'Start a new life journey' with a Nuffield Farming Scholarship
With a passion for their subject and the enthusiasm to inspire others, individuals in the fields of farming, horticulture and other rural industries take up the challenge of a Nuffield Farming Scholarship each year.
They travel overseas in search of new ideas and innovations, engage with new networks of people and expand their personal horizons. Could you be one of them?
"The search is on for entrepreneurial people aged 22 to 45 who would relish the chance to broaden their horizons through travel," explains John Stones, Director, Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust.
"Anyone with a worthwhile individual project, who is keen to travel to enhance their knowledge and who enjoys sharing information is what we are looking for. In particular, Nuffield invites people who are self-motivated, enquiring and excited about their area of interest. That area of interest could be anything related to agriculture, horticulture or forestry, or associated industries.
"The closing date for applications of November 15th is fast approaching, so don't pass up your opportunity to travel the world in search of new experiences, new ideas and more profitable ways of doing things."
Nuffield Scholarships are recognised throughout the world for building knowledge through a global experience and inspiring potential in people. Each scholarship provides a bursary towards travel and subsistence expenses for eight weeks of individual study, as well as an international briefing involving industry leaders and Nuffield Scholars from around the world.
John Stones points out: "Most scholars return from their travels with a spring in their step and a new found confidence in their abilities and ambitions. The information and knowledge they gather, the doors that are opened and the new experiences they encounter, can bring a brand new perspective to their work and their lives. They never look back.
"As the experience of our scholars shows, the many benefits of a Nuffield Scholarship far outweigh any initial worries, whether about finding the time to be away from a busy working life or family commitments, or any feelings that you are just not good enough:
"There is rarely a right time to embark on a Scholarship. Eight weeks of travel and study may sound a long time, but represents only 0.2 per cent of your total working life. It is an opportunity that should be grasped with both hands." Steve Ward NSch
"Nuffield really does open doors. The whole experience is one that will remain for a lifetime. It opened my eyes to what is going on around the world. I made contact with people I would never have met in any other way and now have a two-way network of people involved in agriculture around the world." Nick Green NSch
"The opportunity a Nuffield Scholarship provides is something money can't buy. The experiences gained are truly life changing. Nuffield Scholarships are quite simply the best example of life-long-learning." Clive Blacker NSch
"I found something I thought I had lost: my enthusiasm for farming. I also learned a great deal about myself, the wider world and its influence on UK agriculture." Mike Giffin NSch
"For many, a Nuffield Scholarship has opened their eyes, ears and their minds to the wider world, giving them the confidence to pursue their personal goals, as well as become active leaders within our industry. So what's stopping you? Miss the deadline for applications for 2011 awards and you could miss out on the chance of a lifetime."
The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust awards around 20 scholarships each year, providing travel and subsistence costs in return for a written paper and the presentation of study findings at its annual conference.
Entry for an award couldn't be simpler. All you need to do is decide what you would really like to study and why, and send in a completed application form before the deadline of 15th November 2011. Your application will require two references.
An application form for a 2011 Scholarship can be downloaded from the Nuffield website at www.nuffieldscholar.org, where further information about the scholarship scheme can be found.
Individuals interested in applying, but requiring further information, are also invited to contact John Stones on Tel. 01858 555544 (Email. nuffielddirector@aol.com).
- ends -
NOTES TO EDITOR:
For testimonials or comments from individual Scholars in your area, please contact Julie Mate Tel. 01948 667742, Mob. 07775 847123, Email. julie@ukagriculture.com. A choice of photographs and artwork can also be supplied.
- Founded in 1943, the Nuffield name and emblem (a bull riding a bicycle) both derive from the original benefactor, the late Lord Nuffield (William Morris). The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust (NFST) was subsequently established in 1947. The NFST is registered as a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity following its incorporation in July 2003.
- Funded by the agriculture and food industries, charities and trusts with agricultural objectives, as well as past scholars themselves, the Trust presents around 20 new awards each year. Applicants are aged between 25 and 45 years (inclusive), although a special award (Young Nuffield [Bob Matson] Award) is available for young people between 22 and 28 years old.
- To be eligible, applicants will already be well established in their career and demonstrate a passion for the industry they work in. Scholarships are not awarded to anybody in full-time education or to further research projects, and candidates must normally be resident in the UK. There are no requirements for academic qualifications.
- Successful candidates are those whom the Selection Committee feel will gain through self development and will contribute or innovate within their industry field, as well as share the benefits widely within their industries and wider communities after their return from study.
- The UK Trust forms part of a much wider Nuffield organisation operating in Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland and Zimbabwe, where there are similar Nuffield groups sharing the same aims and objectives. Today the Nuffield network runs to over 600 Scholars in the UK and over 1,000 worldwide.
- Interviews for 2012 Nuffield Farming Scholarships will be held in London in January 2012. Successful candidates will subsequently join overseas scholars (from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland and France) for a pre-study international conference, starting on 21st February 2012, to be staged in The Netherlands and UK. Over the forthcoming 18 months, all scholars will set out on their individual studies travelling for a minimum of eight weeks.
FURTHER INFORMATION FROM:
JOHN STONES, Director, Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust
Tel. 01858 555544 Mob. 07754 852188 Email. nuffielddirector@aol.com www.nuffieldscholar.org
ISSUED BY: JULIE MATE
Tel. 01948 667724 Mob. 07775 847123 Email: julie@ukagriculture.com
<< Back