RAU launches twinning initiative with Ukrainian agrarian university

26 May 2022

The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) has entered into a pioneering twinning initiative with Sumy National Agrarian University (SNAU) and launched an online fundraiser to help support the Ukrainian university.

Sumy, and the surrounding area, was attacked by Russian forces in February and, during the attack, three of the University’s colleges, as well as dormitories, its greenhouse, and other technical facilities and equipment were damaged. 

Global group of agricultural universities join forces to research sustainable entrepreneurship education

26 May 2022

A group of agricultural universities from across the globe, led by the UK’s Royal Agricultural University (RAU), is coming together to research sustainable entrepreneurship education worldwide.

Launching the research project today, Dr David Bozward, Head of Entrepreneurship at the RAU, said: “The agriculture sector is one of the most important economic sectors in developing markets and agricultural entrepreneurship is an imperative for these markets in developing new sustainable business models to reduce food poverty, decrease the carbon footprint of agricult

Tribute paid to Caroline Drummond MBE, Chief Executive of LEAF, who has died.

25 May 2022

It is with great sadness that we, at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), have learned of the death of Caroline Drummond MBE, Chief Executive of LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) after a short illness.

Caroline, who was awarded the MBE for services to the agriculture industry in 2009, served as a Governor of the RAU, then the Royal Agricultural College (RAC), from 2007 to 2013.

RAU students help rare butterfly to flourish at golf club

25 May 2022

A joint project between the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) and Cirencester Golf Club has won a prestigious conservation award.

Students from the RAU’s British Wildlife Conservation course have been working to improve an area of grassland at the Club which is a habitat for caterpillars of the nationally rare Duke of Burgundy fritillary butterfly and the project was recently named as Outstanding Environmental Project 2022 at this year’s Golf Environment Awards.

Cultured meat - a threat or an opportunity for UK farmers?

12 May 2022

Farming groups, scientists, and start-ups are teaming up to test how far cultured meat is a threat, or an opportunity, for UK farmers.

Also known as cultivated, cell-based, or lab-grown meat, this technology is further from becoming mainstream than other kinds of ‘alternative protein’ made using plants or fermentation. But it has gained interest from investors because of its potential to have the same taste and texture as conventional meat and appeal to committed carnivores.

New assessment commends world-leading research carried out at Royal Agricultural University

12 May 2022

More than half of the research carried out at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) has been commended as world leading and internationally excellent, and the University’s research is at its highest ever level, according to an assessment of all UK universities’ research activity published today.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), evaluates the quality and impact of research at UK universities across all disciplines. It grades research from nationally recognised (1*) to world leading (4*) and is carried out every five years.

Student scoops prestigious agricultural bursary

31 Mar 2022

An RAU student whose passion for farming started when he took on his grandmother’s small herd of home bred pigs has been awarded this year’s prestigious John Innes Foundation Bursary which supports young people starting their farm management and crop production careers.

Will Oliver, 19, who is in his first year of the FdSc Agriculture and Farm Management course at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), will now have all his course fees paid by the Foundation.

RAU announces exciting new progression agreement with Bell Cambridge

07 Mar 2022

Students who successfully complete a new University foundation programme in agriculture will be guaranteed a place on an undergraduate course of their choice at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) thanks to a new agreement between the RAU and Cambridge-based language school Bell Cambridge.

The partnership, which was agreed recently at the RAU’s Cirencester campus, will start in September 2022 for students on Bell’s new Agricultural Science University Foundation Programme.

Royal Agricultural University appoints six new independent members to its Governing Council

01 Mar 2022

Six new independent Governors, including one of Britain’s only black farmers, a columnist for the Financial Times, and the head of the Food, Farming, and Countryside Commission (FFCC), have been appointed to the Governing Council of the Royal Agricultural University (RAU).

The new members – property and business consultant Hugh Baker, “The Black Farmer” Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE, FT columnist and woodland owner Joy Lo Dico, UK Health Security Agency director Jason Makepeace, independent agricultural consultant David Morgan, and FFCC Chief Executive and organ

RAU offers work placements to local students with learning difficulties

17 Feb 2022

Two students, who both have learning difficulties, have taken up placements at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) as part of their college course to help them get into paid work.

The pair, who are both from Cirencester, are students on South Gloucestershire and Stroud College’s (SGS) Supported Internship course and, as part of their course, they have been working with the Catering and Estates and Maintenance teams at the University’s Cirencester campus since November.

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