My RAU experience
I chose to study at the RAU because it was highly recommended to me back home in Zimbabwe, and I liked that the course offers a broad spectrum of agriculture studies.
I enjoyed our field trip to a robotic dairy last year, and to my surprise I also enjoyed the accounts and economics course during second semester! I’m really enjoying the people and the heritage of the place. I have quite enjoyed the culture of the RAU as well.
In terms of how the RAU is helping me, I have thought about becoming a farm manager or to go into agronomy. I know the RAU hosts a lot of careers fairs and feel this year I will be more invested into them. I’m also going to be spending more time with the enterprise and employability team. One challenge I have faced was learning about the government schemes available to farmers in the UK, as this is not something that is done in Zimbabwe. The lecturers have done well in explaining and providing resources to learn more about it.
What I gained from the RAU
I carried out my work placement at Yester Farm Dairies in Haddington, Scotland, where I was a general farm hand. I enjoyed learning about the cattle husbandry and dealing with the calves.
I learnt to tube calves, ear tag, simple injections into cattle, as well as milking, washing and cleaning of a parlour. The farm has since offered me a permanent position after my degree and to come back during the breaks and summer holidays.
Choosing to study this course is great if you are wanting to start up in the agriculture industry because it offers a broad spectrum of the industry, and you are able to move further with a top up year to make it a full bachelor’s degree.
