Success Stories

Studying for a part-time MSc in Sustainable Aquaculture at St Andrews was undoubtedly hard work on top of holding down a full-time job and helping to raise a young family. However, on the flip side, emerging with a valuable qualification and a much better understanding of the key issues in global aquaculture has proved incredibly useful for my career. The course directors are very helpful and responsive, and the flexibility of the schedule makes it possible to fit in around the rest of your life. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who is genuinely motivated to gain a credible aquaculture qualification without taking a sabbatical from their career. In the post-Covid-19 era the arguments for distance learning have never been stronger and the course organisers bring a wealth of experience to the table.

I loved the modules and found them so interesting. At the start of the course I didn’t really have a huge interest in the business aspect of aquaculture, but as you introduced this throughout the course I found myself really enjoying it which meant I have changed my direction more towards this, for that I thank you greatly… I am now employed building a large RAS which will initially serve as a hatchery for lumpfish and is set to develop into other species too. I am currently designing my second aquaponics system (having learnt from a lot of mistakes in my dissertation). All of this has been made possible thanks to the Sustainable Aquaculture course so thank you for setting me up so well.

The Commonwealth Scholarships and the University of St Andrews have made a significant impact on my ability to contribute to Guyana’s aquaculture development by affording me the opportunity to be part of this programme. I’m extremely grateful to have been selected to participate in an area that desperately requires attention in awareness and the application of sustainable measures within our national strategic plan for the development of aquaculture.

For the period I have been a student at St Andrews I have really learnt new aquaculture skills that have been vital in my current career position as fisheries officer in Kenya. I have gained experience that I shall never hesitate to recommend other Kenyans with interest in acquiring aquaculture skills to consider University of St Andrews for their post graduate studies in sustainable aquaculture.

This aquaculture program has really assisted me in my professional development and getting a job promotion in late 2016 to the post of Senior Fisheries Officer (Deputy Director of Fisheries). I am in the process of applying for a six months fellowship to do a specialization in Fisheries Policy and Management from the United Nations University later this year.

I’m genuinely getting a lot out of this course and am finding it very relevant, interesting and commercially useful – which is what I was hoping for when I signed up.