Rural college gets degree-awarding powers

Degree students are beginning their course in veterinary science this week

Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) is beginning a new chapter after becoming the country's first education provider in nearly two decades to be granted the power to award degrees.

The college has awarded degrees before, but until now these have been through the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Its first degree course students are beginning their veterinary course at SRUC's Aberdeen campus this week.

As well as Aberdeen, SRUC has campuses in Edinburgh, West Lothian, Fife, and Dumfries and Galloway.

The new powers to award taught degrees were conferred by the Privy Council - an advisory body to the King, whose members are known as Privy Counsellors - and approved by the Scottish Parliament.

SRUC’s first degree course is an BVSci in Veterinary Science.

The first cohort of students are starting at its new School of Veterinary Medicine in Aberdeen.

Prof Wayne Powell said the development was a historic moment

"Gaining [these] powers is a truly historic day for SRUC," principal and chief executive Prof Wayne Powell said.

He said the degrees would represent areas at SRUC’s core, such as sustainability and rural and environmental expertise.

“More than ever before, SRUC is in control of its own destiny," Prof Powell said.

"Gaining degree awarding powers really is just the beginning.”