Babatunde Oseni

My RAU experience

I decided to come to RAU to enhance my knowledge in the agri-business space. The university's reputation in these fields aligned perfectly with my passion for creating solutions to the challenges we currently face to achieve the SDG goals.

One highlight was a three day trip exploring some facilities around Cornwall, including the Cornhill farm, Eden Project and the historical Lanhydrock House. We learnt about their business operations and how they utilize different approaches to maximize cost and profit. It was a very educational experience, as I observed in real time the challenges business faces, and how different sectors have different approaches to being sustainable. Of course, I also love our magnificent campus! I’m an avid reader of history, so going to classes in halls that feel like Hogwarts is a nice touch, also the surrounding farms and beautiful estates around the centre Cotswold just gives a grandiose vibe.

What I gained from the RAU 

The University’s emphasis on practical, experiential learning has been invaluable. I like the small class sizes and intimate learning environment at RAU; it helps foster close relationships with both school colleagues and lecturers. This enables more engaging discussions, personalised attention from the lecturers, and opportunities to delve deeper into topics that interest me.

In the long term, my goal is to continue to develop solutions to some of the food supply chain challenges we currently face in west Africa. The RAU has provided me with a strong foundation by providing a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills. It has also provided networking opportunities by giving me access to experts in various sectors especially agribusiness and land management. The enterprise and employability team organise events and fairs to help students stay in touch with potential employers. 

I did a placement year at British Airways in a sustainability role as Customer Sustainability/Customer Accessibility Executive. The placement not only developed my professional skills and knowledge but also confirmed my passion for working in corporate sustainability. It provided a valuable complement to my studies at RAU, the practical insights I’ve gained in the past year will shape my future career decisions. British Airways is massive! I got to work with people from across the world and all backgrounds. The networking opportunities were amazing and I’ve met so many people professionally. The placement provided me with practical, industry-specific knowledge that complemented my theoretical learnings from RAU.

I've since been offered a place in British Airways  'Future leaders Graduate' programme. It's a rotational three year graduate programme where new recruits get to work across the business in both operational and managerial roles.