Agribusiness on rise in schools

Feilding High School is set to take part in a trial next year for a new agribusiness programme being rolled out in secondary schools.

The Ministry of Education has given the green light to developing Agribusiness achievement standards for senior students in New Zealand secondary schools.

The official announcement and opening of a centre of excellence, that has been built for Agribusiness, took place at St Paul's Collegiate School in Hamilton. The ministry, alongside DairyNZ, Beef + LambNZ and other primary industries experts, have been developing the programme since 2013.

St Paul's deputy headmaster Peter Hampton said the programme would roll out in schools over the next two years. Eight schools will have the programme available to them for trial next year before it is open to all secondary schools in 2018.

"Three years ago DairyNZ identified a major skills shortage in the Agribusiness sector with research showing that the industry needed 1250 tertiary qualified workers entering the sector each year," he said. "The Government's target of doubling New Zealand's primary sector exports by 2025 in itself will require around 25,000 more graduates, according to MPI figures. We believe this programme will help achieve that goal."

Students taking Chemistry, Biology, Economics and Accounting will be encouraged to take the Agribusiness papers.

About 80 students from St Paul's Collegiate School are already entered into the programme for next year.

"By introducing academically rigorous Agribusiness courses to secondary school students, more of New Zealand's brightest young minds will become inspired by the opportunities available in the sector and realise that career prospects go beyond the farm gate," Mr Hampton said.

"They can become food scientists, marketers, business professionals, economists, technicians or the CEO of one of New Zealand's major Agribusiness companies."

For more information visit www.agribusiness.school.nz.