and is assessed as an integral component of the degree programme, contributing 10% to the final degree classification. Students are supported in obtaining work placement through a series of workshops and by a dedicated School Work Placement and Careers Advisor. We work repeatedly with a number of employers and students can also propose their own placement.

Past students have gained work placement with organisations locally, nationally and internationally such as:

• Moypark
• John Thompson and Sons
• Countryside Services
• Dale Farm
• Fane Valley
• Monaghan Mushrooms
• Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute
• Tamar Farming Co (New Zealand)
• Millridge Ltd (New Zealand)

Each year several students are offered permanent jobs, on graduation, from their work placement providers.