SRUC unveils plans for health centre

Scotland’s Rural College unveiled plans for a new digital agriculture and animal health centre in Inverness following the sale of its Drummondhill premises for housing.

SRUC refused to disclose the value of the property sale, but said a new £2 million facility would be built on Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s campus and would focus on improvements in animal and human health.

The SAC Consulting veterinary surveillance unit which currently operates from the Drummondhill site will relocate to the new facility in spring 2019.

A spokeswoman said the unit would have full post-mortem facilities, a veterinary laboratory and teaching facilities for veterinary students.

Veterinary disease surveillance, research, education and rural business consultancy will all be housed in the new centre.

SRUC said it aimed to build on the existing collaboration between SRUC’s veterinary epidemiology research centre and its farm and rural business consultants.

SRUC academic director Professor Jamie Newbold said the centre would “open up opportunities” and give the college the scope to deliver new services.

He added: “Examples include the harnessing of ‘big data’ and digital technology for use in research and education and improvements in the responsiveness and impact of the advisory services we offer to local farmers.”

Prof Newbold added that SRUC’s strategy was to increase its positive impact on rural economies.

He said: “Key to our new strategy is collaboration with existing and new partners, achieved through the sharing of expertise, resources and facilities.”

SRUC said the investment was likely to lead to six new posts to drive college business and deliver content for online learning postgraduate digital courses and continuing professional development.

The centre is expected to open at the Inverness campus in early 2019 and SRUC said it would work with educational institutions to develop improved undergraduate and postgraduate veterinary education in the region.

Key to our new strategy is collaboration with existing and new partners

An artist’s impression of the new centre at Inverness.