My RAU experience

The phrase “you are a name and not a number” immediately stood out to me when I was researching universities. It captured exactly what I was looking for. Knowing that a master’s degree in the UK is only one year, I wanted to choose an institution where I could make the most of my time not only academically, but also through meaningful relationships and connections. For me, that included building meaningful relationships with academic staff, who can become valuable mentors and are able to write more personalised references for my future endeavours. Simply put, I wanted to be known as Tatenda, not just as one of many students.

Coming from an Agricultural Economics background, I wanted to build on my knowledge of agriculture. With the several challenges my country is facing in this sector, I also wanted to gain a global understanding of what sustainability in agriculture looks like. What better place to do this than at the first agricultural university in the English-speaking world, where sustainability is not just part of the curriculum but is at the core of the university’s identity.

I really enjoyed the mix of theory and practical experience throughout the course. We had frequent field trips and guest lecturers who were working in the areas we were studying. That made it much easier to put what we were learning into context and understand how it is applied in the real world. The guest lecturers also broadened what had initially been a much narrower view of the career paths available to me after completing my degree. Hearing about their experiences helped me realise just how diverse the opportunities are within agriculture and sustainability. The field trips were equally valuable. I came away with practical ideas and tips that my family and I are planning to apply on our family farm back home. Which I never used to be interested in before coming to RAU.

What I gained from the RAU 

My biggest highlight is not an event, but the change I have experienced in myself. Before coming to the RAU, I was the kind of person who did not mind whether I spoke during meetings or not. More often than not, I would simply add to the number of people in the room rather than contribute to the discussion. The way learning is conducted at RAU is very discussion-based, and that has really shaped me. It has trained me to engage confidently in conversations, share my ideas, and contribute my perspective. One of the greatest lessons I will take with me is that my voice and my opinions matter. That is something I will carry with me throughout my career.

To anyone thinking of studying at the RAU, I would say go for it! The course will change the way you view the sector you are already working in or the one you want to build a career in. It will challenge your thinking, broaden your perspective, and equip you with knowledge that extends far beyond the classroom.