SAC Learning

Mrs Watt looked in on students and staff involved in learning activities. She met SAC staff, and current and former students, and was introduced to invited guests who included South Ayrshire secondary school Head and Depute Head Teachers, and representatives from the Royal Highland Education Trust.

First stop on the Minister's tour was a visit to a mechanisation engineering workshop where first year Higher National and Degree agricultural students were studying the Farm Power module which considers the effective management of both fixed and mobile traditional and alternative power sources.

Next on the itinerary was a life sciences laboratory session. Here students from three of SAC's undergraduate courses (Sustainable Environmental Management, Green Technology, and Poultry) were using microscope techniques as part of their Cells and the Fundamentals of Life module.

The Minister then braved the elements to see a group of trainees who have been building a dry-stane wall on the campus. The trainees are participating in the European Social Fund 'Raising Employability through Environmental Volunteering' project.

Over an informal lunch at Oswald Hall, Mrs Watt met SAC teaching staff and guests and heard how the College had diversified into newer land-based related subjects such as rural tourism, sustainability and green technology, and about its partnership work with schools and the wider community. She spoke with honours year degree students about their studies, skills development and plans for the future, and also two former students, Raymond Crerar and Cara Craig, who now work for SAC as Farm Business Consultants in the Ayr office.

Speaking after the visit, Mr David McKenzie, Vice Principal for Education and Training said

"We were delighted that Mrs Watt was able to view first hand the education and skills training students and learners experience at SAC. All our courses, from HNCs to Honours degrees, are highly vocational and have academic, transferable and practical skills at their core which fits well with the Scottish Government's Skills for Scotland strategy. The Minister was very interested in the practical sessions she observed and spent time talking with staff and students in the workshop and lab, and by the newly constructed dry-stane wall. She was

"We were delighted that Mrs Watt was able to view first hand the education and skills training students and learners experience at SAC. All our courses, from HNCs to Honours degrees, are highly vocational and have academic, transferable and practical skills at their core which fits well with the Scottish Government's Skills for Scotland strategy. The Minister was very interested in the practical sessions she observed and spent time talking with staff and students in the workshop and lab, and by the newly constructed dry-stane wall. She was also interested to hear about the summer placement scheme we operate where third year degree students have the opportunity to work in Farm Business Services".