LILY HOFFMANN
Interest in Agriculture at a secondary and tertiary level is soaring, according to new data from universities and colleges across Australia.
Universities, colleges and secondary across the country, and particularly in regional Victoria, are experiencing an increased interest in Agricultural education, reflecting the increase in job availability.
According to the secretary of the Australian Council of Deans of Agriculture, Professor Jim Pratley, the surge has been growing across the university sector since 2012.
“Every year the numbers have gone up by 15 per cent or so a year, and that seems to have been the case this year as well across the sector,” Mr Pratley said.
“The enrolment numbers have gone up with most of the universities I have talked to…the trend in increase intakes has continued in 2017.”
The University of Melbourne Bachelor of Agriculture enrolments have increased by about 20 per cent this year, according to The Weekly Times.
Donna Winfield, the Business Development Officer for Longerenong College, one of Australia’s leading agriculture schools said the college has seen a definite increase in interest.
“We have more full time students than we have had in over 20 years,” Ms Winfield said.
“I think students are now well aware that it’s not just about tractors and gumboots, and that the world has to eat and there are plenty of jobs.”
Professor Jim Pratley said that the agricultural job market was desperate for more graduates.
“We have been able to show that we need about 4,000 graduates a year and we are putting out about 600 a year at the moment,” said Mr Pratley.
For more on this story, check out Monday’s Guardian (February 08)
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