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Organic Farming at a Distance – On-Line Student Flies in from Rome to Join Virtual Classmates at Craibstone

SAC News Release Ref. No: 11N14
Published: 31 Jan 2011

Organic silage crop (opens in new window)

A Rome based American will be arriving at SAC’s Craibstone Campus, Aberdeen this weekend, to join fellow students from the UK and Ireland following a part-time Organic Farming course. SAC’s Post Graduate Diploma and MSc in Organic Farming are now in their 9th year, open to those who have other jobs to do or family commitments to meet while they study.

While most of the course can be completed on line and from anywhere in the world, students must attend 3 weekend schools at Craibstone for examinations, lectures and visits. This weekend marks the 25th such school to take place. Students can study for the 2 year Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) or 3 year Master of Science (MSc). Individual modules may also be taken for continual professional development or interest purposes.

The weekend schools are a valuable part of the course as they bringing the students together to learn and share experiences with each other and college staff. They offer an invaluable support network, forming lifelong friendships. Students will arrive at Craibstone On Friday afternoon, leaving at lunchtime on Monday.

Highlights for this weekend include farm visits to Fred Halder’s organic farm at Myrtle on Deeside and the Cooper family at Auchnieve Farm near Old Meldrum. They will set up a case study exercise looking at the feasibility of converting the farm to organic production and drawing up a proposed conversion plan. The Cooper’s existing organic unit at Mains of Thornton is the new organic monitor farm in the North-East.

In the classroom renowned expert Dr Kirsten Brandt, of the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, will address the students on issues of organic food and human health. On Saturday evening a Burns Supper and ceilidh will form the main social event of the weekend.

To date 7 intakes have completed the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) course, with a total of 112 students gaining the award, including 12 at Distinction level and 51 at Merit. Additionally, 47 of these students have progressed and passed the Master of Science (MSc), including 5 at Distinction and 19 at Merit. The graduates have come from a wide range of countries including UK, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, USA, Greece and Holland

The students also come from a wide range of backgrounds, including farmers, growers, career changers, vets and other agricultural and food industry workers who wish to develop their career and businesses in the organic sector. The course begins each year in September with modules offering a mix of technical production, marketing and management, or skills development modules. It includes organic forage and livestock production, soils and nutrient cycling, organic farming work placement, marketing and business management.

Further details can be obtained from Dr Norman Stephen, his details are shown below, and also the MSc/PGDip Organic Farming course webpage.

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News Release Contacts

SAC Contact

Dr Norman Stephen
Team Leader/ Lecturer in Soil & Environmental Science
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work Ferguson Building, Craibstone Estate,
Aberdeen
AB21 9YA
TelWork 01224 711132
Fax 01224 711291

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News Release Issued By

Mr Ken Rundle
Senior Communications Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4196

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