Animal Management Degree Students Gain Hands-On Industry Experience During Oxfordshire Residential

Degree students studying Foundation and BSc (Hons) Top-Up Applied Animal Management recently returned from an inspiring three-night residential trip to Oxfordshire, where they explored a range of animal-based organisations and gained valuable insight into careers across the sector.

The residential provided students with the opportunity to visit four different settings, each offering unique learning experiences covering topics including positive reinforcement training techniques for otters, wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, and animal anatomy. Through expert-led talks and practical workshops, students were able to apply their classroom learning in real-world environments.

One of the highlights of the trip was a hands-on session where students reconstructed an animal skeleton using preserved bones, bringing anatomy lessons to life. The group also visited wildlife parks, museums and a wildlife rehabilitation hospital, where they spoke with animal keepers and industry professionals about conservation projects, animal welfare and rehabilitation practices.

Alongside the educational programme, students enjoyed free time to explore local attractions and took part in evening team-building activities, including nature walks to identify birds, watching owls hunting at dusk and several competitive games of rounders.

Dr Elaine Campbell, Course Lead for Applied Animal Management, said: "Each provider went above and beyond for us, providing fascinating insights into natural history, wildlife rehabilitation and release, and exotic animal conservation. Practical experience in creating a skeleton from real bones brought the learning to life and complemented the course content perfectly. Keeper talks and discussions in line with course content offered valuable insight into organisational impact to date and potential career paths. It really was a memorable experience to end the academic year on."

Level 4 student Hannah Knight said the visit to Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital was a particular highlight. "During the HE Animal Management residential, I learnt about a variety of interesting areas of animal care, anatomy and physiology and animal welfare. The area that I learnt the most in and enjoyed the most was the trip to Tiggywinkles, where we learnt how the organisation works together to rehabilitate and release wild animals that may have come to harm. I also really enjoyed the practical activities, including assembling an animal skeleton from preserved bones. At Cotswold Wildlife Park, it was fascinating to learn how organisations and zoos are working together to restore habitats for wild lemurs in Madagascar."

For Level 5 student Elizabeth Wood, the residential opened her eyes to the breadth of careers available within the industry. "The residential broadened my perspective on the working opportunities within the animal industry. I especially loved learning about the in-situ and ex-situ conservation projects at Cotswold Wildlife Park and the alternative pathways into veterinary nursing through Tiggywinkles. It also reignited my passion for nature walks, and there were so many amazing animals to see. My new favourites are the dwarf mongoose. Thank you for a wonderful adventure!"

Level 4 student Scarlett Sandvig described the residential as one of her favourite educational experiences. "The Oxford residential was one of the best trips I've been on. We learnt how to put an animal's bone structure together using more than 50 years' worth of preserved bones, and the trip gave us knowledge about different animals and their care. Visiting Tiggywinkles, Crocodiles of the World, the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and Cotswold Wildlife Park allowed us to see incredible species, including a Pallas's cat, that we might not encounter elsewhere. The evening games of rounders brought everyone together and will be one of my favourite memories from the residential."

The residential formed an important part of the students' academic journey, enabling them to strengthen their existing knowledge, develop practical skills and explore a wide range of future career opportunities within the animal management and conservation sectors. By engaging directly with industry professionals and experiencing a variety of animal care settings, students gained valuable insight into the diverse roles available across the profession while creating lasting memories with their peers.

Learn more about Applied Animal degree courses at Lincoln College University Centre.