Welsh Agricultural College
Encyclopedia
The Welsh Agricultural College (WAC) was established in Aberystwyth, Wales in 1970 with David Morris as its first Principal. In 1995 it merged with Aberystwyth University.
In an unusual arrangement, the College was financed through a joint committee composed of representatives of all the Welsh local authorities. Its original mission was to provide vocational education in agriculture and for a number of years it provided National and Higher National Diploma courses. A Diploma took 4 years and included extensive work experience on farms. Later WAC diversified its provision to include courses in Countryside Management and Equine Studies. A degree scheme in Agriculture, offered jointly with the University of Wales Aberystwyth’s Department of Agricultural Sciences, was established in 1982.
Student from this period were typically those who had not gained places or who had applied too late to read agriculture at more established agricultural colleges. There were several sons or daughters of Welsh farmers. The College had young lecturing staff, (including.... Wyn Jones and...), in contrast to the established institutions in England (Wye College
, Royal Agricultural College
in Cirencester, Harper Adams, University of Reading
etc). A 1990s reunion revealed that only about half of the 1970s students later ended up working in agriculture. There were very few women students at WAC.
In 1995 the Welsh Agricultural College was no more. It joined the University and merged with the Department of Agricultural Sciences to form the Welsh Institute of Rural Studies, with Michael Haines appointed as its first Director.
WIRS was later renamed the Institute of Rural Sciences. The current name is the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences
(IBERS) and Aberystwyth University has now left the University of Wales.
In an unusual arrangement, the College was financed through a joint committee composed of representatives of all the Welsh local authorities. Its original mission was to provide vocational education in agriculture and for a number of years it provided National and Higher National Diploma courses. A Diploma took 4 years and included extensive work experience on farms. Later WAC diversified its provision to include courses in Countryside Management and Equine Studies. A degree scheme in Agriculture, offered jointly with the University of Wales Aberystwyth’s Department of Agricultural Sciences, was established in 1982.
Student from this period were typically those who had not gained places or who had applied too late to read agriculture at more established agricultural colleges. There were several sons or daughters of Welsh farmers. The College had young lecturing staff, (including.... Wyn Jones and...), in contrast to the established institutions in England (Wye College
Wye College
The College of St. Gregory and St. Martin at Wye, more commonly known as Wye College, was an educational institution in Kent, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1447 by John Kempe, the Archbishop of York, as a college for the training of priests. It is located in the small village of Wye, Kent, 60...
, Royal Agricultural College
Royal Agricultural College
The Royal Agricultural College is a higher education institution located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. Established in 1845, it was the first agricultural college in the English speaking world...
in Cirencester, Harper Adams, University of Reading
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
etc). A 1990s reunion revealed that only about half of the 1970s students later ended up working in agriculture. There were very few women students at WAC.
In 1995 the Welsh Agricultural College was no more. It joined the University and merged with the Department of Agricultural Sciences to form the Welsh Institute of Rural Studies, with Michael Haines appointed as its first Director.
WIRS was later renamed the Institute of Rural Sciences. The current name is the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences
Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences
The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences is a department of Aberystwyth University , and is located in the town of Aberystwyth on the west coast of Wales, on Cardigan Bay. It has a remit for teaching, research as well as business innovation in the area of land use and the...
(IBERS) and Aberystwyth University has now left the University of Wales.