Seanán
Carter

Why did you choose to study your course at Brackenhurst?

I decided to study at Brackenhurst because of its incredible facilities, the animal unit in particular was a massive driving force towards my decision. Additionally, the staff members were welcoming and encouraging whenever I got the chance to interact with them at an open day. Open days in particular were a great contributor to my decision, being informative and helpful, and with the student ambassadors helping with tours and talks, I felt a lot more confident and comfortable to make my decision.

Tell us more about your course. What do you enjoy studying the most?

The Animal Management course is a more generalised course compared to others offered at Brackenhurst, providing knowledge about many varied species of animals, this is one of the reasons I chose this course specifically, as I am able to improve my knowledge and practical skills with a much wider range, and helping to keep my options open for future employment within the animal sector. My favourite subject is exotic animal husbandry, where I got to improve my knowledge on the rarer species that are kept in the UK. However it must be said that I have thoroughly enjoyed every subject within my first year, each one is relevant and interesting, and they all link together to help solidify our understanding, something not previously experienced in other areas of education.

What do you think about the facilities available on your course and what do you use the most?

The facilities at Brackenhurst are impressive to say the least. The animal unit is an amazing facility that is open for all animal course students to visit, as well as performing employability skills and practicals there. The library is also a great area for studying and has several different areas and zones for varying methods of working, which is extremely helpful at assignment heavy times points of the year.

What do you think about Brackenhurst Campus? What do you get up to in your spare time?

My spare time is often spent with friends in the farmhouse, which is a house specifically for the students at Brackenhurst and is a great place to relax and hang out during breaks. Another good area is the main hall, with several nice areas to chill out, and is fairly quiet, making it a great spot for afternoons after lectures are done for the day.

What is your top tip for someone considering studying at Brackenhurst Campus?

My top tip is to pair up with someone on the first day, because everyone will be feeling nervous and out of their depth (even if some people hide it really well) and having that one person to share the day with will make it a lot less daunting. Sometimes that person will just be for the day, and you might not necessarily talk to them again, or they could become your closest friend, but either way pairing up for the induction days is a great way to help settle in and adjust to a new environment, help you explore and feel more comfortable before the term officially starts.

Have you been involved in any placements, work experience or volunteering as part of your course? If so, what did you do and what did you achieve?

For the Animal Management course, 300 hours of work experience is required, spread over the two years. I completed my hours at a local farm park where I was able to gain valuable experience working in the animal sector. Additionally, my work experience helped me to improve my interpersonal skills and communication in varying situations, all of which helped to improve my confidence in the working field.

Why would you recommend your course to someone considering studying it?

I would recommend this course to someone considering studying here as the subjects taught help to give a well-rounded understanding of the animal industry. Additionally, the field trips provided contribute to this as they are relevant and actively improve understanding of real world companies in relation to ethics and proper welfare. The teaching is also a contributor to the courses success, with several different approaches to learning, including practicals, tactile learning, audio and visual, as well as literary all utilised to help ensure the subject material is properly absorbed. These help to provide the student with a confident range of knowledge for industry.

What are your plans for after the course and how do you feel your course has/ will help you to achieve that goal?

After this course I plan to attend the Zoo Biology course, staying at Brackenhurst for this. After completing the course I plan to travel to New Zealand to work in industry over there. I believe that both of these courses will help me with this aspiration as they will provide me with adequate knowledge of not only the animals I plan to work with, but a greater understanding of the industry I plan to enter into.