5 November 2026

 

Two establishments with deep roots in Gloucestershire’s rural heritage have joined forces to help the next generation of farmers and land managers gain vital “hands on” experience of working on a real country estate during their studies.

From early in the new year, the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), which celebrated its 180th anniversary last year having been founded in 1845 as the first agricultural college in the English-speaking world, will work with the Badminton Estate, home to the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort and the world-famous Badminton Horse Trials.

The key focus of the new partnership will be to enhance experiential learning for RAU students, giving them opportunities to apply their academic knowledge in a working estate environment with planned activities across the University’s equine, agriculture, and land and property management courses. 

Students may also have opportunities to undertake work placements and undergraduate and postgraduate research projects addressing real-world questions. The partnership will also explore future opportunities for visiting study programmes and summer schools.

Professor Peter McCaffery, Vice-Chancellor at the RAU, said: “Our vision, and that of the Badminton Estate, are closely aligned and we share an ambition to encourage rural innovation, regeneration and long-term resilience, and create meaningful academic opportunities that are rooted in real-world experience for the benefit of local communities and supporting future generations to enter the rural sector.

“Potential activities for our Equine students include practical sessions using Badminton’s iconic equestrian facilities, visits to its stables, and the planning and delivery of the internationally renowned 5* Horse Trials.

“Meanwhile, our Land and Property students will benefit from estate visits, assessment-based case studies, and access to expertise in estate management, planning, and development on a 20,000-acre working estate.”

The proposed activities within the partnership, which will run for an initial period of three years, are intended to strengthen students’ practical skills, broaden their understanding of rural businesses, and improve their preparation for careers across the equine and land-based sector.

The two establishments will also explore opportunities to support professional development and training, helping those from outside the sector, who are seeking to work in rural industries, to gain the skills and knowledge needed to make the transition as well as meeting changing demands and supporting the long-term future of rural communities.

They will also investigate opportunities for joint research and knowledge exchange, including projects that support innovation in land use and rural regeneration.

Jasper Hasell, Estate Director at Badminton, said: “Badminton is a diverse working estate, with a wide range of activities from farming, forestry, planning and development to filming and major equestrian and horticultural events. 

“This partnership offers an opportunity to share the breadth of practical experience and knowledge of those working across the Estate with the next generation of rural professionals and those seeking to enter the sector later in their careers. 

“We are pleased to be working with the Royal Agricultural University to help bridge the gap between academic learning and the realities of managing a modern rural estate. We hope the partnership will encourage new ideas, develop skills and experience for the next generation of the workforce and contribute to our long-term commitment to rural regeneration.”

Senior staff from the two establishments recently formalised the partnership in a signed agreement which establishes a framework for collaboration across education, research, professional development, and knowledge exchange, with a shared ambition to support thriving rural communities, rural regeneration, long-term resilience, and the sustainable management of land and natural resources.