Scottish land-based education and training is set to undergo a major transformation to better meet industry needs.
Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has been tasked with developing a national strategy for land-based education, on behalf of the Scottish Funding Council and in conjunction with the country’s 18 regional colleges.
The college has sent out a survey to 9,500 land-based businesses and organisations within 11 industry sectors across Scotland in order to understand current and future employment needs.
These are: agriculture; animal care; aquaculture; environmental conservation; equine; farriery; game and wildlife management; horticulture, landscaping and sports turf; land-based engineering; trees and timber; and veterinary nursing.
It will also conduct consultations and focus groups with industry, learners and education providers.
Information gathered will be used to map out the current and future employment needs of the land-based sector, and any curriculum requirements on a national and regional basis.
“The land-based sector is of major importance to the Scottish economy and has experienced growth in the last decade of 10,000-15,000 new jobs,” said SRUC’s David James, who is leading the strategy.
“There is substantial ongoing demand for newly qualified people as older workers retire and we see moderate employment growth.
“Independent research commissioned in 2011 forecast that between now and 2020, 3,000 new jobs will be created in the sector each year.”
The jobs would be created in every region of Scotland, and demand would continue to grow beyond 2020, Mr James said.
“The majority of the new posts are likely to be filled by newly qualified people from land-based college courses and training,” he said.
“So it is important that the regional and national providers are co-ordinated and work closely with industry and funding bodies to ensure delivery is tailored to current and future needs,” he added.
SRUC intends to develop a draft strategy in June.
Any changes to the curriculum are not expected to take effect before the 2016/17 academic year.