Rural Victorian students now have access to a Bachelor of Agriculture course delivered from the Hamilton campus of Rural Industries Skill Training (RIST), thanks to a new partnership with CQUniversity.
The partnership was formalised by the two organisations in Melbourne today, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman and RIST Chief Executive Bill Hamill.
Professor Bowman said the agreement with RIST aligned with CQUniversity’s innovative approach of linking vocational education with diploma and degree courses.
“CQUniversity is the only university offering vocational education pathways into agriculture diploma and bachelor courses thanks to partnerships with Queensland Agricultural Training Colleges (QATC) and now in Victoria through Rural Industries Skills Training (RIST),” Professor Bowman said.
“This approach ensures that our graduates receive the right balance of research-led teaching and practical skills to succeed in agribusiness.”
RIST is one of Australia's largest independent vocational Agricultural training providers and delivers a range of courses including agricultural traineeships from Certificate II level through to a Diploma of Agriculture.
Mr Hamill said the partnership with CQUniversity was good news for local students eager to pursue higher education in agriculture as it meant they would no longer have to move to Melbourne or interstate to pursue their dreams.
“It’s very exciting news for young students in regional Victoria and South Australia, as well as for our local community and agricultural industries, because this unique package combines higher education and vocational training with research engagement and industry extension,” Mr Hamill said.
“RIST prides itself on providing agricultural training that has immediate practical on-farm application and is delivered by industry experts – this partnership definitely enhances our capacity to achieve that.”
CQUniversity Bachelor of Agriculture students complete an embedded Diploma in Agriculture in the first year and continue to apply their knowledge and skills through mandatory industry placements as part of the second and third year.
Through RIST, students will also undertake project-based training, emphasising both the theory and practical aspects of agricultural production. These projects will incorporate classroom activities and simulations, combined with extensive work placements in extensive crop, dairy, sheep, equine and beef production operations.
From 2017, RIST’s Hamilton campus will host lectures and tutorials, with students also accessing teaching staff via video-link to CQUniversity campuses in Rockhampton, Emerald and Bundaberg.
Professor Bowman said CQUniversity would be investing in staff and resources at Hamilton to support the program.
“Our goal is to build Australia’s most comprehensive agricultural higher education package, capturing the theory and practices that will produce graduates who think systematically, who are aware of new innovation and emerging research, and who are grounded by a real-world, practical approach,” he said.
Students with Cert III qualifications in agriculture or better will be eligible to apply, while those already holding or completing a Diploma of Agriculture will be eligible for credit towards the degree.
The course will be registered with VTAC in 2017 – until then applications can be made through direct contact with RIST or CQUniversity.
