Welcome to Equine!

Employer engagement

Methodology• Questionnaire split into 4 main sections:

– Course content suitability– Work Experience– Employee Professional Development– General

• Employer sent overview of course content and set of questions

• Initial email to gage interest• Questionnaire and supporting information either sent

via email or post

BSc Equine Science and Thoroughbred Management

• Kirtlington Stud, Kidlington, Oxfordshire• Thoroughbred Breeders Association,

Newmarket• Weatherbys, Northants• Coolmore Australia, Australia • Tweenhills Stud, Gloucestershire,• Andrew Balding, Newbury • Newbury Racecourse, Newbury• Coombelands Racing Stables, West

Sussex

Summary of feedback for BSc EQTCourse content suitability• Worthwhile degree which has a good balance of

content. • Content suggested for inclusion is

– Administration/Business development, – Bloodstock/Sales, Riding/race riding module. – Industry specific health & safety courses, first aid, risk

assessments etc• Degree could be more goal specific• Talks from industry specialists highlighted vital Work experience• Handbook preferred• Contact with one person but not necessarily regular

Summary of feedback for BSc EQT

Employee Professional Development

• Modules that were highlighted as potential CPD for those employers that do offer it are:

• Equestrian Land Management • Nutrition • Equine Bioscience • Equine Anatomy and Physiology • Equestrian Events management

BSc Equine Science

• Polar Equine, Warwick• Quainton Stud, Bucks• British Equestrian Federation, Warwickshire• Smith and Williamson, Wiltshire• British Eventing (Blenheim Palace

International Horse Trials), Woodstock• Kathryn Kirby, The Setters Physiotherapy

Practice, Long Hanborough• Barbury Castle International Horse Trials,

Wiltshire

Summary of feedback for BSc EQS

Course content suitability• Broad base of modules• Modules were not specific enough to give the learners

a clear idea of progression into industry. • Areas suggested for inclusion were

– Economics of the equine industry and future post 2012 – Marketing equine facilities – Running a business

Work experience• Handbook preferred by the majority of employers• Point of contact important but regular contact not

expected

Summary of feedback for BSc EQS

Employee Professional Development

• Those that can offer CPD were interested in – Preventative medicine and veterinary

techniques – Equine endocrine and reproductive

physiology – International stud management– Equine industry module.

FdSc Equine Science and Management

• Old Manor House Riding School, Oxford

• Hook Norton Veterinary Practice, Banbury,

• Blue Cross, Burford

• Hartsop Farm, Finstock

• Quainton Equestrian Centre, Nr Aylesbury

Summary of feedback for FdSc ESM

Course Content suitability• Good variety of modules for progressing into a wide

range of jobs. • The learning and professional skills module

highlighted as being of particular relevance. • Areas for inclusion were:

– Dissections– Manual Handling

Work experience• Handbook is required• Regular contact with one specific person preferred

Summary of feedback for FdSc ESM

Employee Professional Development• Modules that would be of interest to some employers to offer

as CPD are: – Animal behaviour – Equine nutrition – Equine health management – Breeding and stud management – Equine fittening and training – Introduction to business – Advanced husbandry management – Equine Sports Injury and Therapy – Learning and Professional Skills – Introductory Biology

• Preferred format for the course was not unanimous

Summary of feedback for all coursesGeneral• Only 1 employer had seen an advertisement on a bus. • Positive about the value that the courses added to

learners going out into industry. • Importance of linking theory and practice which is not

always evident from the course/module descriptions. • More information on the stand alone modules

requested.• Short courses such as manual handling, spraying

certificates, safe use of vet medications, dissections are suggested.

• Seminars, demonstrations and stand alone training days would be attractive.

Action Plan - strengths

• Regular updates of modules included. • Maintain learning outcomes expressing need for

link between theory and practice. • Maintain scenario based assessments.• Maintain regular contact with current industry

links• Maintain student evaluation of guest speakers

and trips and act on the feedback

Action Plan – areas for improvement

CPD• OBU already contacted for costs of modules• Modules descriptors to be published and sent

out to all employers who expressed interest and further industry contacts

Work Experience• Write handbook for EQT and ESM• One point of contact for all employers taking on

work experience students

Action Plan – areas for improvement

Future employer engagement• Employers feedback on currency of module content at

regular intervals - Course team suggest at least every 2 years

• Format to be forum based or face to face interviews so that communication is two way

Seminars and short courses• Investigate possibility of holding seminars• Cost one day courses in manual handling, spraying,

safe working in the equine industry.• Investigate offering these to all students as additional

qualifications that the students would fund

Conclusion