Royal Agricultural University

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Royal Agricultural University
RoyalAg2.jpg
Motto Latin: Avorum Cultus Pecorumque;
(from Virgil's Geogics)
"Caring for the Fields
and the Beasts"
Established 1845
Type Public
President HRH The Prince of Wales
Principal Professor Chris Gaskell CBE(BVSc (Bristol), PhD (Bristol), DVR, MRCVS)
Location Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK
Campus Rural
Colours Black, maroon, yellow
Website rau.ac.uk

The Royal Agricultural University or RAU (previously known as the Royal Agricultural College or RAC) is a university located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. Established in 1845,[1] it was the first agricultural college in the English speaking world.[2] The university provides more than 30 land-based undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes to students from over 40 countries through the School of Agriculture, the School of Business and the School of Real Estate & Land Management.

Contents

History[edit]

The Royal Agricultural University was founded as the Royal Agricultural College in 1842,[3] at a meeting of the Fairford and Cirencester Farmers’ Club. Concerned by the lack of government support for education, Robert Jeffreys-Brown addressed the meeting on the "Advantages of a Specific Education for Agricultural Pursuits".[4] A prospectus was circulated, a general committee appointed and Earl Bathurst was elected President. Funds were raised by public subscription: much of the support came from the wealthy landowners and farmers of the day; there was no Government support. The first 25 students were admitted in September 1845.

Queen Victoria granted the Royal Charter to the University in 1845 and sovereigns have been patrons ever since, visiting the University in every reign. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales became President in 1984.

The college gained full university status in 2013.[5]

Facilities[edit]

Construction of the main building, in Victorian Tudor style, began in April 1845, was designed by SW Daukes and Hamilton, and built by Thomas Bridges of Cirencester.[6]

Farms[edit]

The university operates two farms:

  • Coates is predominantly arable cropped with some pasture land supporting equine activity; one set of farm buildings provides polo and hunter livery stabling and associated exercise facilities.
  • Harnhill is managed organically and carries a 150-sow outdoor pig herd, managed as a joint venture with a business partner, alongside a 2400-ewe breeding flock. Arable cropping is rotated with forage crops grown to support the livestock enterprises. The farm benefits from being in the Organic Entry Level Scheme[citation needed].

The university also uses numerous farms including a dairy enterprise at nearby Kemble Farms, and Fossehill Farm which provides stabling and exercise facilities. The RAU also uses numerous estates and businesses, both locally and further afield, for visits and practical exercises. Students have full access to the physical and financial data generated by the various enterprises and this is used in project work for a wide range of subjects, from practical livestock and 'crop husbandry', to conservation and farm woodland management, farm buildings, equine enterprise diversification, and rural business management.

Research[edit]

Some of the staff have been evaluated in the Research Assessment Exercise which recognised the importance of their research at national and, to a lesser extent, international levels.[7]

Library[edit]

The university library holds around 40,000 print volumes, nearly 1,000 current journal subscriptions, more than 40,000 e-books and a growing number of full-text databases.[citation needed] The main collection is supplemented by a support collection and a historical collection of texts, primarily on agriculture and estate/land management, dating back to the 16th century. The library also holds the RAU archive, a collection of documents relating to the institution since its foundation.

Notable people[edit]

Staff[edit]

James Buckman was professor of geology, botany, and zoology from 1848 to 1863.

Alumni[edit]

Royal Agricultural University graduates have won a number of awards and prizes, including the Farmers Weekly Young Farmer Of The Year Award (James Price 2009[8] and Adrian Ivory 2008[9]).

Notable students from the institution include:

References[edit]

  1. ^ The Times Friday, Aug 15, 1845; pg. 6; Issue 19003; col D
  2. ^ The History of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester Roger Sayce, p.ix
  3. ^ The American journal of education, Volume 22, Henry Barnard, F.C. Brownell, 1871
  4. ^ The History of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester Roger Sayce, p.1
  5. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20464013
  6. ^ http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-365143-royal-agricultural-college-cirencester
  7. ^ Royal Agricultural College RAE 2008 quality profiles
  8. ^ Young Farmer of the Year 2009 - James Price
  9. ^ Young Farmer of the Year 2008 - Aidrian Ivory

External links[edit]

Universities and colleges in South West England
Universities
Further Education colleges
Sixth form colleges
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