I want to share a couple of these developments with you as they are of significant relevance to our region and beyond.
Student enrolments in agriculture increasing
There was an ABC article a few weeks ago informing us that "universities across Australia are enjoying a big spike in enrolments in agricultural science courses", and a few examples were given from Victoria and interstate.
Enrolments in our Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Melbourne continue to be a national leader, with 211 new students in our Bachelor of Agriculture (BAg) course this year, an increase on 2020 (we have had 200 or more enrolments for the past few years).
Interestingly, there have been a few changes in our new student cohort this year with more coming from regional and rural backgrounds than in previous years, and for the first time for a number of years, a slightly higher percentage of males than females.
It’s also good to report that 25 of our new BAg students have come through the Diploma of General Studies (DiGS) course that we run at Dookie each year and which provides a pathway to a number of degree courses at Melbourne.
It is great that this year’s new DiGS students are already on campus and able to study in our COVID-safe learning environment.
We have 54 students taking the course in 2021 — the largest intake to date — and they come from a range of backgrounds.
Sixty per cent are from metro areas, 25 per cent from rural areas and 15 per cent from regional areas and this includes eight students from our local region.
More than two-thirds of the students are living on-campus and hopefully many of them will choose to study in our BAg course next year, and be able to continue their Dookie experience.
One Basin Cooperative Research Centre
Last year the Shepparton News reported on the potential development of the One Basin CRC and much progress has been made since that time, as the establishment bid was pitched to the Federal Government at the end of February 2021.
If it is successful, the CRC would link with local expertise, in work to help ensure that regional farms, businesses and environment have the resilience to weather a changing climate and other changes in the Murray-Darling Basin.
The bid has the support of a coalition of industry and community groups, universities, government bodies and businesses, which have committed more than $120 million to its proposed 10-year operation.
Importantly, a Goulburn Valley-Central Murray research hub would be based at our Dookie campus, as one of five regional One Basin CRC hubs.
It will coordinate research along the Victoria-NSW border, recognising that there are many shared issues.
The announcement of the successful CRC bids is expected later in March, with funding to be issued in October.
Professor Tim Reeves
Professor in Residence, Dookie Campus,
University of Melbourne
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