Proposals for a new £35 million agricultural university in Dumfries and Galloway have been announced as part of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) 2022 transformation plans.
The new rural university aims to become a centre for delivering educational excellence, a global leader in research and innovation, and a partner in driving the growth of Scotland’s rural economy.
The first stage in the transformation will see SRUC move to a faculty-based model, with three new vibrant faculties located across Scotland:
- North (the Faculty of Agri-Food & Business);
- Central (the Faculty of Rural Science & Policy); and
- South & West (the Faculty of Pasture-based Agriculture, Forestry and Biorefining).
Following a thorough and extensive review, which began in early 2017, this model was identified as the best structure to deliver tangible benefits at a local and national level.
The most notable development is the potential £35 million investment into SRUC’s Barony campus in Dumfries & Galloway, which is the site for the new South and West Faculty.
The creation of this new state-of-the-art facility has received business-case approval from the Scottish Funding Council.
Long-term plans
The investment strategy also includes a phased withdrawal over four years from SRUC campuses at Riverside in Ayr and Crichton in Dumfries & Galloway.
SRUC currently maintains a small presence at these campuses and is in full consultation with unions and other stakeholders.
Prof. Wayne Powell, chief executive and principal of Scotland’s Rural College, said: “This investment is the first major step in our transformational growth to Scotland’s new rural university.
The decisions that we have made, and will implement over the next few years, are all the result of significant research and analysis.
“They will best serve our commitment to educational excellence, which in turn will develop the skills required for a vibrant rural economy in 21st century Scotland.
“The three faculties will enable us to bring skills and sectors together and to strategically deliver an integrated, sustainable model for growth.
“Importantly, as we are implementing these plans over several years, our current students will be unaffected. I am looking forward to working with communities across Scotland to deliver a new rural university of which everyone can be proud.”
