SRUC seeks right to award its own degrees

It could take two years before the newly created Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has the power to confer its own degrees.

Chief executiveProfessor BobWebb said the auditing process was rigorous and unlikely to be completed before 2014.

SRUC came into existence on Monday and has been created through the merger of Barony, Elmwood and Oatridge colleges with the Scottish Agricultural College.

SAC degrees have up to now been validated by either Edinburgh or Glasgow universities, but SRUC wants the right to award its own.

Education SecretaryMike Russell told a dinner tomarkSRUC's birth thathe would be concerned if the degree awarding powers were not granted as they were an indicator of quality.

The SRUC has launched a £10,000 bursary for final-year studentsonnational certificate and diploma courses who want to progress to degree level education. The cash recognises the financial support they need to continue their studies.

NFU England president Peter Kendall has been awarded an honorary degree by the Harper Adams Agricultural College in recognition of his service to UK agriculture.

Mr Kendall, who farms at Eyeworth, East Bedfordshire, has been union president for six years and is currently in his fourth term in office.