Post App Open Day for Environment and Geography

Very successful event today with applicants attending from Northumberland to Cornwall.  We also promoted the environmental focus of the university as a whole - helped by Rachel Staten, a second year BSc Hons Physical Geography student who is working with our Environment Team on placement.  Her role as an Environment Engagement Assistant involves delivering sustainability projects across the university.

UTC application continues to progress

I attended a seminar hosted by the Baker Dearing Trust in London with Mike Hamlin, Senior Education Adviser at the Greenwood Dale Foundation Trust. The seminar covered in detail the process of establishing a UTC and was very useful background for our forthcoming interview in Sheffield at the Department for Education. The final outcome of this round of UTC bids will be announced by the Department at the end of May....this time we are hopeful that the Government will see the value of our focus on greenskills and landbased industries.

Spring has definitely arrived at Home Farm!

The farm baliff Neil Hodgson and agricultural staff led by Dominic Heneghan, Agriculture Programme Leader are busy supporting students getting experience with lambing and calving at Home Farm for the next few weeks...

Also down on the farm we are considering new cattle housing for our Lincoln Red herd. One of the ideas is a roundhouse from Simpson & Allinson in Yorkshire - in my experience a perfect cattle and student friendly facility! (http://www.roundhouseltd.co.uk/)

International Students Awards Evening 2012

A very enjoyable event which celebrated scholarships for students from 27 countries studying across the University. It was great to see Melissa Stephenson from ARES collect her award. Melissa is studying on the MSc Equine Health and Welfare and is at the project planning stage for the final part of her Masters.  She came to study at Brackenhurst from the United States as there are very few Masters level equine courses in her home country.