Royal Agricultural College

Rural communities face major challenges such as increasing population, increasing development, peak oil and climate change and must develop their management of land to meet the challenges of increasing food production. Any such development must be sustainable, from the triple perspectives of economic viability, social acceptability and preservation of environmental quality. Food production currently occupies about one third of the land surface of the Earth, is the world's biggest business and is the central daily activity for most of the world's population. However, agriculture has also transformed the Earth's natural resources and landscapes more than any other human activity.

Changes in agriculture have accelerated over the last 50 years and we now rely on fewer crop varieties with increasing areas of monoculture, increasing mechanisation, and large inputs of manufactured fertilisers and agrochemicals for most of our food. Livestock systems have also intensified, necessitating the use of intensive housing and waste-management systems. Many changes have also occurred in food supply beyond subsistence farming and the farm gate, including globalisation of food supply, elaborate systems of price support and the increasing domination of food supply chains by a few multinational corporations. The programme explores whether this approach to food production and supply is sustainable and what alternatives such as organic production, precision farming or even genetic modification will play in the food systems of the 21st century. The exploitation of other natural resources such as fossil fuels, minerals, forests and fisheries have further impacted on rural communities and cultures. The reliance on rural labour and the number of people owning land have declined significantly with the advent of modern technologies. Increased demand for finite physical and biological resources has also resulted in environmental pollution, landscape destruction and the displacement of peoples from indigenous homelands. Is this situation sustainable? Is it socially and culturally acceptable? Are these activities ethical? With the human population predicted to grow to over eight billion by the year 2030, a major challenge will be to produce as much food in the next 20 or so years as we have done over the last 10,000 years. How can development be achieved without further erosion of the environmental resource base, rural societies and ethnic cultures around the world? The main challenge therefore, for both emerging and developed economies, is to ensure that development is sustainable. Sustainable development means ensuring that the price of growth does not become an intolerable burden for future generations or the global environment. It must also be in tune with forthcoming changes in climate if it is to be successful. To achieve this, we need to understand the issues but, more importantly, to produce experts capable of optimising global resource use at all levels of society. We are confident that this programme, with its specialist pathways, will enable participants to develop the skills and knowledge to contribute significantly to rural community development.

Applicants from Africa can apply for funding through the African Fellowship scheme. Click to download an application form.

The Programme

The programme meets the needs of recent graduates, those already working in the area of rural development who wish to further their career prospects and those seeking a career change. Students can study part-time; we recommend studying 50% each year over two years, which equates to 20 hours per week. Graduates from this programme have secured positions within the UNDP, IFAD and various national and regional departments of agriculture or natural resources. Others have joined international and national NGOs, have been recruited by international development consultancies or have entered further or higher education (teaching and research). Indeed, over 85% of graduates are involved in work directly related to the programme. Students are encouraged to explore factors influencing sustainability, while at the same time reflecting on their own actions and attitudes and those of others, which we believe may be seen as reconciling three basic aspirations of society, namely:

• Achieving economic development to secure rising standards of living both now and in the future.
• Maintaining and improving social cohesion.
• Protecting and enhancing our environment both now and in the future.

The following themes underpin the programme:

• Human exploitation of the earth's resources and the global implications of human development.
• The ecological basis for sustainable natural resource utilisation, including agriculture.
• The social/economic basis for sustainable community development.
• The role and function of local, national and global institutions, policies and conventions in relation to development, resource exploitation, social, cultural, ethical and inter-generation considerations.

Entry Requirements

• The normal minimum entry requirement will be an Honours degree at upper second level or an HND award with a Distinction profile.
• Mature candidates with significant relevant work experience and lower academic qualifications may also be considered for entry, following personal interview with the Programme Manager.
• For students whose first language is not English, the College will accept International English Language Test (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.5 average with no element below 5.5.
• Students with other qualifications, including overseas awards and alternative English language qualifications, are advised to contact Admissions to discuss the suitability of their award for entry to their preferred programme of study.

Programme Structure

All students study the following six core modules, then choose two additional modules to determine the pathway. All students undertake a research investigation.

Sustainable Development - Sets the scene through the introduction of principles and concepts of sustainability and their application to rural development issues. These are then used to evaluate a series of completed and open-ended case studies from around the world, especially in relation to resource utilisation for primary and secondary industries and the demands made by human settlements and infrastructure.

Economics of the Environment - Uses the insights provided by economics to aid the evaluation of resource use and resultant global pollution issues. The module also explores models that address natural and social capital and resources which are then applied to selected case studies, including energy utilisation, agriculture and forestry, fisheries, minerals, and infrastructure development.

Physical Resource Appraisal - Profiles physical resources in relation to past, present and likely future exploitation and in relation to international agreements and conventions. The module also demonstrates the appropriate field sampling and laboratory analytical techniques used to measure physical resources and methods of reporting information.

Biological Resource Appraisal - Profiles biological resources in relation to past, present and likely future exploitation and in relation to international agreements and conventions. It also develops the appropriate field survey techniques used to measure biological resources and methods of reporting information.

Planning, Policy and Development - Evaluates the role of policy formulation, implementation and review in providing a framework for sustainable development. The module also considers the role of development controls in delivering sustainable development strategies. In addition, two CPD workshops further explore the application of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to development controls and the use of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in the development of more sustainable policies.

Human Resource Development - Evaluates development strategies ranging from technical and sectoral assistance, through extension, to people-centred and participatory development. The module also develops project management skills through a series of CPD workshops that explore the key skills required to become an effective project manager. Team projects are undertaken, linked to the annual IRD conference, on an important rural development theme; the publication of the bi-annual newsletter of the IRD programme, and the secretariat for the RAC International Society.

Individual Research Investigation - All students are required to complete a research project into a chosen subject. Guidance is given on approaches to research skills and methodologies through short workshops and exercises. Thereafter the independent research programme is carried out with supervisory support. The output of the research process is presented as two 6,000 word papers - a review paper and a research paper - prepared according to the instructions to authors by the journal World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development. If the work is of a sufficient standard we assist in publishing it.

Choosing the right pathway

Students can select up to 50% of the overall programme according to their particular career aspirations by two more specialised modules, together with their research investigation. Choose from the specialist pathways listed in the following pages, or alternatively choose any two focus modules or, subject to agreement with the Programme Manager and timetable availability, one focus module and any one other postgraduate module.

• Sustainable Agricultural Systems Pathway
• Climate Change and Development Pathway
• Natural Resource Management Pathway
• Organic Agricultural Systems Pathway
• Tourism and Development Pathway
• Sustainable Business Pathway

The Royal Agricultural College does its best to ensure that the content listed on these pages is accurate and up to date; however course content is subject to change. The College reserves the right to change the content, modules and titles of any courses and research opportunities listed here without prior warning.