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Education and Training
Research centre supports development of equine students Moreton Morrell College students have discovered the impact treatments can have on stress in horses after tapping into the expertise of a state-of-the-art research centre. Maya Grist and Kaya Wales are both studying degrees at the college and have been conducting research into cortisol in horses using saliva swab tests conducted at the Agri-Tech Research Centre at Pershore College – both part of college group WCG. The pair conducted separate research projects, with Maya researching the impact of cryotherapy on horse stress levels and Kaya focusing on the effect that the use of essential oils can have on the animal. Maya, 21 from Swindon, is studying a three-year degree in equine therapy and rehabilitation. Her research looked heart rates, behaviour and saliva swaps of cortisol. If a horse has long-term higher levels of cortisol production, it can affect the rate that an injury can heal.
Kaya, 25 from Stratford upon Avon, is in the final year of her equine science degree. She tested the effects of seven different essential oils on seven horses from Oxstalls farm and racing stud. Since essential oils have become a popular therapy, Kaya set out to study how these oils affected equine behaviour, heart rate and stress levels. Dr Anjana Patel and Professor Roy Kennedy at the Agri-Tech Research Centre supported Kaya and Maya in completing their tests and processing results. Dr Patel added: “We were pleased to be able to support Maya and Kaya with their projects. It shows the versatility of the equipment we have at Pershore College that we were able to carry out these tests for them.
Horse in stables at Moreton Morrell College
“We supported them both with measuring the cortisol levels in horse saliva. It was interesting for us to see other applications of our equipment and a pleasure to be able to support their research.”
For more information visit www.wcuc.ac.uk and https://wcg.ac.uk/page/486/agri-tech
“We were pleased to be able to support Maya and Kaya with their projects. It shows the versatility of the equipment we have at Pershore College that we were able to carry out these tests for them."
Skills hub plans gather pace The launch of a Digital Skills and Innovation Centre and training restaurant for North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College in Nuneaton town centre has progressed after approval was provided by the college’s board to move forward with the next steps in the planning process. The new facility will be built within the former Co-op building in Abbey Street with an £8M investment from the government’s Towns Fund.
It’s anticipated that the new stateof-the-art centre, due to open in 2024, will help to regenerate skills and careers opportunities in the town, enable access to digital skills training, and provide an incubation space for business start-ups. It will also support the hospitality sector through a training restaurant that will be open to the public. The facility is expected to serve over 2,600 students over the next ten years, supporting 290 business start-ups and delivering value to the economy worth £13.4M.
Plans for the additional campus will be developed in liaison with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, the My Town Nuneaton Board, Warwickshire County Council and the Transforming Nuneaton project on its next steps.
Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, principal and chief executive of NWSLC, said: “This training restaurant will provide students with a wonderful chance to learn the skills needed in the catering and hospitality industry in a new building as well as having teaching
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spaces for students. The demand for digital skills courses is increasing as more people are working from home or from retailers who want to develop their IT skills as their business has diversified. This will provide an opportunity to deliver on-site courses since not everyone has access to highquality technology at home.
people with their own micro or small
"The centre will also provide space and the facilities to support
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business as well as those who have an idea to set up a business. It’s an amazing opportunity for current and future students and a really good example of collaboration between education and a local authority." www.nwslc.ac.uk
“This training restaurant will provide students with a wonderful chance to learn the skills needed in the catering and hospitality industry in a new building as well as having teaching spaces for students."
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