Institutional Context
Summary
Established in 1893, Writtle University College (the University College) has been producing leaders in the land-based and animal industries and organisations for more than 120 years. The University College is one of the oldest specialist institutions in the UK and offers a range of land-based, animal, design and sport courses at various levels of academic study including Postgraduate, Undergraduate, Further Education and Short Courses. Our facilities and resources, based on our picturesque campus of approximately 220 hectares, are used to enhance the student learning experience, enabling them to gain both theory and practical skills whilst studying with us, as well as providing expertise for research and knowledge exchange. We have a history of achieving excellence and being recognised as a market leader and we have produced award-winning alumni that have gone on to become leaders in their industry. Our links with industry partners and community engagement provided us opportunities to develop several KE activities, making us a KE rich University.
Institutional context
Writtle University College (WUC) is a small, specialist independent Higher Education Institution (HEI). Writtle College was initially established in 1893 and since 2016 it has gained the status of a university college. The institute has been producing leaders in the land-based industries for over 120 years, attracting students from over 50 countries. The University College is set in a 170 hectare estate approximately 50 km from central London. The curriculum offers an established suite of undergraduate and taught postgraduate awards, together with postgraduate research degrees, supporting WUC’s vision. The main contribution made by research at the moment is the very respectable level of outreach it has produced with a wide range of sector organisations. WUC offers outstanding opportunities for KE activity, including: centre of sport & health; canine unity; equestrian facilities; animal collection; farm; commercial canine clinic; agriculture/sustainability centre (econics), amongst other. These facilities provide a fertile ground for intellectual knowledge from WUC to engage to KE activities, inside and outside WUC, reaching international level.
The University College’s mission is to ‘Transform lives and the environment through inspiring education’. And one of the four pillars that underpin WUC aspirations is to be: “A business partner of choice and preferred provider of expert training and consultancy for the businesses and vocational sectors served by the University College.” Therefore, we are proud of our engagement with industry focused research and knowledge exchange. Although we are a knowledge exchange rich University, in the absence of HEIF, most KE activities have been developed in a more informal way over years. In 2021-22, Writtle University College celebrated the KE funding for smaller providers not in receipt of HEIF, and we were able to create a better strategy to make these KE activities more meaningful and robust. A wide range of projects gained support from the Research England Higher Education Innovation Fund. Our animal teams worked with industry partners to establish a pig behaviour and welfare centre and research sow nutrition Our land-based teams have partnership with agriculture industries for the use vertical farming to produce high-quality, disease-free propagules, and a cluster of animal and land-based team has developed a KE project on the production of invertebrates for animal feed, alongside insect farms, aligning with the Government’s published Industrial Strategy Priorities for Clean Growth and Transforming Food Production. Our animal therapy team has worked towards decreasing injury risk in sport dogs in collaboration with canine associations. And our canine team has established a video library for pet behaviour and training professionals. In addition, our sports department is proud to be supporting behavioural change in at-risk youths through engagement in physical activity. WUC has an evolving knowledge exchange environment created through our exceptional facilities and expert staff. Our strategy is to continue to develop these further in order to maximise our ability for research and knowledge exchange and to build sustainability of the KE activities to reach even more industry and community partners.
For further information, please send queries to roberta.godoy@writtle.ac.uk
Local Growth and Regeneration
Summary of approach
WUC is situated just two miles from the city of Chelmsford and 35 minutes from both central London and Southend-on-Sea. WUC actively engages and supports local industries in the form of facilities, technical advice, product innovation and testing and higher level skills. We offer access to excellent facilities for applied research on one site, combining livestock, arable, glasshouse, equine & canine therapy and behaviour facilities which are unmatched in the East of England. WUC has worked with industry partners to bring KE projects in Essex including the development of Solar/Off-grid technology for vertical farming systems. We have also actively participated in important decision-making panels such as the Essex Climate Change Commission, to provide expertise in this key area.
Aspect 1: Strategy
Strategically WUC works, towards industry and community partnership, in close alignment to the national, local and regional growth and regeneration strategies within its niche specialisms (animal, agriculture, equine/canine and sport). Furthermore, through undergraduate, postgraduate degrees, short courses and apprenticeship training WUC is generator of skilled labour into the region.
The strategic KE objectives of WUC have been aligned in part with the key growth sectors for Essex, particularly “Clean energy” (sustainability/agriculture) and “Life Sciences” (sports) (Figure1), as well as meeting the Government’s published Industrial Strategy Priorities for Clean Growth and Transforming Food Production.
Figure 1. Key growth Sectors for Essex
WUC has a long history of working with the above industry sectors, and trains new entrants to work via live projects, placements, industry CPD and product trials.
The 2021/22 KE funded projects helped strengthen WUC’s capacity and capability to work in partnership with others to deliver post-Covid societal and economic benefits. The funded projects were predominantly focused in our core subject areas of animal and plant sciences, and aimed to enhance efficiency and productivity, or overcome challenges specified by our industry partners. We were able to use our specialist knowledge to develop projects that addressed industry need, and have disseminated this work via conferences, industry forums and partner networks. Sharing our work as part of a regional DFE funded Skills Accelerator project and by supporting Essex County Council’s developing innovation strategy means we have been able to reach out to a wider pool of businesses, which, in turn, is generating future demand in relation to human and animal health, agri-tech and precision agriculture and horticulture. We have sought to develop projects in areas where we see long term demand for partnerships and have seen an excellent response regarding interest in working with us on new projects in 2022/23.
At a regional level we are part of the Enabling Innovation: Research to Application (EIRA) network, which supports KE projects in East England, which has supported sustainable and green energy agriculture projects at WUC. In 2022/23 we worked as part of regional skill development project funded by DFE to build skills meeting industry needs on agri-tech and agrifood. Our niche areas are important support the UK economy in general for agriculture, sustainability, animal production and health. We also have representation in the Essex Climate Action Commission, an independent body set up by Essex County Council to advise on how best to tackle the climate challenge and become a net zero emissions county. Internationally, we have advisors in international bodies such as the Centre for Econics & Ecosystem. Furthermore, our sports team delivers a broad range of projects both regionally and nationally such as a partnership with Reach Every Generation (REG) aiming base to devise a training programme that their trainee staff can replicate to coach and mentor other young people at risk from gang culture.
We are committed to growing our institution, with a high degree of focus in supporting local growth and regeneration, and aligning our KE activities with regional and national priorities, such as agri-tech and health.
Aspect 2: Activity
Aligning to our and regional/national strategies we have delivered a broad range of projects at a
local level. Many have had national or international reach through our connectedness with the industries we serve. Some exemplar projects are listed below.
Apprenticeships
We offer a range of apprenticeship courses, allowing skilled workers to return to regional industry with new knowledge. We have apprenticeship programmes in Animal Care, & Welfare; Arborist; Horse Care; Vet Nursing; Horticulture and Landscaping; Golf Greenkeeping; Sports Turf Operative; and a new Land-based Service Engineering (LBSE) 'Technician' Apprenticeship.
Crop Production & Post Harvest Technologies
We have recently been working on innovative production systems with iGrowing Ltd (https://igrowing.co.uk/), a sister company of Plant Raisers Ltd - the largest propagator of salad crops in the UK, using solar powered growing systems. iGrowing and WUC were awarded an EIRA Research & Development Grant to conduct vital research to further develop their prototype DC based LED growing systems in preparation of its market launch.https://eira.ac.uk/case-study/eira-supports-collaboration-for-off-grid-dc-based-led-lit-vertical-farming-systems/. This project has enabled Writtle to purchase a £100k vertical farming/LED systems to be used for the KE project. Vertical Farming is emerging as a powerful technology as it helps to maximise space use efficiency; improve crop growth; reduce both production costs and carbon footprint; and ultimately increases Food Security. In this regard, it can also open new horizons in areas such as urban farming; LED Test Grow laboratories; growth chambers; and growing projects utilising shipping containers and warehouses.
The initial EIRA funded project provided a solid foundation for extending our KE activities and in 2022 WUC received knowledge exchange funding from Research England which enabled our Horti-tech team to run exciting research projects aiming to extend the application of vertical farming to crops beyond leafy vegetables/micro salads which currently make up the mainstay of production in this industry. In this regard, our team is engaged in KE collaboration trialling strawberry and ornamental aromatics production with support from Palmstead Nurseries and Hugh Low Farms. (Figure 2).
An approach from BEIS led to a partnership with environmental engineering and construction company Consolid, trialling an innovative water retention product ahead of a farm scale trial in Botswana. In 2020-21 we committed to move our farming model to one of regenerative agriculture, securing 25K from our regional NFU. A key element is the integration of livestock into regenerative cropping systems with an emphasis on animal welfare, food production and land management.
Figure 2. Examples of Industry partnership on Agri-tech
We have also recently firmed MOU with local industries to share knowledge for their growth. An example is our partnership with Smartkas, based in Harlow in Essex, to develop pathways to employment and CPD for their controlled environment agriculture business, including apprenticeships, short courses and micro credentials plus research/ knowledge exchange opportunities in the area of smart farming.
We have also developed industry partnership focused on education. For instance, CNH Industrial (manufacturers of Case IH and New Holland agricultural machinery), and WUC’s knowledge team are delivering the CNH Land-based Service Engineering Technician Apprenticeship programme in England. The Apprenticeship Standard provides agricultural engineering training for leading national and international companies, with apprentices benefitting from expert tutoring on WUC's land-based estate.
Hort-tech
In 2022, our Hort-tech team started an exciting knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with APS Salad (https://apsgroup.uk.com/) UK's leading supplier of British tomatoes. The partnership aimed to test, validate and optimise production systems to address some of the major challenges in British tomato production. More importantly, this project will support future generations of students, offering hands-on opportunities to understand the latest technological advancements and learn methods on how to sustainably produce crops. Because of the excellent progress made during the first phase, APS Group Ltd has decided to take this partnership to the next level by offering an Internship to candidate students, who will be working on this KTP project in 2023. During the internship, candidate student will be working at an APS site based on the Isle of Wight under excellent mentorship of their growing manager, learning about growing process, technology, formula, energy and environment. For the second phase of this KTP, we have also a Dutch company on board known as Crop Health Vision (https://chvint.com/) which is another example of how these collaboration can develop and help WUC to conduct pioneer research project, whilst training a new generation of highly skilled graduates who are ready to join the industry and play an instrumental role within the landscape of 21st century crop production.
Precision Livestock Farming
Recent success in using pump priming Knowledge Exchange funding from Research England has allowed the development of a Pig Behaviour and Welfare Innovation Centre and a Precision Sheep Management Innovation Centre. WUC has invested around £60k on equipment for these centres. These combine use of HD video recording of animal units, with data streams including automated weighing of sows, state of the art handling and weighing systems for sheep management, with the aim of improving the use of data on the farm for better livestock welfare and production. These KE activities have included, but are not limited to the development of a protocol to test a Hipradermic ® device compared with the current vaccine systems and its impacts on health and welfare of post weaned pigs. A protocol was co-created with Jon McKechnie, HIPRA and West Point vets and is now being used across 240 piglets, and the outcomes will be presented at a national conference with publication to follow. This protocol was presented for feedback at the AHDB Essex Pig Discussion Group meeting, which received excellent feedback. Another KE project developed recently was in partnership with Kemin Industries, involving trialling of a Bacillus sp. PB6 on the pig microbiome, and investigating the effects of manipulating sow and piglet diets. This project has analysed sow feeding behaviour supported by data from automatic weighing systems. Another industry-led project was developed with global chemical solution provider, Brenntag. The work has looked at the impact that sanitised water can have on pig health and welfare, using Brenntag's proprietary chlorine dioxide technology. The treatment program was installed in September 2020 as part of WUC's working Pig Behaviour and Welfare Innovation Centre. The water is directed to the weaning shed, where we have monitored the effects on pigs at an age when they are especially vulnerable to pathogens.
Canine Facilities
Our canine facilities supports the local and regional growth by providing commercial therapy/hydrotherapy clinics and behavioural clinics. The Canine Therapy Clinics, led by WUC academics, utilises our expertise and facilities to enhance canine rehabilitation, as well as providing community support by rehabilitating Essex Police Dogs and retired greyhounds from Clarks Farm Rescue Centre. Our facilities are also used by the Dogs Trust to deliver their classes. We have also worked with leading stakeholders across the sporting dog industry such as the British Flyball Association in efforts to identify injury risk factors and make the sport safer for dogs. The Behaviour Academy and Pet Behaviour Clinic is another commercial development that offers behavioural support to a range of species and is run by WUC’s staff. The clinic is developing partnerships with industry professionals and specialist organisations, through sponsorship, referrals and consultancy, research opportunities, education, knowledge exchange, or other opportunities. For 2023, as part of new investment on the canine facilities, we will see an expansion on these services.
The industry KE projects are mainly focused on products trial. Recently, we have worked with a US manufacturer to develop a new no-pull harness design, testing different prototypes to achieve one that provides a better experience for owners and dogs.
Feeding the Future: Developing the production of invertebrates for feed
This area aims to understand invertebrate interactions, with a particular interest in the role of inter-individual variation in invertebrate behaviour, as well as understanding how we can improve ethical practices in the production of insect protein. With a growing European interest in the development insect protein, this KE area will have a significant impact on the development of the first ethical and welfare standards for insect production on an industrial scale, which could place this institute on the forefront of supporting industry both in the UK and internationally. Our expertise is unique, as while there are significant ethical frameworks controlling the production of vertebrates, there are no ethical frameworks governing the production of invertebrates, which gives the UK the opportunity to become a world leader in this area. The invertebrate ethical production area is also locally valuable, as Essex hosts several invertebrate farming industries including established firms like Peregrine Livefoods and start-ups such as Reflycle. This area has also received KE funding from Research England (HEIF). We are establishing an invertebrates production unit on site, and currently we have a small colony of black soldier fly. These will be harvested for experimental use as animal feed in 2023. The establishment of this colony is an important step in developing future projects using this facility and enabled testing of husbandry methods. Furthermore, the project enabled a collaborative discussion with stakeholders SWP on their use of invertebrate products which will inform our future production. Under this agreement , the Reflycle brand, Reflycle website and online selling platforms will be available for student use as a start-up business enterprise. The circular economic model is key to the regenerative principles we are trying to embed.
Equine Training and Development Centre
Our equine facilities provide a fertile ground for industry partnership. For instance, we have engaged with both the saddle and tack industry testing new saddles design (e.g. Natural Horsemanship Saddles), safety collars, and other therapy devices. A strong industry KE activity for us is in the nutrition and supplement sector. We have recently partnered with Equine Products UK (EPUK) to test their hoof supplements. Dengie Horse Feeds has also received KE expert advice on fibres and chewing rate, amongst other for horses. Our facilities are used by external industry partners like British Breeding Futurity; British Eventing; and small business rider biomechanics specialist who uses our riding simulator to deliver sessions to their clients. Students also engages with industry through networking events, but also had a good engagement with British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) by having received BETA Thesis of the Year Award in 2019 and 2022.
Aspect 3: Results
Examples of the results we have achieved are listed below.
Crop Production & Post Harvest Technologies + Hort-Tech
Since the start of the vertical farming/LED systems KE Project, we have collected a huge amount of data and seen some very exciting preliminary outcomes. Journal articles are also in the process of being submitted to peer review publications. REesults have also been formally presented to industry partners, which has encouraged them to invest more. This has allowed us tolook more in depth into the application of this technology and opportunities it can create. More importantly, other leading industry providers are keen to start a collaboration with us and investigate the opportunities. In this regard, we have started a collaboration with Syngenta (https://www.syngenta.com/en), trialling one of their latest lettuce varieties under our Vertical/LED farming system. We have also noticed a high level of interest in the units on open days. We believe the KE projects has a big draw towards the demand and future application of LED production as an institutional asset. In 2023, we have several industries seeking renewable energy investments, so we are expecting exciting developments on the coming months.
Canine Facilities
Writtle University is the lead provider of physiotherapy and hydrotherapy for dogs in the East of England. Our onsite clinics oversees approximately 52 clients a month, mostly from Essex area, employs three therapists and one technician and serves several veterinary practices. The Behaviour Academy and Pet Behaviour Clinic has started in 2022 and has already seen several dogs from Essex area and beyond, through remote consultations, and has engaged in community projects. We are unique in this area, possibly nationally, for having an educational behaviour clinic where students participate and learn the job in a commercial behaviour clinic working with paying clients.
On the industry linked KE, we have delivered a report on our knowledge of how harnesses affects dogs physiology and biomechanics as well as developing a prototype in collaboration with a US harness manufacturer. In 2023, we will be testing the prototype in live situations to inform the industry of best practice.
Whilst we have many examples of the impact of our KE activity locally, as we work towards the KE Concordat, we will create a better recording of this information to improve the practice and communication of our local KE activity.
Public & Community Engagement
Summary of approach
WUC engages with the community and public at a local (Writtle and City of Chelmsford), regional (Essex) and national (communities that are aligned to our subject specialisms) level, with some international engagement. We promote science and community learning and services throughout all our specialisms. We achieve this aim through onsite activities that utilises our unique estate and facilities, and through support and contribution to external events and community groups.
Initiatives include the Essex Schools Food & Farming Day for both school and public participants,
opening the doors of WUC to all. Initiatives in all areas have enhanced our KE reputation whilst providing community engagement and specialist support for the wider economy and society.
Aspect 1: Strategy
WUC’s strategic goals for public and community are funded in our mission Transform lives and the environment through inspiring education’. This mission reflects our desire to transform community life, as well as our students, through education. In the recent years, we have built a strong portfolio of engagement locally, regionally, nationally, and also internationally in several aspects, and we hold a series of public and community focused events.
Our areas of work are of a specialist nature , so our target community and public is quite broad. KE activities engage with Essex industries and community, but also with national communities. Our support to Met Police and Essex Police Dog units; or The Essex Food and Farming Day are examples of local/regional strategic community engagement, whilst our KE projects engaging with British Flyball Association or the UK International Search and Rescue unit are examples of national engagement.
Aspect 2: Support
Our staff participate in numerous community projects, inside and outside WUC. As well as specialist projects, such as the Vertical Farming (EIRA funded project), staff also work in creating practical solutions for industry, using our specialist facilities. Our best asset for public and community engagement is our specialist facilities, representing significant investment from WUC. Facilities are used for teaching and research, a public engagement space and are also open to our local community to engage with us and share knowledge in an accessible way, including the Essex Schools Food & Farming Day and Celebration of Horticulture events. Our equine, canine and sports facilities serve the local community on an ongoing basis as exemplified by our canine therapy centre which rehabilitates dogs from the community.
An example of WUC facilities support was opening them to the NHS during COVID-19 for NHS trainers to train ambulance drivers and paramedics. This ‘Transition to Practise Programme’ helped to provide highly skilled, vital frontline workers provide essential support as the UK addressed the challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Historically, the institution was doing a wide range of “pro bono” KE but lacked the capacity to support staff in applying for funds to support this work. With the 2021/22 2021/22 award of funds to HEIS not in receipt of HEIF, we were able to support staff activities by allocating time for KE projects. In 2023, a Head of Research was appointed in 2023, who will oversee the KE strategy, KE activities and work towards KE Concordat.
Our Student Spotlight Award “Community Excellence” recognises students for the role they play in society; whilst the “Enterprise and Innovation Excellence” recognises engagement with industry or independent projects including start-ups.
WUC participates in events to support public and community engagement. Some are hosted onsite and target specific communities, whilst others are external events that we participate in.
Onsite activities include:
- European Turtle Alliance (ETA)
- iPet short courses.
- AI Tech in equine industry (EIRA funded event)
- Understanding Your Horse
- BHS courses
Examples of support for external events:
- -Woodbridge Climate Summit 2022
- -UK Equine Student Conference 2020
- -'Exploring the role of Biosphere Regions in a VUCA world' (international reach)
- -British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (BWRC) Symposium
- -International Committee for Equine Infectious Diseases Conference (IEIDC)
Aspect 3: Activity
Canine
The Canine Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy Clinic operates both commercial (see LG&R section) and pro-bono sessions. Free canine rehabilitation clinics are available to general public and organizations such as the Essex Police Dog Unit and Clarks Farm Rescue Centre (http://www.clarksfarmgreyhounds.org.uk/dogs-for-rehoming.htm). The Essex Police Dog Unit works in partnership with WUC, and we have provided gait analysis services, clinical assessment, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and hydrotherapy. Several police dogs have been seen at our clinics, but one in particular is noteworthy: retired PD Baloo (https://fb.watch/jA5xiYFR8u/).
We have also provided training and support to the Metropolitan Police Dog Unit and the UK International Search and Rescue (UKISAR) dogs. Degenerative musculoskeletal disease is the primary factor for retirement for working dogs, therefore in 2021/2022, we conducted training sessions for both services in terms of identifying lameness and preventing injuries to increase longevity, reducing costs to society.
Besides the commercial side (see LG&R section), the Behaviour Academy and Pet Behaviour Clinic has developed a Video library for behaviour and training professionals. In this KE funds allocated to non HEIF HEIs in 2021/22 KE project, resources are provided for Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) practitioners for a range of dog training classes and consultations, with educational information shared with ABTC members.
Big Walk event was held in support of Canine Arthritis Management (CAM). CAM is a veterinary driven online resource aimed at caregivers of dogs with arthritis, as well as professionals working in the field. The event aimed to raise awareness of canine osteoarthritis and gave students an opportunity to explore the WUC’s countryside campus.
We have worked alongside the British Flyball Association (BFA) in collaboration with Hartpury Univeristy, to create a safer flyball sport for dogs. This work focused on elucidating injury risk factors and effects of flyball design (angulation) to inform changes in policy. Results have been shared with the BFA committee as preliminary evidence regarding changes in the sport rules. WUC has invested £55k towards equipment used in this project, with phase 1 completed, aiming to give continuity to understand further concerns within sport.
Every year, the Kennel Club Health and Welfare Subgroup, releases a list of ‘areas for investigation’ that their owner community are interested in understanding. In 2022, we have been involved in discussions on areas linked with dog agility biomechanics, and following a focus group, research on the effects of A-frame has been instigated and the project will be developed in 2023.
Equine Training and Development Centre
Our equine facilities are used for different community groups and to deliver multiple events such as delivering an equine practical skills experience day for SEN schools. We encourage students to organise community events and as such have seen student-led events open to the public such as an “Equine Performance Showcase” and “An evening of equine behaviour”).
Furthermore, we have open days for the public. Recently we celebrated a successful open day to our Lordships Stud, with over 200 visitors touring the cutting-edge facilities, as part of a fundraising event arranged by students in support of World Horse Welfare.
WUC staff also help with the rehabilitation and training of World Equine Welfare rescue horses in preparation for re-homing. Our team is also engaged in sharing knowledge through a range of National and International courses, webinars, conferences (e.g., UK Equine Student Conference).
Centre of Sport and Health
In 2022, WUC opened its Centre of Sport and Health to support students, the local community and professional athletes. We work closely with more than 25 organisations and partners, including local mental health support groups and the Mid and South Essex NHS Cardiac Rehabilitation Team, which have already used the facilities allowing us to offer industry-relevant courses, as well as providing a hub for health and care services.
Furthermore, the Centre also hosts a multi award-winning health and wellness club, Wing Tsun self-defense, and free Pilates classes, all of which have strengthened our vision of welcoming community health to the campus. In addition, it features a gym and fitness suite, extensive playing fields, equestrian facilities, bike trails, sports fields, 3x3 basketball courts, indoor courts and a reservoir for outdoor activities. The WUC Football Academy is run in partnership with Leyton Orient FC providing high level coaching and exceptional work experience opportunities within the club. Similarly, the WUC Rugby Academy offers students the opportunity to receive professional coaching. Lecturers and students gain industry-based experience, coaching sports and physical activities to Year 3 and Year 6 pupils at local primary schools.
The community support is also seen in our partnership with This Girls Ability, a non-profit organisation providing opportunities for disabled girls & young women and with Andy's Man Club taking care of men’s mental health in our community.
Our team is also involved in KE throughout media and online resources, such as podcasts and a series of social media videos, promoting game-specific skills and athletic development for basketball players during the COVID-19. Furthermore, the Sports team offers online resources to support schools, where experienced lecturers offer bite-sized, sessions on key subject areas.
As part of the 2021/22 KE funded projects, WUC has partnered with Reach Every Generation Ltd (REG), engaging with troubled children and adolescents from the local community through physical activity. WUC has also proudly sponsored community awards like the Active Wellbeing Award, a category from Active Essex Awards.
Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture
Professor Hobson runs weekly community stakeholder workshops on behalf of Essex Climate Action Commission. The aim is to identify ways to mitigate the effects of climate change, improve air quality, reduce waste across Essex and increase the amount of green infrastructure and biodiversity in the county. It also explores how to attract investment in natural capital and low carbon growth. Stakeholders include a broad spectrum of local communities: Environment Agency, Natural England, The National Trust, Wildlife Trusts, amongst other. Our task is to facilitate community-based climate action and nature recovery planning strategies. Prof Hobson has also been invited to join the board of North Essex Farmers Cluster as they hope to scale-up the use of MARISCO (www.marisco.training) within the farming sector. The MARISCO method is provided by the Centre of Econics and Ecosystem, which has been jointly established by Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, Germany, and WUC. The MARISCO has been involved in workshops and projects in Germany, Ukraine, China, Korea, Guatemala, Peru, UK, Albania, Russia and many more (https://youtu.be/Yb_YDLNJrE4).
Our expert academic staff has delivered a 'Climate: Nature Crisis and the Human Condition' talk to local organisations, exploring the ways in which individuals can make a positive impact. Furthermore, WUC and Liberty Produce, with EIRA support, promote public webinar series annually, bringing together stakeholders. The events have considered major issues facing the horticulture and agriculture sectors, based around key themes like ‘Transforming Agriculture and its Workforce for a Sustainable Future' in 2021; and ‘Examining food production systems and identifying skills gaps' in 2022. All events were free-of-charge, in line with WUC and Liberty Produce's ongoing commitment to education and knowledge-sharing.
Our regenerative and circular society has delivered the event '2050: The Future of Food’ attracting visitors with an interest in regenerative agriculture and sustainable production. Panel members highlighted challenges faced by the agriculture sector and described the importance of access to affordable, nutritionally-dense food, sharing their considerable experience within the sectors of sustainability and agri-food.
Furthermore, WUC staff has delivered a talk on IUCN CEM Forest Ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of the essential ecosystem forests and the need to affording strict protection to remaining intact forest landscapes (IFLs). The team of forest experts, including our academic expertise, will shortly produce a paper recommending that IFLs become learning landscapes for developing ecosystem-based practices of sustainable forest management in commercial forests and plantations.
The event Celebration of Horticulture brought together industry members, academics and members of the public for a day of talks, demonstrations and activities in collaboration with RHS and other organisations. Students showcased their knowledge on popular topics as creating pots for shady spots and hanging baskets.
Finally, we have also engaged in general public events like The Essex Schools Food & Farming Day which takes place annually in partnership with Essex County Council and involves over sixty primary schools and around 3000 children every year. Our staff and students help our local community by growing plants to be circulated to local schools and helping pupils to learn about how our food is produced and how best we can care for our environment. And horticulture students have grown plants for The Suns Lifestyle Outdoor Living Garden for the 2022 RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.
Animal Sciences
Our Animal Sciences team provide vital support to the Zoos community, notably Colchester Zoo, London Zoo, Linton Zoo and Paradise Wildlife Park. Several KE projects have been developed over the years, generating knowledge on behaviour and welfare, shared with the stakeholders. Our students also participate in annual visits for students to work in wildlife projects, for instance, in 2022, students went to West Africa for two weeks of conservation work with Project Wild Gambia. In 2022, we have also seen the plans to in 2023 expand our animal collection, aimed to students, and general public.
Our staff has also been involved in a series of international L&T workshops under DAAD and TOPAS projects. Examples would be workshops on embedding digital skills in teaching learning and assessment approaches for employability for university and college teaching staff from Ukraine and 'Promoting Modern Teaching in Agricultural Sciences at Universities in Countries of the Former Soviet Union'
Landscape Architecture, Garden Design and Art
WUC organises a Design Degree Show, open to the general public. The annual event displays the very best creative talent from undergraduate and postgraduate students. Companies within the landscape architecture and garden design sectors drew attention to outstanding work with a series of awards. https://www.wuc-designshow.co.uk/
Aspect 4: Enhancing practice
Our industry and public engagement activities, being predominantly pro-bono, have grown organically and although we have many excellent examples of KE, we do not have a clear method for assessment and communication of all activities, besides of HE-BCI report. We aim to improve reporting and oversight of all activities as we work towards KE Concordat. We do however monitor public attendance in events, for instance we had 60 schools and around 3000 children attending the latest
Essex Schools Food & Farming Day and that more than 120 people from Suffolk Bird Group, Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Woodbridge Wildlife Group attended 'Climate: Nature Crisis and the Human Condition'.Aspect 5: Building on success
Until recently, KE activities were developed in a more informal way, and official reports, besides of HE-BCI, were not made. Since our receipt of KE funds in 2021/22, we started reporting the impact of funded projects. The funding enabled us to make progress in plans to develop our applied research work as part of the new University College strategy. We have supported projects that enhance our ability to undertake KE work in future, building on industry links and networks, including with other HEIs.
Each main area at WUC has a lead working across their KE activities, and the Head of Research, appointed in 2023, will ensure KE activities are mapped and reported. We have increased our number of KE activities through Research England funding, greater communication with partners and identifying potential industry or community projects. Knowledge, through a range of activities, is shared with a range of audience/communities. We have engaged with many thousands of citizens across the UK, and internationally through events and community focused activities.
WUC has strong industry connections and shares results with communities through governing bodies (e.g., Essex Climate Change Committee), charities and associations (e.g., British Flyball Association; Welfare Horse World)., social media and lay publications (e.g., Your Horse).
Support from UKRI regional KE team has also helped signpost further partnership opportunities building on our work with University of Essex in plant science for example or Hartpury University in animal biomechanics. However, we still operate on a very small scale in comparison with bigger institutions. A 5.8 million OFS capital grant will enhance our laboratories and animal facilities further from 2023/24. This will enhance of KE activities capacity, and we hope this boosts our industry and community engagement.
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