By SRUC's Principal Wayne Powell

AS WE reach the end of the most demanding year many of us will have ever experienced, I have never been more proud to lead and serve Scotland’s Rural College than I have during 2020.

Faced with unprecedented circumstances, we rose to the challenge, with SRUC’s values and distinctive purpose coming to the fore.

Among our many highlights were meeting our student number targets – a truly outstanding achievement in such a turbulent year; rolling out a refreshed vision and mission, positioning the Natural Economy as a concept that can drive Scotland’s economic recovery – with SRUC at its heart; and establishing a joint testing facility between our veterinary colleagues and the Moredun to deliver more than 2200 Covid-19 tests for the NHS per week.

These achievements and momentum place SRUC in a strong position to grasp new opportunities in 2021, where our distinctive purpose, specialisms and energy will be of utmost importance.

While it will doubtless bring its challenges, I also know that there is much to be positive about as we look to the new year. The vaccine rollout has provided much-needed hope that we will be able to see our loved ones properly again before too long, and my biggest hope for the year ahead is that we might soon see and feel our campuses start to bustle with life again.”