Module Information

Module Identifier
BR29910
Module Title
UK agriculture through the lens of Wales
Academic Year
2024/2025
Co-ordinator
Semester
Summer
Reading List
Other Staff

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Presentation  15 Minutes  40%
Semester Assessment Reflective log  1500 Words  60%
Supplementary Assessment Reflective log  1500 Words  60%
Supplementary Assessment Review (in lieu of presentation)  1000 Words  40%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of Welsh and UK agricultural production systems

Identify factors affecting Welsh and UK agricultural production systems

Demonstrate an understanding of the role of science in UK agriculture

Critically evaluate the impact of UK agricultural production systems in the context of climate change

Brief description

  1. This module is for Fullbright scholarship students only **
  2. This module will introduce students to UK agriculture with a focus on food production in Wales. The module will provide a comprehensive overview of land use and agricultural production systems focusing on livestock agriculture, arable land use and conservation issues. Students will learn about the Welsh agricultural landscape, its suitability for food production and how scientific research is being developed and implemented in agricultural systems.

Aims

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Content

Introduction to Welsh and UK agriculture
Arable and livestock production systems
Agricultural productivity and food security
Agricultural production and climate
Role of science in agriculture

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Adaptability and resilience Students will be required to adapt their ideas to solutions by working with others and be mindful and respectful to the opinions of others. Students will need to develop their ideas using evidence-based arguments. In this process, students will develop a resilience to having their opinions and strategies challenged and develop new ideas in order to adapt.
Co-ordinating with others Students will be required to communicate effectively with others and build skills ineffective teamwork by discussing contemporary agricultural issues, dealing with on-farm issues and discussing some of the benefits and limitations of some technological advances. Students will also discuss the science relating to the developments of agricultural production systems and solutions to some of the current hot topics in agriculture.
Creative Problem Solving Discussion during lectures and seminars will build towards bespoke problem solving scenarios related to the topics under discussion including topics related to direct and indirect challenges to Welsh and UK food production. Students will develop independent research skills as well as problem solving skills. Students will be asked to develop points of view, interpret data and estimate solutions to problems using evidence and logical reasoning.
Critical and analytical thinking Students will critically evaluate the scientific literature on the issues facing UK agriculture. Students will also be required to interpret data in the formulation of ideas and present evidence-based reasoning for their findings.
Digital capability Students will be required to present their ideas using digital technologies such as Power point to effectively communicate their ideas and findings. They will also present a written report using word processing software and be expected to present data effectively using appropriate visual techniques.
Professional communication Students will learn how to present their ideas both verbally and in writing and how to how to present their arguments most effectively. They will learn the importance of information and clear communication and how to exploit these. They will know how to use the many sources of information available and how to use the most appropriate form of communication to best advantage. They will learn to be clear in their writing and speaking and to be direct about aims and objectives.
Real world sense As well as interpreting and communicating scientific evidence for the contemporary issues facing UK agriculture, students will gather a real-world sense of these issues with visits to working livestock farms and cultural events relating to agriculture.
Reflection Students will reflect on the material they have covered during lectures, seminars and field visits to farms and places of cultural value to Welsh agriculture and rural communities. These experiences will then be reflected upon in their academic assessments.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5