From nomadic grazing systems near inner Mongolia to tropical farming in the Yangtze River Delta, a group of Charles Sturt University (CSU) students will gain insights into agriculture from a study tour to China.

 

The 21 undergraduate students from CSU’s School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences in Orange and Wagga Wagga will spend two weeks in China from Sunday 23 June.

 

Australia’s primary industry exports to China are worth $7 billion annually while we import $1.5 billion worth of agricultural products each year.

 

Manager of CSU Global and tour leader Dr Shevahn Telfser said the tour will give students a deeper understanding of this key agricultural market.

 

 “As the Chinese market continues to grow in both the quantity and the quality of the products they demand it is important for agribusiness professionals to grow in their understanding of the culture and needs of this community,” she said.

 

“Charles Sturt University graduates will be employed in a variety of jobs such as marketing, policy development and implementation, and finance.

 

“Within each of these disciplines there is likely to be a strong demand for people that can undertake these activities on a global front.”

 

Dr Telfser said visiting China is also an opportunity for sight-seeing and cultural activities including visiting the Terracotta Warriors and The Great Wall of China.

 

This is the second agricultural tour to China in the past four years and is supported by CSU Global, a University initiative to provide the opportunity for students to experience a broad range of international study experiences.

 

Dr Telfser said such experiences build professional contacts and help prepare students to work in a global industry.

 

“Students studying in the field of primary industries are going to be moving into a dynamic industry. They will be faced with the requirements for greater sustainability in producing and distributing agricultural commodities to an increasing world population,” she said.

 

“To achieve this it is essential to foster cooperation between countries, so that the most efficient production and processing techniques can be shared for the benefit of the global community.”

 

The tour to China is partially funded by the Australian Government’s Study Overseas Short-term Mobility Program through the Department of Innovation Science, Research and Tertiary Education.