Set Your Sights on a Career in Engineering or Forestry With SRUC Barony

Event: Engineering Department Open Day on Wednesday 9 March (10.00 – 16.00)
and
Event: Forestry Department Open Day on Monday 14 March (10.00-16.00)
Location: Barony Campus, Parkgate, Dumfries DG1 3NE
SRUC’s Barony Campus will be opening the doors to its Engineering and its Forestry & Arboriculture Departments on two separate open days in March, with opportunities to take a behind the scenes tour of both departments and to gain an insight into the courses and careers on offer.
The Barony Campus runs a range of Engineering courses which specialise in either forestry or agriculture, from entry level through to Diploma. The engineering department has very strong links with the local dealer community and farming and contracting groups which provides engineering students with the opportunity to work on the latest machinery. It also gives students, where possible, the opportunity to experience working on real jobs rather than simulated – which ultimately increases students employability.
Three students currently studying at SRUC Barony on the National Certificate (NC) course made up their minds that this was the career for them while attending the open day last year – and recommendations for the course even reached Laois and Offaly, Republic of Ireland as that was what prompted Ian Corcoran and Brian Coady to attend!
Lewis Martin (16) from Castle Douglas also came to the open day last year, which he heard about through his school. Speaking ahead of this years open day on Wednesday 9 March Lewis said: “I think the open days are really informative and friendly. I didn’t feel intimidated when I went last year, and I could ask as many questions as I wanted or needed to. It helped me make up my mind up that I wanted to come here to study. I liked the fact that I could speak to students and staff about the courses and I got a tour of the whole campus.”
On Monday 14 March, the Barony Campus will be going behind the scenes again, this time at the Forestry Department, and likely to be of particular interest will be the simulators where visitors can “virtually” harvest trees and use the forwarder simlogs. Current students and tutors will be on hand to answer questions, offer tours of the campus and there will also be the opportunity to see some practical classes “in action”.
Forestry is a vital industry to Scotland and SRUC offers SVQs and Certificate qualifications. Martin Roy used to be a butcher but is now currently studying Advanced Certificate in Forestry (Arboriculture) after attending the open day in March last year. Martin said: “I had always been interested in forestry, since high school, but I wasn’t sure how to get into the industry. The open day was brilliant and I was very impressed with the setup at Barony. I took a tour around the campus to see all the facilities, and as we walked round I saw the first year students being given an introduction to climbing.
“I realised then that this is what I wanted to do, so I went ahead and put my application in and here I am now studying! The open day is a great opportunity for potential students to find out more information, talk to lecturers, instructors and students, and see some of the practical activities that are organised on the courses.”
Martin is enjoying his course and is delighted to have now passed his NPTC certificates in chainsaw maintenance and small tree felling, and is now working towards tree climbing and aerial rescue.
Both open days will be of particular interest to school leavers, parents and career changers and will not only be an opportunity to find out about the careers and the courses on offer, but also to learn about campus life and meet current students.
If you are wish to attend the Open Day please book online http://www.sruc.ac.uk/baronyopendays or call 01387 860251
Photo: Land based Engineering students working on farm machinery