Agribusiness collaboration

The Wimmera’s agribusiness stocks are set for a boost with two of the region’s premier education institutions pairing up to shorten the study path of future Wimmera entrepreneurs.

Longerenong College alumni with course experience in agricultural and agribusiness learning will be fasttracked through Federation University’s Bachelor of Business degree, thanks to a new partnership between the two tertiary schools.

Longerenong College head of campus Avril Hogan said she expected the new agreement to shorten a student’s typical business bachelor at Federation University by a year.

She said the partnership would also provide another pathway for agricultural and agribusiness graduates to pursue extended tertiary qualifications.

“Employability for Longerenong graduates is not an issue, with more than a 95 percent employment rate immediately after graduation,” she said.

“This agreement will provide a long-term benefit for graduates working in industry, and allow them pathways into a higher-level tertiary qualification.

“The Bachelor of Business will recognise the agriculture and agribusiness units, and credit 65 or 75 points towards a 360-credit degree. This will reduce the three-year full-time degree to just over two years.”

Mrs Hogan said relationships between Longerenong College and the region’s other tertiary-education provider remained key to maximising student learning.

“We are all committed to providing quality education across a broad geographic area, and a wide range of programs, to support students and the industries who require the graduates,” she said.

“We have such wonderful facilities within the Wimmera, such as Longerenong College and Federation University and we want to maximise their use and draw as many students as possible.”

Commitment

Federation University Wimmera campus director Christine Brown said she looked forward to developing greater cross-institution and cross-industry relationships, as the university embraced its ‘commitment’ to the Wimmera.

“Federation University has a strong commitment to supporting the Wimmera and helping people upskill or reskill to meet the region’s job needs,” she said.

“This is just one of the exciting collaborations and partnerships Federation University has established in recent months and we look forward to developing further opportunities where students, the community and industry all benefit.”