Greenmount Campus welcomes visitors to Open Days

Date published: 3 April 2026

Across all events, prospective students had the opportunity to meet staff and current students, discover what life is like at CAFRE, explore career opportunities and take part in guided campus tours. 

Following presentations by Programme Managers, prospective students and their families toured the campus facilities, with students demonstrating practical activities throughout, highlighting CAFRE’s commitment to learning by doing.

Agriculture: Learning beyond the classroom

Visitors exploring Further Education in Agriculture programmes as an alternative to A-Levels, experienced first-hand the broad range of enterprises covered. Highlights included a visit to the Dairy Centre, dosing sheep and calving simulator demonstrations, alongside tractor driving and estate management activities.

Prospective students gained a clear understanding of the practical skills they will develop while studying on campus whilst gaining an understanding of how the programmes integrate science, technology and business management to meet the needs of learners.

For those visitors interested in Higher Education programmes, including the BSc Hons in Sustainable Agriculture and Foundation Degree in Agriculture, their tour focused on enterprise technology, crop production and science, farm building design and mechanisation. The tour included a stop at the maternity wing and cow passage, and visitors also met the newest calves on campus. 

Students also shared their experiences of receiving financial awards through CAFRE’s Industry Support Programme, as well as the additional learning opportunities provided through the campus’ close industry links who provide support guest speakers, visits and study tours.

Land based Engineering: Skills for a thriving industry

Prospective students interested in the Level 3 Land-based Engineering course toured the Machinery and Building Centre. Here, students build on their practical skills, gaining first-hand technical skills on a wide range of machinery where they learn to inspect, repair and maintain the equipment. Students demonstrated the skill of engine trouble shooting and trailer axle maintenance to visitors.

Land-based Engineering Programme Manager Peter Verhoeven highlighted the strength of the course, stating: “The Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Land-based Engineering equips students with the technical and engineering expertise required to start their career in the sector. This course offers a combination of hands-on learning and academic knowledge to give students the skills which are regarded by the industry.”

Veterinary Nursing: High quality, hands-on training

Visitors interested in Level 2 Veterinary Care and Level 3 Veterinary Nursing programmes toured CAFRE’s specialist laboratories and clinical training facilities. A series of OSCE-aligned demonstration stations showcased key skills such as animal handling, welfare assessment, anaesthesia, CPR and radiography. The practical displays offered prospective students a clear understanding of the clinical competencies developed through training with CAFRE. These programmes are designed to complement and reinforce the experience students gain while working in a veterinary practice.

Greenmount Campus offers a pathway for every ambition

Sharon McLaren, interim Head of Agriculture Education at CAFRE, emphasised the importance of developing the next generation of land-based professionals: “Greenmount Campus offers a wide range of courses and facilities for those seeking alternatives to A-Levels or who are ready to step into Higher Education after completing their A-Levels. At CAFRE we pride ourselves on supporting and developing students throughout their educational journey. The land-based sector offers meaningful, forward-looking careers with real impact. We hope that by attending the Open Day, visitors feel informed about our courses, are impressed by our facilities and ready to progress an application to study with us.”

Whether you aspire to take up a hands-on role or management position, CAFRE provides pathways to suit a diverse range of skills, interests and ambitions. Courses are available from Level 2 through to Master’s Degree level. Full-time and Apprenticeship routes are delivered to support students to find the course which best suits their needs. 

To find out more, please visit the CAFRE website.