Saudi graduates complete Harper Adams agri-business training

Posted 3 June 2015

A group of graduates from Saudi Arabia have completed eight weeks of training at Harper Adams University. 

The eight men are undertaking the Saudi Agricultural Livestock Investment Company (SALIC) Development Programme, designed to enable selected graduates to learn and develop business skills with a focus on agribusiness. 

SALIC is working with universities known for their strengths in agribusiness-related fields of study to educate and train selected SALIC staff through the intensive one-year programme, which imparts theoretical, technical and practical training.

The first SDP cohort will have completed a total of five-and-a-half months of study when they commence market-relevant work experience in phase two. 

As the Harper Adams training came to a close, Dr Mitch Crook, Taught Postgraduate Programmes Manager, said: “I am sad to see them go because they really bought into this programme and contributed. It has been great to witness this collaboration, which will hopefully improve global agriculture and build links around the world.”

The SDP programme was launched for the first time in January and will run annually. The students’ eight weeks at Harper Adams, with a solid 30 hours of training each week, finished on May 29. 

During their final week at the university, they went on a field trip, organised by REALM course manager Simon Keeble and Rhydian Scurlock-Jones, from Savills, to an organic farm near Peplow, Shropshire, in order to consider the key factors when valuing farms in the UK. Mr Keeble also organised a visit to Halls Machinery sales, for the students to consider the key factors when valuing farm machinery for company purchases.

A small ceremony was held before they left Harper Adams to spend a week in London. Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Mills, told the group: “We have been really pleased to have you here and the feedback that you have provided will be used to improve the course for potential future cohorts.

“The time has gone very quickly and you have worked extremely hard. Very well done to all of you and we hope to hear from you again in the future.”

SALIC conceived SDP as part of the company’s Learning and Development vision. The programme is aimed at grooming young Saudi graduates to be efficient financial analysts in the agribusiness sector. It will qualify the new graduates as efficient managers adept at diverse managerial tasks.

Candidates who wish to be part of the SALIC Development Programme are required to undergo a stringent selection process that includes proven assessment methods, behavioural test and panel interviews.