Prospective students explore opportunities at CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus Open Days

Date published: 28 October 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 to view teaching facilities during guided campus tours. 

Following presentations to introduce the programmes, prospective students and their families toured the campus facilities, with current 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 viewing demonstrations of sheep dosing, the use of calving / lambing simulators, tractor driving and estate management activities. 

Prospective students gained a clear understanding of the practical skills they will develop while studying on campus, as well as 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 and Technology, their tour focused on enterprise technology, grass, soils, crop production and livestock science. During the tour, visitors stopped at the Dairy Centre viewing gallery to understand the application of technology within student research. 

Current 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 which enhance students’ learning through guest lecturers, industry visits and study tours.

Land-based Engineering: Skills for a thriving industry

Prospective students interested in the Level 3 Land-based Engineering programme 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. 

Current students demonstrated to visitors their skills in trouble shooting engine problems and completing slurry tanker maintenance.

Land-based Engineering Senior Lecturer, 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 Support and Level 3 Veterinary Nursing programmes toured CAFRE’s specialist laboratories and clinical training facilities. 

A series of Objective Structured Clinical Examination (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, Head of Agriculture Higher 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 felt informed about our courses, were impressed by our facilities and are now 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. Full-time and Apprenticeship programmes are available at Level 2 and Level 3 for study after GSCEs, whilst Higher Education routes include a Foundation Degree in Agriculture & Technology and BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Agriculture. 

For those wishing to progress their study the college also offers a MSc in Strategic Leadership for Agri-Food. Applications for all courses are currently open. To find out more, please visit the CAFRE website.