AQW 18709/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 11/05/2021
Answered On Date: 24/05/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether there are any plans to further develop the environmental scope of the full-time and part-time courses provided by CAFRE.

Answer:

The courses provided by CAFRE are subject to regular review by Awarding Organisations and validating Universities, normally every five years. These reviews are undertaken to ensure that the course content meets the current and future needs of the industry which graduates are planning to enter.

In the 2020/21 academic year, CAFRE revalidated its Foundation degree in Agriculture and Technology and its Foundation degree in Horticulture with Ulster University. A core theme within both programmes is environmental sustainability.

Also in 2020/21 CAFRE validated through Ulster University an Honours Degree in Sustainable Agriculture, a top-up degree in Horticulture and a Level 6 Higher Level Apprenticeship in Food and Drink Manufacture. All three degree programmes cover a broad range of relevant environmental topics. Within the BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Agriculture students can specialise in agri-environment issues.

In addition the environmental component within CAFRE’s Further Education courses has increased and as new DAERA policies emerge these will be integrated within the curriculum.