OTTAWA, Ont. – Applications for a Nuffield Canada Scholarship, a rural leadership program, close June 30.
The Nuffield Scholarship program is available to Canadian citizens who are involved in any aspect of agriculture. Its goal is to attract mid-career men and women who are ready to challenge themselves by doing 10 weeks of self-directed international travel study to examine and research an agricultural topic they are passionate about. Once travel is completed, Scholars sum up their findings with a presentation at the Nuffield Canada annual general meeting and submit a written report.
Nuffield Scholarships are awarded to enterprising Canadians between the ages of 25 – 50(ish) with a passion for agriculture, according to a press release. “Agriculture” includes all forms of primary production including food, fibre, health care, biofuels, forestry, aquaculture and fisheries. Recipients can come from any part of agriculture, from primary production to value-added processing to governance or communications. They can be involved in any aspect of the industry including as owners, managers, employees, administrators or bureaucrats, and all industry philosophies are welcome including commercial, organic, cottage, medicinal, Indigenous and others.
This $15,000 scholarship provides individuals with an opportunity to: access the world’s most extensive network in food and farming; achieve personal development through travel and study; and deliver long-term benefits to Canadian farmers and growers, and to their industry as a whole. The experience results in personal and professional benefits, fast-tracking the scholar’s leadership development in a way that might otherwise take a lifetime to achieve, the release states. Scholars also add value to Canadian agriculture as many assume positions of greater influence in their field.
“My Nuffield scholarship has led to significant personal growth and has expanded my view of both Canadian and global agriculture,” explains Mark Brock, 2019 scholar and owner of Shepherd Creek Farms Ltd., a mixed crop and sheep farm near Staffa, Ont.
“My learning has changed the way we do business; we're now always looking at new ways of doing old things. Completing a Nuffield Scholarship has been one of my best life experiences and has helped me grow in business and in my personal life, and I highly encourage people to investigate the opportunity.”
Anyone interested in learning more about Nuffield Canada scholarship and the application process can visit www.nuffield.ca.
Nuffield Canada was established in Canada in 1950, incorporated as a not-for-profit in 1986, and became a registered charity in 2014. It currently has more than 130 alumni. As part of a larger international community, Nuffield Canada has affiliate organizations in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America and Zimbabwe. Scholar recipients become members of the global Nuffield alumni network, more than 1,800 strong, who in return host and help current travelling scholars.
