International news
The best way to learn about the benefits of studying at Oatridge College is to hear about the experiences of other students and the exciting opportunities which the college offers them.
The stories which follow show the range of possibilities open to our students as they progress through their studies and work experience and then on to productive and fulfilling careers. In each case click on Full story for more information.
Home to "disaster"
June 2008
An American group on an annual exchange visit to Oatridge College has flown home dreading the devastation they will find, following disastrous flooding in Iowa. The visitors from Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids have been following events after the Cedar River burst its banks, forcing the evacuation of 4,000 homes in the city and inundating 55 of the state's 99 counties. Damage is estimated at around $3 billion. Two agriculture students from Oatridge and the College's director of farms Peter Scott leave later this week for a reciprocal visit, after assurances that life is now returning to near normal in Cedar Rapids, though mopping up is still going on and several bridges are closed. Full story
SNEC listed as Olympics training camp
May 2008
Olympic and Paralympic riders from all over the world could be coming to the magnificent Scottish National Equestrian Centre on the Oatridge campus to prepare for the London Games in 2012. The SNEC is the only equine facility in Scotland to make the official list of potential training camps. Full story
Oatridge in Industry Farming Trials
May 2008
Equipment from New Zealand is being used by students at Oatridge College to carry out comparison tests on the tenderness and quality of beef from Scotland, England and Brazil. The research has been commissioned by Quality Meat Scotland and is one of a number of projects involving students in real-life research for the meat industry.
Is Petri a record breaker?
April 2008
South-African born Petrus "Petri" Jacobs may have picked up more qualifications at Oatridge than any other student in the history of the College. Since arriving in 2003 he has completed Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ) courses in Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering and is currently studying Horticulture. Along the way he has won several prizes as "Best Student" in his year. "I love Scotland, love the Scots and love Oatridge," he says.
Oatridge "Sector-Leading"
March 2008
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education has identified five projects at Oatridge as "Sector-leading and innovative practice". In an exceptional report the inspectors singled out programmes to improve access to education, work with industry and schools and increase students' practical understanding of health and safety issues. Full story
Peter looks in the eyes of the Tiger
February 2008
Former greenkeeping student Peter Avent, the latest in a long line of Oatridge "graduates" to make a big impression in the United States, has shared a little of the limelight with the world's greatest golfer, Tiger Woods. The 22 year old from Midlothian found himself standing right next to the great man when he posed for pictures after winning the PGA Tour Fedex Cup at the East Lake course in Atlanta, Georgia. Peter has been working at the course as an intern on a programme run by Ohio State University to allow overseas students to gain experience in America. Full story
Four wins in-a-row for Oatridge
February 2008
For the fourth year in succession a student from Oatridge College has claimed the title of Scotland's Landbased Learner of the Year. Agricultural Engineering apprentice Calum McLeod, a 22 year old from Fife, followed in the footsteps of greenkeeper Barrie Lewis, farrier Sarah Mary Brown and young farmer Colin Inglis, when he picked up the top prize at an award ceremony run by Lantra, the sector skills council. Another Oatridge student, greenkeeping apprentice Danny McGarrell came top in two other categories. Full story
Danes study Scottish agriculture
January 2008
More than sixty Danish agriculture students from the Bygholm Landbrugsskole at Horsens have visited Oatridge during January. Three groups spent a week each studying Scottish farming methods. The visits were so successful that the specialist college is planning to bring twice as many students to Scotland in 2009. Full story
Honours for Oatridge
November 2007
Oatridge College has been honoured at the Scotland's Colleges annual awards for two unique projects designed to widen access to education and training. The Rural Skills Academy, run by Head of Land Use, Adrian Kitchen, received the prize for Promoting Equality and Diversity by encouraging long-term employed students from the inner cities back into education and training. John Smith at the College's Suntrap Garden was commended for his use of horticultural therapy to help people with severe learning difficulties. Full story
Martin is a Friend of Pebane
November 2007
Engineering lecturer Martin Neal has just returned from Mozambique in Africa where he and a group from his local church in Stirling completed a brilliant project to provide the coastal town of Pebane with urgently needed medical facilities. The "Friends of Pebane" packed a container with supplies and equipment and on arrival converted the container into an operating theatre.
"Purrfect" job for ex-student
September 2007
Former Animal Care student Andrea Middleton has become something of a television star. The one-time hairdresser has featured in a national television series which followed her experiences as she trained to be an inspector for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in England. Full story
"Rubbish" garden wins top prize
June 2007
A show garden created from recycled rubbish by staff and students at Oatridge College has won the top award - Best in Show - at Gardening Scotland, the country's premier horticultural competition. The 5x4 metre plot featured old tyres, drinks cans, old boots turned into planters and a greenhouse built from empty bottles.
Royal Opening for the SNEC
May 2007
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Rothesay has performed the official opening of the first phase of the Scottish National Equestrian Centre on the Oatridge College campus. It was her first visit to the £3.5 million development since she became its Royal Patron in January. Full story
New workshops commissioned
May 2007
New engineering and farriery workshops costing £1.5 million have been commissioned at Oatridge College. The new facilities take the College a step closer to becoming focus for training for the agricultural engineering industry in Scotland. Oatridge already attracts farriery recruits and apprentices from all over the UK and beyond. Full story
David is top Scottish learner
May 2007
David Boland, a fifty-something grandfather studying for his Modern Apprenticeship in horticulture and landscaping at Oatridge, has been named one of Scotland's Adult Learners of the Year. A foreman gardener with an Edinburgh-based housing association, David received the Scottish Qualifications Authority prize at an awards ceremony to mark Adult Learners' Week.
Taking the world view
April 2007
Oatridge College is looking forward to celebrating 30 years of agricultural exchange visits with France in 2008. Planning for the trip to La Faye farming college at St Yrieix near Limoges began almost as soon as the latest group of students arrived back recently. It will of course be one of a number of a series of overseas study tours organised every year by the College. Countryside Management students visit Norway regularly and agriculture students go to Ireland and the United States.
Viscount finishes the job
February 2007
Viscount Chelsea, the businessman and philanthropist, has officially opened the new £3.5 million learning centre at Oatridge. It was just 18 months ago that he cut the first sod to start work on the project, which provides 14 state-of-the-art classrooms and lecture rooms and an IT suite. Full story
Tall in the saddle
February 2007
The Scottish National Equestrian Centre at Oatridge has staged the first ever demonstration by one of American's foremost experts in natural horsemanship, Texan Bruce Logan. During three days at the newly opened Centre he worked with owners from all over the UK and Europe, helping them train young horses and re-train older mounts with problems.
Anya forges College links with the US
December 2006
Anya Irish, a 22 year old American student, is flying home from Scotland with the Christmas present she wished for: A qualification in the ancient craft of farriery, achieved after being fast-tracked through a tailor made course at Oatridge College. She was presented with her Forging Certificate after three months of intensive training, having completed a course which normally takes a year.
