For the first time four Animal Management students have recently returned from an inspirational two week international work placement in Linköping, Sweden.
Students worked in pairs at AB Hanorps Gris & Gröda, a farm with over 3,000 pigs and at Naturbruksgymnasiet Vretaskolan, an agricultural college working with cattle.
Both placements allowed students the opportunity to learn new skills, and perform tasks that would not have been possible in the UK, broadening their awareness and understanding of working with livestock.
Student, Sarah Cooke, describes: “I loved my time in Sweden and I feel very lucky to have been picked. In the animal care industry, experience can matter a lot and getting the experience of working with cows has added to the practical skills I’ve already learnt during my time at college. I loved every minute of my stay there, even getting up at 5.30am every day so I could get to work on time and coming home smelling of cows.”
Liz Clifton, Programme Coordinator Land Based, and one of the accompanying tutors said: “I am glad that I was given the opportunity to be part of a team that ‘made it happen’ for the learners. The benefits of the Mobility project exceeded my expectations and such a massive amount was gained from a 2 week trip.”
This is the first time the College has sent students from Animal Care, and hopes to continue such visits in the future.
Students prepared for the trip through a training programme developed through the MOBILE project, (Mobility in Learning in Europe – www.mobilityinlearning.eu), and shared that this pre-departure preparation was vital to their comfort and success in living and working in another country.
Such visits enable students to gain global employability skills, understand what it means to be a European citizen and develop invaluable personal and transferrable skills that will benefit them for years to come.
