OLDS — Olds College of Agriculture & Technology (OCAT) is launching a new agriculture communications certificate, the first of its kind, according to a college news release.
The one-year program, offered online, “prepares students for a meaningful career supporting the agriculture and agri-food industry in communications and marketing,” states the release.
The program courses focus on writing, videography, photography, marketing and audio production, strategic planning for social media, public relations and crisis communications.
Students will also complete a 14-week internship within the agriculture and agri-food industry that will provide them with work-integrated learning opportunities.
Twenty students will be accepted into the program for the fall 2023 and can apply now.
“We are very excited to offer the first communications program in the country that is focused on supporting the agriculture and agri-food industry,” Debbie Thompson, OCAT’s vice-president of academic & student experience says in the news release.
“Our students will learn both the fundamentals of marketing and communications, along with specific competencies in agriculture advocacy.”
Bertrand Bickersteth, a communications instructor at the college’s Werklund School of Agriculture says, “Agriculture has important stories to tell. Graduates from this program will be equipped to work in the industry to share these stories in meaningful ways.”
