Scotland’s Rural College (“SRUC”), a leader in the advancement, communication and translation of knowledge throughout the rural sector, has today announced the first phase in its transformation into Scotland’s new rural university by 2022. The new rural university will be a magnet for delivering educational excellence, a global leader in research and innovation, a fully integrated partner with industry and driving the growth strategy for Scotland’s rural economy.
The first stage in the transformation will see SRUC move to a faculty-based model, with three new vibrant faculties located across Scotland: North, (the Faculty of Agri-Food & Business), Central (the Faculty of Rural Science & Policy) and South & West (the Faculty of Pasture-based Agriculture, Forestry and Biorefining). Following a thorough and 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 state-of-the-art facility has received business-case approval from the Scottish Funding Council.
The investment strategy also includes a phased withdrawal over four years from SRUC campuses at Riverside in Ayr and Crichton in Dumfries & Galloway. SRUC currently maintains a small presence at these campuses and is in full consultation with unions and other stakeholders.
Commenting, Professor Wayne Powell, Chief Executive and Principal of Scotland’s Rural College, said: “This investment is the first major step in our transformational growth to Scotland’s new rural university. It is exciting and full of opportunity for teaching, applied research, the rural economy and Scotland as a whole. The decisions that we have made, and will implement over the next few years, are all the result of significant research and analysis. They will best serve our commitment to educational excellence, which in turn will develop the skills required for a vibrant rural economy in 21st century Scotland.
“The three faculties will enable us to bring skills and sectors together, and to strategically deliver an integrated, sustainable model for growth. 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. I am looking forward to working with communities across Scotland to deliver a new rural university of which everyone can be proud.”
Ayrshire Regional Chairman Colin Mair said: “A major investment in Barony College and a fresh focus on pasture farming and grassland management are important developments for dairy and livestock farming, not just in the South and West, but across Scotland.
“On a sad note, it will bring to a close the long-running association that SRUC has in delivering teaching and research at Auchincruive and Ayr that started with the West of Scotland College of Agriculture in 1927. Likewise, many farmers will also have benefitted from the excellent work undertaken at Crichton that must continue when the dairy herd moves to Barony.
“The important delivery of consultancy and veterinary surveillance in the region is, for the time being, located at Auchincruive but both are subject to consultation on what the future holds. Members in the region will need strong reassurance from SRUC that they are not being abandoned. We believe there is a role for establishing consultancy hubs in the region and for the veterinary surveillance centre to continue.
“NFU Scotland were key stakeholders in discussions with SRUC as it undertook its review in 2017. That included a recommendation for training to be expanded into areas that developed more practical skills for farming. SRUC has made a welcome commitment to an improved engagement with stakeholders such as NFUS to focus on what our members’ need and how they hope to deliver on that.”
