Funded PhD Studentship: Annual DVC Award – Quantifying the impact of farm animal use in education to inform evidence-based guidelines.
Project Details
Project Title: Quantifying the impact of farm animal use in education to inform evidence-based guidelines.
Primary supervisor: Dr Holly Vickery
Co‑supervisors: Dr Nicky van Veggel & Dr Ellen Williams
Expected Start date and location: October 2026 onwards, based at Harper Adams University, Edgmond, Shropshire, UK.
Funding
Funding: The studentship covers the current Home Student (UK, Isle of Man & Channel Isles) tuition fees plus a yearly stipend. For 2026/7 this equates to £21,805 per year, with potential increases each academic year.
International applicants: International applicants would need to be able to fund the difference between home and overseas fees with a proportion being paid in full before Visa documentation can be issued.
Applicants
Applicants: PhD applicants must hold a minimum of an upper second class (2:1) honours degree, or equivalent in a relevant discipline or a 2.2 alongside a relevant Master’s degree with Merit, or potential for research based on alternative qualifications/experience judged acceptable by the university.
Project Overview
Farm animals are widely used in agricultural and veterinary education to develop students’ practical skills, confidence and professional competence. However, despite the prevalence of this practice across schools, colleges and universities, there is currently very limited empirical evidence on how educational use affects animal welfare. Educational settings present a unique context for farm animals. Animals may be handled repeatedly by inexperienced or unfamiliar students, exposed to variable handling quality, and involved in frequent teaching activities. At the same time, educators and institutions face increasing expectations to demonstrate ethical, welfare‑focused animal use, driven by professional standards and evolving regulatory frameworks, including requirements from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. There is a clear need for robust, evidence‑based guidance to support high‑quality education while safeguarding animal wellbeing. This PhD will address this gap by combining animal welfare science with social science approaches to deliver practical, implementable solutions. The overarching aim is to quantify and characterise the welfare impacts of farm animal use in education, and to develop evidence‑based guidelines that balance animal welfare with effective student learning.
Objectives
* Characterise how farm animals are currently used in UK educational settings, in order to identify perceived welfare impacts, constraints, and opportunities for refinement.
* Quantify welfare impacts of educational activities on farm animals using behavioural, health, and production‑linked indicators, accounting for species‑specific responses and individual variability.
* Develop, pilot, and evaluate practical refinements to educational practice that reduce negative welfare impacts while maintaining or enhancing educational value.
* Produce evidence‑based best practice training resources and guidelines for the monitoring and management of farm animal welfare in educational settings.
Responsibilities & Training
The successful candidate will receive interdisciplinary training in animal welfare assessment, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and stakeholder engagement. The project is based at Harper Adams University, within a supportive and collaborative research environment with strong links to educational institutions and sector stakeholders.
Benefits & Impact
This PhD will produce high‑quality publications and applied outputs with real‑world impact, including guidance that can be adopted across educational establishments to improve the welfare of large numbers of animals. It offers an excellent opportunity for a motivated candidate interested in animal welfare, human‑animal interactions and applied research with direct policy and practice relevance.
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