Nicholas McBride has just completed the first year of his CQUniversity Bachelor of Agriculture, and feels energised about his future.
With a rural background and a passion for living on the land Mr McBride said, “a career in agriculture is the only choice for me”.
“It’s been great to find a course that facilitates an appreciation of big-picture agriculture. Offering a combination of practical experience and theoretical delivery has illustrated the broad range of career options available to me,” Mr McBride said.
The course was launched in 2016 in conjunction with Queensland Agricultural Training Colleges.
The first year of the degree focusses on practical training, utilising industry-scale production facilities at Emerald Agricultural College and throughout Central Queensland. Topics include introductions to managing crops, soil, irrigation, and livestock production, development of agribusiness planning and agricultural research skills.
“This year we had regular training excursions to local producer’s properties, accessed research facilities like Belmont Research Station, conducted cropping trials, and heard from international lecturers and industry representatives,” he said.
Years two and three of the degree incorporates more tertiary studies, industry placements, and subject specialisation to help students move towards a preferred sector of interest.
“I’m looking forward to next year too because I can start to focus on areas of particular importance to me. I am very interested in cattle and nutrition. I think more research needs to go into providing food for the world’s population with greater efficiency and less waste.
“Becoming part of an industry that can shape the world’s future by successfully feeding a growing population would be extremely rewarding and fulfilling.”
Graduates of the CQUniversity Bachelor of Agriculture are awarded both a vocational qualification (AHC50110 Diploma of Agriculture) and a tertiary qualification (Bachelor of Agriculture) – a combination that puts them in good stead to contribute across all levels of the agri-supply chain.
Queensland Agricultural Training Colleges CEO, Mark Tobin said food and fibre are in growing demand, and production sectors are calling for skilled agricultural workers and researchers.
“To support that, the provision of animal feed and agribusiness services require adequate staffing,” he said.
“There is a particularly strong demand for higher-level qualifications in agribusiness and agricultural science, which is what the CQUniversity Bachelor of Agriculture is helping to prepare students for.”
Enrolments for 2017 in the CQUniversity Bachelor of Agriculture are now open. Visit qatc.edu.au or phone 1800 888 710, or cqu.edu.au
