Peter Richmond
When Peter Richmond, Regional Manager for Northeast Victoria at the Rural Finance Corporation, realized that many of the younger staff coming through the corporation had better qualifications than he did, he also realized that his existing degree was now twenty years old and that it was probably time he did something about it. Peter had seen a newspaper advertisement promoting an exciting new agribusiness masters program at the Institute of Land and Food Resources at The University of Melbourne, and never being one to shirk away from new challenges he decided to tackle this new frontier head on.
The Master of Agribusiness (coursework) is an interactive program that is delivered mostly online (with a one-week residential each year) and is aimed at people who are already holding down a full time job, or running a business, and where distance can hinder attendance at a University.
Peter thinks that the most challenging aspect of the course was actually getting started on the computer, getting into a study routine and finding the time to do it. "I readily admit to not being very computer savvy when I first started this course but now I've learned so much about computers and computer programs which is a great side benefit of this course.
"Once I got used to studying online it was great. Being in a regional location made it difficult to hook into a tertiary institution to do further studies without having to do a lot of traveling, but this course enabled me to keep working and participate in the course after hours. In fact, doing this course has made me realize just how much spare time I really did have.
"Practically though you really do need to have a good computer and a good Internet Service Provider and not be afraid to stuff things up at first. An open mind also helps to take up the challenge of the different subjects and the different software used (the mathematical content of some of the subjects was also extremely challenging). I'm fired up now and motivated to take on new challenges in many different ways."
Peter has developed a great camaraderie with other participants in the course and, as well as expanding his network of agribusiness contacts, it has given him a broader focus of agriculture and agribusiness in general. He has no plans to continue with further studies just at the moment as he feels that it's time now for a well-earned rest. However, in retrospect he does say that "Seeing what some people get doctorates for I might investigate the love life of the North-East Blue-Skinned Red-Nosed Quark!"
Further information about the Master of Agribusiness can be obtained by phoning Diane Cardinal (03) 8344 6883, or email, d.cardinal@unimelb.edu.au or visiting the website at www.agribusiness.unimelb.edu.au