The University of Queensland is gearing up for stronger partnerships with the food and agriculture sector and a new approach to its workforce shortages, by revamping the delivery of agricultural teaching and research.
From 1 January 2011, UQ’s organisational map will include a new school of agriculture and food science to lead the study of areas including land, crop and food sciences, animals (apart from veterinary science), and agricultural plant sciences based on biotechnology.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield said the strategy’s aims included building the expertise of the Queensland, Australian and international workforces to sustainably improve agricultural and food production.
“Agriculture and food security are vital global issues with the world population projected to increase from 6.9 billion to 9.2 billion by 2050,” he said.
“Unfortunately Queensland and Australia risk losing opportunities to take significant roles in addressing the challenges because of a prolonged nation-wide decline in enrolments in traditional university agricultural degrees.
“The Australian Council of Agricultural Deans reported a decline of more than 18% in enrolments between 2001 and 2006.
“UQ’s new strategy will improve our links with industry and encourage teamwork amongst academics from different disciplines, with the goal of making learning and research more innovative and more relevant to industry.
“The University will also create more academic pathways into careers that contribute to agriculture and food security, through a planned review of programs in agriculture, applied science and environmental management.
“Agricultural and food industries are drawing on an expanding range of disciplines and expertise and it is important that UQ’s structures and curricula meet industry needs and student expectations.
”From 1 January 2011, the Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science (NRAVS) will be disestablished and schools will be consolidated in an expanded Faculty of Science comprising:
• An amalgam of the Schools of Land, Crop and Food Sciences; Animal Studies; Integrative Systems (except for Environmental Management); and plant sciences that have an applied biotechnology and agricultural focus.
• Biological Sciences
• Biomedical Sciences
• Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
• Earth Sciences
• Geography, Planning and Environmental Management – consolidating the discipline of Environmental Management
• Mathematics and Physics
• Veterinary Science
UQ’s governing council, the Senate, recently approved the organisational changes, which will be implemented in consultation with external stakeholders.
The Gatton Campus will continue to be developed as a key location for teaching and research in all aspects of agriculture.
UQ and the Queensland and Australian Governments have invested heavily in the campus in recent years, and UQ and the State Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation are establishing a joint research institute, the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI).
Media: Jan King 0413 601 248
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