1 : Awarding Institution / Body
Aberystwyth University
2a : Teaching Institution / University
Aberystwyth University
2b : Work-based learning (where appropriate)
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences -
With Integrated Year in Industry
3a : Programme accredited by
Aberystwyth University
3b : Programme approved by
Aberystwyth University
4 : Final Award
Bachelor of Science
5 : Programme title
Agriculture with Animal Science (with integrated year in industry)
6 : UCAS code
D4D3
7 : QAA Subject Benchmark
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences - Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Food and Consumer Sciences
8 : Date of publication
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences - September 2023
9 : Educational aims of the programme
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences - An Agriculture with Animal Science degree is an application-orientated
programme requiring study across a broad spectrum of disciplines from
natural sciences to social science, policy, economics and management. The
degree is interdisciplinary, drawing on diverse disciplines but each with
a clear and integrated set of learning outcomes. The study programme
includes many elements that are subject-specific. Graduates with an
Agriculture with Animal Science degree will have a thorough understanding
of crop and animal production methods and of the underpinning scientific,
economic and business principles. In addition, they will further develop
knowledge and skills across animal nutrition and husbandry, biochemistry
and physiology of animals, reproductive and developmental biology, disease
control and animal welfare. In particular they will be able to:
-
identify technological and economic problems encountered in current
production systems;
-
demonstrate an understanding of physiological, reproductive and
nutritional principles of livestock;
-
evaluate new techniques and, where appropriate, apply them to
commercial practice;
-
identify, evaluate and apply relevant scientific principles to
production systems;
-
know how to organise and manage a business for profit;
-
identify and evaluate public concerns over food production practices
and
-
evaluate the wider consequences of agricultural activities.
This degree will have built into its modular structure a number of options
that allow for Welsh Medium teaching that meets the need of the Coleg
Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.
Subject specific skills
Graduates will have a well-grounded understanding of the science and
management of sustainable production systems which comprise the
agricultural industry within the socio-economic and environmental contexts
required by society. They will be able to:
-
Demonstrate understanding of the scientific factors limiting
production
-
Demonstrate an understanding of how production systems can be
improved by manipulation and management
-
Recognise and address the ethical implications of production systems
-
Achieve a level of specialist knowledge and understanding, allowing
them to work as subject specialists within the agricultural industry
-
Apply their discipline to solve problems in the agricultural industry
-
Appreciate the needs and requirements of society
-
Apply knowledge to a wide range of real-life situations
-
Describe and evaluate a wide range of economic and business
management theoryand techniques
-
Demonstrate familiarity with relevant policy and understand its aims
-
Apply and evaluate a range of specific scientific and technological
processes
-
Appraise and evaluate the roles and responsibility of regulatory and
advisory bodies
-
Identify and evaluate appropriate knowledge bases and a range of
theoretical perspectives
-
Apply a range of methods to problem evaluation and amelioration
-
Communicate effectively on a wide range of agricultural issues
-
Describe, apply and evaluate professional standards and
responsibilities in relation to the agricultural industry
Generic and graduate skills
The following transferable skills will be developed and assessed as part of
the course:
-
Intellectual skills
-
Practical skills
-
Numeracy
-
Communication skills
-
Information and communication technology
-
Interpersonal / teamwork skills
-
Self-management and professional development skills
The alternative schemes have specific learning outcomes, and therefore subject
knowledge, remain unchanged. However, students will be able to demonstrate
additional outcomes as a result of undertaking the year in industry. These
additional outcomes provide an enhanced student experience and allow
students to develop knowledge of their subject areas in applied contexts
and to develop work experience and thus enhance their employability.
Specifically, the proposed degree aims to advantage students in the
following additional ways:
To apply approaches, concepts, skills, methods and/or theories in a work-based
context relevant to their scheme.
To develop highly valued transferable and professional skills during a work
placement, providing a competitive edge in the graduate job market.
To enable students to learn about an organization and its area of work,
providing an excellent opportunity to evaluate future career paths.
Subject specific skills (with Integrated Year in Industry)
The Subject specific skills of the schemes will not change. Nevertheless, on
the completion of their degree, students on these four year versions of
the schemes will have gained a valuable insight in to a field of
employment relating to their subject area in the biological sciences,
developing the associated skills and enhancing their employability /
networking / establishing industry links.
Generic and graduate skills (with Integrated Year in Industry)
The generic and graduate skills of the schemes will not change. However, the
four year version of the schemes ‘with a year in Industry’ will likely
develop the skills listed below, though the nature and emphasis will
depend on the exact employment; not all of these will be assessed, though
most are likely to form part of the employer’s assessment of the student:
-
Working independently
-
Working as part of a team
-
Respecting the views, beliefs, opinions and values of others
-
Listening to, and engaging with, other speakers
-
Effective verbal communication in a range of settings, including
group discussions and debates and formal presentations
-
Effective written communication in a variety of forms
-
Use of information technologies to process, store, present and
communicate information, including spreadsheets, databases, word
processing, e-mail and the world-wide web
-
Identifying, retrieving, sorting and handling information from
conventional and electronic sources, including libraries, CD-ROMs,
on-line computer resources and the world-wide web
-
Time management and self-regulation of work regimes
-
Research issues and solve problems
-
Adapting to change
-
Reading comprehension and interpretation of a range of written
material
-
Observational skills
-
Collating, processing, interpreting and presenting numerical data
-
Identifying appropriate career pathways and developing the capacity
to compete
10 : Intended learning outcomes
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences - Overall aim of the scheme
To develop the knowledge and skills required by those who may go on to pursue
careers as managers of agricultural enterprises and businesses or become
involved in the support industries, advisory work and research and
development together with additional specialist knowledge of Animal
Science to enable them to work as subject specialists and engage with
discourse at a detailed level.
Overall aim of the scheme
The overall aims of the schemes will not change. Additionally, the aim of the
four year versions of the schemes will aim to develop graduate level
skills, as described in the Generic and Graduate level skills section
above.
10.1 : Knowledge and understanding
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences - By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to
demonstrate:
-
A1 Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific factors
influencing crop and, particularly, livestock production
-
A2 Recognise how production systems can be improved by manipulation
and management and identify and address the ethical and
environmental implications of production systems
-
A3 Appraise and evaluate the policy and socioeconomic factors which
form and influence systems
-
A4 Describe and evaluate a wide range of economic and business
management theory and techniques relevant to agriculture
-
A5 Apply and evaluate a range of specific scientific and
technological processes
-
A6 Apply the principles of a safe working environment and underline
importance of health and safety as well as the protection and
enhancement of the environment in a wide range of real-life
situations
Learning and Teaching
Lectures; tutorials and seminars; student-led seminars; specialist external
lectures; field and laboratory practical classes; problem-based learning
scenarios and case studies; role play; literature based research;
computer-assisted learning; working in groups on live projects with
external organisations; visits to commercial businesses and organisations.
Assessment Strategies and Methods
Written examinations and coursework to include: report writing, oral and
poster presentations; the submission of a research proposal; assessment
based on real life problems.
The scheme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate
knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the
additional following areas:
Demonstrate a range of transferable skills including initiative, independence
and commercial awareness.
Learning and Teaching (with Integrated Year in Industry)
During their integrated year in industry students will embed themselves within
a working environment, allowing for the development of a range of
transferable and life skills commensurate with the above. Furthermore,
students on this scheme will have the potential to utilise the knowledge
and skills associated with other outcomes developed in years 1 and 2. This
will be in part dependent on the nature of the organization their position
is based with.
Assessment Strategies and Methods (with Integrated Year in Industry)
Students on the integrated industrial year will be required to register for
the modules BRS0000, BRS0060, BRS0100, and BRS0160. During the integrated
Year in Industry, students will be required to submit an Introductory
Report (worth 30% of the Industrial Year mark) on the organization that
they are working for, its structure, aims and operation; and a Workplace
investigation, to investigate a technical aspect of the work that they are
doing (worth 40% of the Industrial Year mark). Finally, there will be an
AU staff assessment of the final student self-evaluation and employer’s
report. These will be marked in order to assess the student’s achievement
of learning outcome 10.1 above as well as the other learning outcomes of
their scheme.
10.2 : Skills and other attributes
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences - 10.2.1 Intellectual Skills
By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to
demonstrate:
-
B1 Apply the skills needed to contextualise academic study and
enquiry
-
B2 Select and use appropriate relevant information from a wide range
of sources in order to gain an understanding of theory and practice.
-
B3 Undertake investigations to evaluate issues and changing
situations.
-
B4 Apply knowledge and understanding to address and solve familiar
and novel problems.
Learning and Teaching
Lectures; tutorials and seminars; student-led seminars; specialist external
lectures; field and laboratory practical classes; problem-based learning
scenarios and case studies; role play; literature based research;
computer-assisted learning; working in groups on live projects with
external organisations; visits to commercial businesses and organisations.
Assessment Strategies and Methods
Written examinations and coursework to include: report writing, oral and
poster presentations; the submission of an undergraduate dissertation;
assessment based on real-life problems.
10.2.2 Professional practical skills (where applicable)
By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to:
-
C1 Recognise and use appropriate theories, concepts and principles
from a range of disciplines.
-
C2 Plan, conduct, and report on investigations (including secondary
data).
-
C3 Collect, record, summarise and interpret diverse data and
information using appropriate techniques.
-
C4 Plan and manage practical work in the field and laboratory with
due regard to health and safety.
-
C5 Apply appropriate scientific, technical and business solutions to
a range of agricultural situations.
Learning and Teaching
Professional skills are acquired and developed during practical work, field
visits, class activities with additional (optional/extra-curricular)
opportunities to acquire standard industry certification body
qualifications.
Assessment Strategies and Methods
Coursework to include the submission of technical reports, business and
management plans, feed analysis, crop management reports, practical
precision farming exercises in media including posters, leaflets and
technical or consultancy reports. Students will be provided with real life
scenarios including crop plots where critical management decisions are
taken as a pedagogic tool. Students are expected to make critical
reference to the application of practical skills in their written
examinations. The research proposal and dissertation should develop skills
in conceiving and planning laboratory/field investigations or case
studies, in the collection and recording of library, laboratory or field
data and develop skills to summarise and synthesise using appropriate
qualitative and/or quantitative techniques.
10.2.1 Intellectual Skills (with Integrated Year in Industry)
By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to
demonstrate THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL LEARNING OUTCOME:
Demonstrate experience of working in a professional environment
Learning and Teaching
Outcome 10.2.1 will be achieved through completing an extended integrated Year
in Industry position at asuitable workplace.
Assessment Strategies and Methods
Evidence of outcome 10.2.1 will be secured through the completion of the
assessment strategy described in 10.1 above.
10.2.2 Professional practical skills (where applicable) (with Integrated Year
in Industry)
By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to
demonstrate THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL LEARNING OUTCOME:
Applying principles, methods, approaches, concepts, skills and/or theories
appropriate to the relevant biological sciences scheme in a professional
context, as well as understanding the challenges of working in a
professional environment.
Learning and Teaching
The professional skills identified in 10.2.2 will be primarily developed
through spending a year in industry
Assessment Strategies and Methods
10.2.2 will be evidenced by the completion of the assessment strategy
described in 10.1 above, detailing experiences of a year in industry, as
well as reports on associated technical information.
10.3 : Transferable/Key skills
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences - By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to:
-
D1 Communicate accurately, clearly, confidently and appropriately to
a range of different audiences, including academics, practitioners,
special interest groups and the wider public using a range of
communication techniques.
-
D2 Undertake practical work and show an awareness of the health and
safety issues related to working in the agricultural industry.
-
D3 Apply information technology, numeric techniques and analysis of
data to a variety of tasks.
-
D4 Analyse problems and develop appropriate solutions.
-
D5 Improve their own performance and plan their personal development.
Learning and Teaching
Transferable/key skills are incorporated within modules and related to
relevant assessments as appropriate. Students learn and develop skills
through tutorials; student and tutor-led seminars; problem-based learning
scenarios; practical workshops; self-directed learning; oral presentations
and work experience. Employment and employability related skills and team
work are developed in classes and on visits.
Assessment Strategies and Methods
Transferable/key skills are incorporated within modules and related to
relevant assessments as appropriate. Students further learn and develop
skills through tutorials / seminars; problem-based learning scenarios;
practical workshops; self-directed learning; oral presentations;
assessment of practical and applied skills in the field and work
experience.
By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to
demonstrate THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL LEARNING OUTCOME:
Professionalism and an understanding of commercial pressures
Learning and Teaching
Skill 10.3 will be developed through undertaking the year in industry
component. In addition, and dependent upon the nature of the position
undertaken, the year in industry has the potential to further enhance the
other generic skills detailed in Section 9 above.
Assessment Strategies and Methods
10.3 will be evidenced by the completion of the assessment strategy described
in 10.1 above, but primarily through the AU staff assessment of the final
student self-evaluation and employer’s report
11 : Program Structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits and awards
BSC Agriculture with Animal Science (with integrated year in industry) [D4D3]
Blwyddyn Academaidd: 2023/2024Cynllun Anrhydedd Sengl - ar gael ers 1998/1999
Hyd (astudio Llawn Amser): 4 blwyddyn
Rheolau Rhan 1
Blwyddyn 1 Craidd (120 Credyd)
Compulsory module(s).
Semester 1 BR10400 Business, Economics and Land Use
BR17000 Introduction to Livestock Production and Science
BR18000 Crop, grassland, soil and agricultural land management
BR18400 Agricultural Technology and Farm Safety
BR18800 Skills for the Agricultural Industry
Semester 2 BR10420 Business, Economics and Land Use
BR17020 Introduction to Livestock Production and Science
BR18040 Crop, grassland, soil and agricultural land management
BR18420 Agricultural Technology and Farm Safety
BR18820 Skills for the Agricultural Industry
Rheolau Rhan 2
Blwyddyn 2 Craidd (80 Credyd)
Compulsory module(s).
Semester 1 BR20400 Livestock Production Systems
BR20720 Applied Nutrition of Livestock, Horses and Companion Animals
Semester 2 BR20420 Livestock Production Systems
BR25220 Animal Breeding: Genetics and Reproduction
Blwyddyn 2 Opsiynau
Choose 40 credits
Semester 1 BR21000 Farm Business Management and Appraisal
BR27600 Agronomy and Crop Improvement
Semester 2 BG21920 Bwyd, Ffermio a'r Amgylchedd
BR21020 Farm Business Management and Appraisal
BR21920 Food, Farming and the Environment
BR27620 Agronomy and Crop Improvement
Blwyddyn 3 Craidd (120 Credyd)
Compulsory module(s).
Semester 1 BRS0000 Integrated Year in Industry
BRS0100 Integrated Year in Industry
Semester 2 BRS0060 Integrated Year in Industry
BRS0160 Integrated Year in Industry
Blwyddyn Olaf Craidd (40 Credyd)
Compulsory module(s).
Semester 1 BR30800 Livestock Production Science
Semester 2 BR30820 Livestock Production Science
Blwyddyn Olaf Craidd TT/Opsiynau
Choose ONE of the following compulsory modules
Blwyddyn Olaf Opsiynau
Choose either 40, or 60 credits
Semester 1 BR31600 Farm Planning and Advanced Farm Management
BR34120 Veterinary Infectious Diseases
BR37200 Crop and Grassland Production Science
Semester 2 BR31620 Farm Planning and Advanced Farm Management
BR35120 Behaviour and Welfare of Domesticated Animals
BR36820 Veterinary Pharmacology and Disease Control
BR37220 Crop and Grassland Production Science
12 : Support for students and their learning
Every student is allocated a Personal Tutor. Personal Tutors have an
important role within the overall framework for supporting students and
their personal development at the University. The role is crucial in
helping students to identify where they might find support, how and where
to seek advice and how to approach support to maximise their student
experience. Further support for students and their learning is provided by
Information Services and Student Support and Careers Services.
13 : Entry Requirements
14 : Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standards of teaching and learning
All taught study schemes are subject to annual monitoring and periodic
review, which provide the University with assurance that schemes are
meeting their aims, and also identify areas of good practice and
disseminate this information in order to enhance the provision.
15 : Regulation of Assessment
15.1 : External Examiners
External Examiners fulfill an essential part of the University’s Quality
Assurance. Annual reports by External Examiners are considered by
Faculties and Academic Board at university level.
16 : Indicators of quality and standards
The Department Quality Audit questionnaire serves as a checklist about the
current requirements of the University’s Academic Quality Handbook. The
periodic Department Reviews provide an opportunity to evaluate the
effectiveness of quality assurance processes and for the University to
assure itself that management of quality and standards which are the
responsibility of the University as a whole are being delivered
successfully.